The physiological and psychological basis of fear

Why do we feel fear and how does this sensation manifest itself in our body and mind?

When in certain situations we are overwhelmed by fear, we experience feelings and reactions that are both alarming and unpleasant.

This response that we naturally offer is powerful enough to pass through the body and mind of the person experiencing it.. The autonomous response of fear arises long before our reason has been able to decide anything about it, in a sort of chemical summit our organism has already set itself in motion, preparing for flight or for the imminent attack.

Fear is one of the most primitive emotions that exist, it is responsible for maximizing the chances of survival. maximize our ancestors' chances of survival of our ancestors, since it allowed them to respond to threats, but...

...Do we know what mechanisms are at work to provoke such an avalanche of reactions in our body? to provoke such an avalanche of reactions in our body?

Physiological responses to fear

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's peak performance for a short period of time, just at the moment when the individual is seized by panic. In the meantime, other functions that are less important in such situations decline in a timely manner.

The main physiological physiological effects The main physiological effects of fear on the sympathetic nervous system are:

• The musculature contracts in an attempt to prepare for flight, while causing some trembling and general cramping.
• The number of enzymes in the stomach decreases The number of stomach enzymes decreases considerably to ensure energy savings while causing a feeling of nausea.
• Our heart beats rapidly and Blood Pressure rises. This causes us to have greater speed in the delivery of oxygen to the muscles. This action can cause a sensation of tachycardia, tingling in the arms and legs and an annoying ringing in the ears.
• Pulmonary respiration is accelerated considerably to increase the exchange between carbon dioxide and oxygen; it is this action that causes this uncomfortable feeling of tightness in the chest.
• Our immune system declines in order to preserve energy, which is why we are more exposed to infections.
• The pupils of the eyes dilate and the tear fluid decreases to increase visual perception.

Once the danger has passed...

Once this period has elapsed, if we perceive a solution to the situation, the parasympathetic nervous system is reactivated, which will counteract the actions taken by your confidant:

• The eyes will increase their tear fluidThe heart will begin to beat more slowly.
• The heart will begin to beat more slowly and blood pressure will drop. and blood pressure will drop, which may cause dizziness and fainting.
• Lung respiration will slow down in an attempt to normalize in an attempt to normalize, leading to an unpleasant sensation of choking.
• The bowels and bladder are emptied to promote, if to promote, if necessary, a more accelerated escape, which may lead to uncontrolled urination.
• Finally, tmuscular tension is suddenly lostThis can lead to stiffness and laxity in the knees.

When the parasympathetic nervous system takes control of our body, it can lead to a situation or state of shock. This set of biochemical responses responds under the name of "fight or flight"or more commonly known as "fight or flight"..

Surely more than one of us have suffered in our own flesh what is known as panic attack. Well, now we know the physiological functioning through which the organism acts and the functional responses it emits.

Fear modulating factors

If we decide to go a little further into the heart of this construct we call 'fear', we will see that its scientific study has been extensive.

A distinction has been made between normal fear and pathological fear on the basis of certain criteria, such as time of duration or the level of interference in daily functioning, among other factors (Miller, Barrett and Hampe, 1974). In order to be able to classify it properly, we must first know the main existing fear factorsthat is, its roots and the causes that generate it.

The causes and initiators of fear

The most consistent factors to classify the types of environment seem to be, according to the classification offered by Gullon, (2000) the following:

• Social rejection
• Death and danger
• The animals
• Medical treatment
• Psychiatric stress
• Fear of the unknown

Types of fear

By evaluating these factors we could make a classification that discriminates the level of affectation of fear in each person and in a given situation, highlighting the types of fear most studied and treated today, we find the following distribution:

• Physical fear
• Social fear
• Metaphysical fear

How do we face fear?

First of all, we must learn to naturalize this emotionOtherwise it can manipulate our lives to the point of becoming a pathological disorder. We must accept fear in the face of danger and understand its strictest connotations, in this way we will be able to learn to regulate it.

We must think about its main function, since it is a determinant impulse to defend ourselves from danger, only we have to evaluate if when this sensation appears we are in front of a real danger or an unreal threat pretentiously elaborated by our own mind.

This may seem simple but it is is highly difficult to manage in many occasions, since fear tends to paralyze usThis may seem simple but it is very difficult to manage in many occasions, since fear tends to paralyze us and it is useless to try to rationalize it. Fortunately, there are psychological therapies that allow us to affect the psychological mechanisms that install fear in our mind.

"Fear is my most faithful companion, it has never tricked me into going off with someone else."

-Woody Allen

Bibliographical references:

• Ekman, P. and Davidson, R. J. (1994). The nature of emotions. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Gullone, E. (1996). Developmental psychopathology and normal fear. Behaviour Change,13, 143-155.