Dealing With Stress Caused By Fear

Fear can often lead to worry. Things run through our heads all the time like “What does he/she think of me?”, “Am I wearing the right things?”, “Am I going to fail or look stupid if I try?”

You can deal with fear by confronting it, sensibly. Our instinct may be to put our heads under the covers and avoid situations that scare us, hoping that they’ll go away. But, learning to confront our fears head on can help us to know ourselves better and get more out of life.

Here are a few steps to dealing with your personal fears:

1. Write down a list of things that make you fearful (example: public speaking)
2. Take a close look at this list. Consider why it is something you are afraid of? (example: you got embarrassed during a “show and tell” when you were little)
3. Talk to someone you trust, and ask them if they have ever dealt with that kind of fear. How did they overcome it? (example: your teacher was also afraid of public speaking but now she teaches 30 students. How did she get over her fear?)
4. Take baby steps and try out the thing you’re afraid of. (example: in a group presentation for class, offer to read a few lines aloud).
   Fears can rob us of fun in life. For example, people that are afraid of heights often don’t get to experience things others enjoy – like standing on the glass floor of the CN Tower!

Facing your fears can also help increase self knowledge, self awareness, and belief in yourself. When you find the root of fears, you can often learn so much about yourself and become a better person!

Remember that you are important. Your life counts, and you can make a difference in this world. If you ever need to talk about this or anything else, feel free to get in touch with us. We’re here for you.