HOW DO YOU OVERCOME YOUR FEARS? HERE ARE 4 TIPS OF HOW TO FACE YOUR PHOBIAS
It takes strength to overcome your fears. But it’s hard to feel brave when you’re shaking with fear. But that’s what makes you brave. You may be shaking, but it doesn’t stop you. But phobias are intense fears. Most phobias are harmless and don’t affect the vast majority of people. Fear of open spaces, social phobias, fear of clowns, these are all common phobias. But sometimes they control people’s lives. But the only way for people to get past their phobias is to confront them. To go thru them almost to the other side where the fear is gone. So how does one do this? Here are 4 tips that could help you deal with your phobias.
LOOK AT PICTURES OF WHAT YOU FEAR
This seems obvious but isn’t to those with phobias. Afraid of clowns? Try to desensitize yourself, first by looking at pictures of clowns. This may take some time. It will be hard and challenging, especially at first. But it will get easier. Once you no longer freak out and can handle the pics with ease, you can move onto something harder, like a clown mask. But be patient! It does take time.
WATCH YOUR PHOBIA ON VIDEO
Again, this seems obvious but isn’t. A picture tells a thousand words, but a video moves. Now, for the clown phobics I don’t say to watch a horror movie with clowns. But maybe watch video of a circus? Or the old school movies of clowns doing the silly things that clowns do? There’s a big visceral difference between a picture and a video. Phobics will definitely feel the challenge in this step. So more patience is needed here!
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REAL LIFE, BUT WITH SOME DISTANCE
So now it’s time to move on to the real world. But you need to keep some distance! Proximity makes a difference. Afraid of balloons? After the pics and the vids, you can now try to deal with balloons, if at a distance at first. And the steps are to move closer, closer and closer still. Do this until you’re comfortable really close. But baby steps here! Move back if you have to! And think about how fun balloons are. Focus on that. Eat away at the fear of the balloons. They don’t need to be scary!
INTERACT WITH THE OBJECTS OF YOUR FEAR
If you can stand right next to the representation of your fear and are ok with it, then it’s time to start to interact directly. If you’re afraid of a caterpillar, have a friend put one in a clear container. Try to hold the container, even if you have to wear gloves at first. Then no gloves, then open the container. But then, you guessed it, try to eventually hold the caterpillar itself. They may be icky, but they’re not scary! You just have to learn that in a way that most people don’t.
Perseverance is a must for these phobia approaches. These 4 tips will help you overcome them. But you need to persevere and be patient. It won’t happen fast. It may feel impossible. But you will succeed, if not as fast as you desire. Endeavor to persevere!
