FEAR

Imagine embarking on the adventure of a lifetime: a breathtaking hike around the stunning trails of Mount Rainier.

You have driven hours to arrive at the park, where you are welcomed by a gentle breeze easing the Sun's warmth on your skin. You glance over to see the enthralling beauty of the winter blossoms. The rustle of deciduous trees eases your mind, so you close your eyes to take in the crisp scent of evergreen pines—your heart remembers peace again.

A sudden interruption startled you when you thought life was a blissful hike; your AMYGDALAS YELLS!

Meet Amy, your brain's smoke detector. When she detects danger, she doesn't whisper; she blares out loud signals to get your attention.

She interrupts peace, beauty, and relaxation—and before you dislike her, let me tell you that she is a hero!

So, in the middle of a beautiful scenic hike, your heart begins to pound, your breathing gets short, you become aware of your thoughts, your mouth is dry, your heart is beating out of your chest, and your body feels hot and cold at the same time, your muscles are tense, your chest is tight, and you feel light-headed. "Am I having a heart attack?" you may think.

In your mind, what used to be a gorgeous trail is now a cliff awaiting your demise; a bear expects you for winter dinner, and a log may trip you, a spider may bite you... Heart beats faster, and your long-awaited adventure becomes a place you will now avoid ...

I wish that all of our anxieties were as evident as fearing places. Often, we carry fears we cannot pinpoint. We collect relational, spiritual, and emotional memories that make us avoid and fear the beauty in life. What seemed like a safe world to dream, anticipate, and enjoy became a dreadful attempt to make it out alive.

So, our biological smoke detector blares off "DANGER."

Neurobiology teaches us that the emotional part of the brain, your limbic system, responds faster than the logical part of the brain.

If you encounter a bear on your hike, yelling (prefrontal/logical brain information) a2 + b2 = c2 will not save your life. However, one of your common limbic system responses (submit, freeze, fight, flight) may buy you some time to get your bear spray, call a ranger, or gather your previously learned knowledge on bear survival.

As in life, not yelling at someone abusive, freezing when being attacked, or running away when someone was hurting you may have been the learned response to survive. So, anxiety is there to help you, but it is not helpful to freeze when giving a presentation. Avoiding challenging topics when a loved one needs support may cause relational distance.

Do what do we do?

We heal.

We learn.

We train.

How?

We begin to understand our fear response, learn behaviors and beliefs, and learn to challenge them when they are not helpful.

It is good to have bear spray, but using it inappropriately can be damaging. In the same way, survival responses are good but only sometimes necessary. It is important to practice the appropriate "exit" strategy.

Cheers,

to freedom and many beautiful hikes around the wonders of the world!