DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEARS THAT CAUSE ANXIETY
There are different types of fears that people with anxiety face. Learning to recognize the category your fears fall within will help you overcome them. The two basic fears are internal and external. As a therapist and counselor I want to empower others with the tools they need to fight anxiety. In this article we will explore the different types of fears in order for you to identify those you struggle with so you can learn how to overcome them.
External fear is the easiest to recognize and manage. An external fear is defined by fear or anxiety is that is caused by an outside source. An example of this would be a fear of heights or a fear of spiders. When a person is faced with a situation that exposes them to an external fear, such as spiders or heights, they experience discomfort and anxiety. A person that has a specific external fear can explore in therapy and counseling when they were first faced with this fear. They can learn when and how they started with the negative associations tied to the external fear. Once that is explored you will learn specific techniques in counseling and therapy to erase the negative associations that you previously created. Hypnosis has also been shown to be an effective way to deal with external fears.
Internal fears are associated with low levels of self worth. People who experience anxiety from internal fears typically have low levels of confidence and self esteem. An example of an internal fear is doubting your capability to accomplish something, or questioning your talents and value. In order to overcome internal fears it is important to build your self esteem and sense of self. In therapy you can explore with a counselor or therapist what the root cause of your low self worth is. Once you recognize that you can repair it and start to build yourself up to become ready to face your insecurities head on.
Fear and anxiety paralyzes us and keeps us from achieving what we want in life. Anxiety and fear self perpetuates itself by avoidance. If you constantly avoid what you fear then you are reinforcing that there is something to be feared because you never allow yourself the chance to face it and see that you are capable of overcoming it. A great way to motivate yourself to face your fears is to set goals. Set realistic goals that are broken into small steps so you do not become overwhelmed. Set deadlines and share it with someone you love and trust to help hold yourself accountable.
ABOUT ESSENCE OF HEALING COUNSELING:
Roberta Alves is a therapist and counselor at the Essence of Healing Counseling in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. She is a Certified Anxiety Specialist and uses a scientific and evidence based type of therapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Research has shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is proven to be extremely effective in treating anxiety. Roberta is truly passionate about the work she does and loves serving her clients in Ft. Lauderdale and the surrounding South Florida areas. If you want to learn the proven techniques to overcome your anxiety, schedule an appointment today.
