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A little bit of fear is normal.
In fact, fear helps you instinctively protect yourself from harm.
But, you might find yourself fearful of things that arent actually dangerous, likepublic speaking.
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Evaluate Risks
Sometimes, fear comes from simply not knowing very much about the thing you fear.
Keep in mind that just because something feels scary, it doesnt mean its actually risky.
Educate yourself about the facts and the risks you actually face by doing the things that scare you.
Going too fast or doing something too scary before you are ready can backfire.
But its also important to keep moving forward.
The best way to create an action plan is to create afear hierarchymade up of small steps.
The treatment has shown promise in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Acognitive behavioral therapistcan help desensitize you to your fears one small step at a time.
A therapist can help you go at a pace that is comfortable and healthy for you.
Fear-facing treatment may include:
Avoiding vs.
Researchers placed rodents in a small box and gave them a mild shock.
Then, over a long period, they place the same rodents in a box without administering shocks.
At first, the mice froze but with repeated exposure, they were able to relax.
Should You Face Your Fear?
You dont need to conquer every fear you have.
Are your fears causing you to lead a less fulfilling life than the one you hoped for?
Learning more about planes and being near them may help ease your fear over time.
If you cant actually do the thing that scares you to practice, you might use imagined exposure.
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Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.What Is Exposure Therapy?.
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2018;360(6394):1239-1242. doi:10.1126/science.aas9875
