How to differentiate normal and excessive fear?
Fear is a natural and adaptive feeling when facing risky situations. Fear helps in self-preservation by adapting our behavior to avoid any real risk. However, some people may have excessive fear of certain situations that are generally considered to be harmless, and these can be identified as phobia. How can we differentiate healthy fear from phobia?
Fear is characterized as phobia when it is intense, persistent, and irrational, is disproportionate to the actual level of risk associated with a specific object or situation, and causes distress or avoidance of feared situations.
Care should be taken for addressing excessive fears when children live in places with high rates of conflict and armed violence. Provide opportunities to discuss their feelings, openly and honestly. The same is true when there is an illness or death of a family member/caregiver, following which fear may increase as a response to the event. Physiological and emotional responses to traumatic events may be expected but can still negatively impact the student’s mental health.
What can we do to help someone with excessive fear?
- Show them that you are available to help them develop strategies to solve challenges they may face;
- Tell them that everyone experiences fear, to a greater or lesser degree, noting that there are ways to manage it;
- Teach them breathing techniques (breathing slowly and deeply reduces anxiety);
- Encourage them to face feared situations in a supportive way, monitoring their tolerance, and recognizing small achievements;
- Notify their family and care team of the student’s fear, with the child/adolescent’s consent. This allows excessive fears or phobias to be assessed and treated, thus enabling the student to lead their life without limitations.
What are unhelpful responses?
- Downplaying the suffering or negative impacts associated with fear, emphasizing the exaggerated perception of risk;
- Ignoring avoidant behaviors;
- Pushing them to confront fear beyond their tolerance and without their consent;
- Not interfering to address realistic and preventable concerns, like bullying;
- Ignoring environmental risks that may lead to physical or psychological trauma.