During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, the number of dead people lead news stories. And many people require scarce ventilators to fight for their lives. Scary stuff! Sensible people are afraid.
Sensible people embrace fear as a powerful motivator to take evidence-based pathways to health and safety.
Possible
Downsides:
When People do not Embrace Fear
People who do not embrace fear can get sick
and die or kill their family and friends if they ignore sound advice. Ignoring
fear can be deadly. The dead testify to the reality of the fear.
Fear is a sign of mental wellness
as long as the fear is real and leads to
positive action.
The damaging side of fear can happen if we
dwell on the fear after taking appropriate action. Filling our minds with misery
and death can be discouraging or even depressing leaving us with low energy and
distress.
Fear is an emotional reaction to a real
or perceived threat, but anxiety is an emotional reaction experienced as anticipation
of a future threat.
Fear can also be disproportionate to a threat. For example, some people are afraid of flying. It is true that some planes crash, but flying is a generally a safe means of travel.
Specific fears that are disproportionate are called phobias (from Greek phobos usually translated as fear), which produce considerable distress or avoidance behavior. These may be classified using five categories:
Fear can also be disproportionate to a threat. For example, some people are afraid of flying. It is true that some planes crash, but flying is a generally a safe means of travel.
Specific fears that are disproportionate are called phobias (from Greek phobos usually translated as fear), which produce considerable distress or avoidance behavior. These may be classified using five categories:
Animal – spiders,
dogs, ticks,
Environmental-
tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes
Blood, injury,
medical
Situational-
elevators, flying
Others fears- fear of
choking and so forth
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| Snake at St Louis Zoo/ G Sutton |
Fear is probably the most powerful motivator of human behavior.
Anxiety deals with possibilities. A low level of anxiety keeps people alert to trouble, but when that level rises too high, it is awfully uncomfortable for so many and gets in the way of avoiding realistic dangers. Fortunately, anxiety can be treated by psychotherapists and medication.
Anxiety deals with possibilities. A low level of anxiety keeps people alert to trouble, but when that level rises too high, it is awfully uncomfortable for so many and gets in the way of avoiding realistic dangers. Fortunately, anxiety can be treated by psychotherapists and medication.
Examples of Fear Leading to Healthy
Responses
News of death causing virus --> Cleaning, Hand washing, Distancing, Protective wear
Tornado siren --> Head to shelter stocked with supplies
Chest pain --> Consult physician and follow recommendations
News of death causing virus --> Cleaning, Hand washing, Distancing, Protective wear
Tornado siren --> Head to shelter stocked with supplies
Chest pain --> Consult physician and follow recommendations
Psychology
of Anxiety and Terror
A major theory accounting for human effort
to avoid reminders of death is called Terror Management Theory. Sometime during
the course of life, we all become aware that people die, which includes us. We
are mortal. What we do with that awareness can make a difference in how we
embrace life. Many people are barely aware of the effects of death thoughts on
their behavior. Following the devastating attacks on America known as 911
(September 11, 2001), church attendance increased dramatically before tapering
off to pre-attack levels. Religion is a major way that many people deal with
death anxiety. And most religions include beliefs and practices to help people
cope with their own death and the deaths of loved ones.
"The
Spirit of Fear"
During the Covid-19 pandemic, I saw a
number of Christian posts quoting a Bible verse about fear. See also CBN March 9 2020.
For God hath not
given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind. (KJV; 2 Timothy 1:7)
and of a sound mind. (KJV; 2 Timothy 1:7)
Some people take that bit of a letter to a young
pastor and applied it to their 2020 lives. Others post it on social media sites
to comfort friends. Still others make news by defying government orders to stay
home and keep a six-foot physical distance from others. These Christians are passionate about the Bible and distrustful of "Man's wisdom." They embrace technology but are wary of scientific experts unless church leadership issues a statement.
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About Living Well...“…this is a helpful tool for congregation and classroom alike.” Dr. Howard N. Kenyon Vice President, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Reframing the “Spirit of Fear”
As a psychologist, I pay attention to what
people say and write—especially when beliefs appear linked to harm. People taking
the Bible text seriously may take comfort from the verse but follow science-informed government
orders. They are the Pragmatic Christians who informally or formally integrate faith and science and thereby cope with fear. These people likely attend evangelical churches.
[See Reframing in Psychology and Psychotherapy]
[See Reframing in Psychology and Psychotherapy]
Progressive Christians embrace science. Progressive Christians may consider the Bible
verse as one that was simply advice to Timothy that applied to his setting,
which is quite different from today. Progressive Christians are more inclined to think of symbolic or metaphorical meanings of some texts and less likely to take texts literally. Essentially, Progressive Christians are free from the bondage of trying to apply an ancient text to modern life when a sensible option might seem contradictory.
Another reframing of the text happens when
the word fear is translated as “timidity” (Greek deilia not phobos).
Encouraging a preacher not to be timid can make sense in many contexts. Once in awhile religious literalists can be spared from harm if they accept a revised wording of a favorite text.
For those who believe in God as creator, it might help to consider that fear is a God-given system that keeps us alive and well.
God
installed a fear circuit to increase alertness
and
stimulate thinking about the best way to avert disaster.
G W
Sutton suttong.com
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Fear produces avoidance. Protective barriers save lives.
Love drives us toward others and saves our souls.
In the midst of love we forget about fear.
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