Fear and Anxiety

I won’t lie – excessive fear is a dreadful feeling. It’s tormenting, and if left unchecked, it only grows. It is a response to a threat, which is normal, but there is a disabling fear if not managed. Normal fear helps us to stay alert and vigilant. For example, when taking out the garbage at night, it’s natural to feel fear or be worried since you need to be aware of your dark surroundings while hurrying to dispose of the garbage. This way, you can sense any potential danger instantly. But the same fear should not allow you to pile garbage in the house; you have to overcome it to live better, which applies to your daily happenings.

Managing Fear in Youth

In young people, it is important to learn how to manage fear at a young age. As you grow, you will encounter challenges of varying intensity, which can create anxiety that may later develop into a condition that needs various forms of therapy to treat or manage it. There are common issues that create fear in teens or young adults:

Phobias are extreme and irrational fears that can take many different forms. Some people may experience a fear of dark spaces, while others may be afraid of big empty spaces. Some may have a fear of heights, while others may experience anxiety when faced with injections or the sight of blood. Additionally, some individuals may have a phobia of animals or closed spaces, scared of being in elevators alone. WHAT DO YOU FEAR? Some other common fears that people experience include fear of strangers or crowds, fear of being shouted at, fear of not fitting in, fear of speaking in front of people, fear of the death of a parent, fear of parents separating, fear of rejection, fear of being abducted or shot, fear of loneliness, fear of becoming big or thin, fear of driving, fear of missing out on education, and fear of poverty. ADD YOUR FEAR TO THE LIST. These fears can significantly impact a person’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being, and it’s important to seek support and guidance if you’re struggling to manage them. That is where we come in, as we want you to have a quality, productive life.

Effects of Fear and Anxiety

Fear and anxiety can impede one’s self-authentic identity. However, it is essential to recognize that individuals possess a full range of abilities, regardless of physical challenges. One is complete as one was created and possesses everything necessary to achieve one’s desires and requirements. Embracing fear and refraining from addressing it significantly restricts one’s potential.

Fear and Self-Esteem in Teenagers

As a teenager, it’s common to experience fears that can negatively impact your self-esteem. You may feel like a lesser human being when you compare yourself to your peers and realize that you don’t have the same things that they have. These feelings of inadequacy can lead to envy, causing you to reject yourself and question your self-worth. When around others who seem to have it all, it’s easy to belittle yourself and see them as superhuman beings. However, it’s important to recognize that everyone has their own unique talents and strengths that make them valuable. By taking the time to appreciate yourself for who you are and recognizing your own worth, you can overcome these negative feelings and learn to see the value that lies within you.

Poor Choices and Consequences

When you have anxiety or neglected fear, you have a tendency to make poor choices. You choose the wrong type of friends to just fit in, live beyond your means by buying expensive things that you don’t need, marry an abusive partner, terminate pregnancies, steal, and choose to be absent in good, healthy relationships. Another consequence is poor performance in what you do because you can’t concentrate, whether at school or work. Emotionally, you develop anger issues and hate because you are feeling powerless; you react very negatively to every small thing. You engage in alcoholism and substance abuse to temporarily give you confidence, which later becomes an addiction. Fear buries your gifts and talents to the grave, or you cannot even discover them. Fear brings up medical issues like panic attacks, your heart getting used to beating so quickly, sweating a lot, not being able to breathe, and an impending doom. If this continues unmanaged, it may lead to high blood pressure and/or blood sugar later in life.

Solutions

Know Your Triggers

First, know your triggers and identify what makes you have anxiety. Take a moment to reflect on why you feel scared in certain situations. Start by identifying small triggers like fear of being on a merry-go-round or crossing a bridge over a river. What is it that your mind tells you? Is it the fear of feeling dizzy and falling to your death? Or is it the fear of being stranded in the middle with no one to rescue you? What is it that you feel?

Observe Your Perception

Observe the trend of your perception. Determine whether you have a negative mindset, where you tend to see the worst in everything, or a positive one, where you actively seek the best outcome in every situation. Fear can often lead us to see the worst-case scenario, but changing your mindset is possible. You must consciously try to change your perception, but it is achievable.

Use Affirmations

It’s helpful to have affirmations that can counteract fear, but it’s important to truly believe in what you say. These affirmations are best recited before bed or after waking up. Some examples of affirmations include: “I love heights,” “I am beautiful and smart,” “I am intelligent,” “I am assertive,” “I love how I look,” “My parents love me, and I love them,” “I have unmatched power within me to do all that I desire to do and more,” “I am optimistic,” “I am courageous,” “I am confident,” “I have self-control,” “I am peaceful,” “I am humble,” “I am attractive,” “I am patient,” “I am kind,” “I respect people,” “I attract positive and supportive friends,” “I am a positive thinker,” “I forgive,” “I am an achiever,” and so on. If these affirmations are repeated daily in a calm environment, with eyes closed and while lying flat, it can interrupt the negative wiring of the brain and set it to positive waves.

Review Your Thoughts

Please take a moment to review your thoughts before going to bed. Think about any anxiety you may have experienced today and try to understand why you felt that way. You can undo these negative feelings by using positive affirmations. Additionally, plan to do better the following day.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep each night is important, typically 6-8 hours without being disturbed. Take breaks throughout the day to relax – you can lie down or sit comfortably and focus on relaxing your muscles. If you notice any tight areas, try whispering “relax” to help release the tension. This can be especially helpful after a busy day; fear, worries, and anxiety lead to tense muscles, which makes the effects worse.

Engage in Exercise

Engage in intensive exercises that involve your body, soul, and mind. For instance, you can participate in sports, biking, running, dancing, sit-ups, crunches, climbing, planks, and others. Doing so will boost your confidence and release happy hormones called dopamine and endorphins, which help lower stress, improve perception, and enhance concentration, focus, and willpower.

Face Your Fears

Face your fears head-on using all the above. It works, and you will never be the same again.

Make Your Desires Known to God

Lastly, make your desires known to God and allow Him to accompany you.

Hey, I’m Angeline, your RN and founder of Finally Am Found. With a heart for mentorship, I’ve been guiding teens and young adults since 2017. As a Registered Nurse, I blend medical expertise with personal experiences to create a Christ-aligned space for self-discovery. Connect with Angeline on Facebook and let the journey to self-discovery begin!

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