There is a disorder called the Urbach-Wiethe disease, which renders the patient incapable of feeling fear. Only about 400 cases have been recorded of people biologically not capable of that emotion. This is largely due to parts of their amygdala, which is a section of the brain responsible for the emotion of fear, becoming calcified.
We need fear
Fear is vital to our survival. It’s what causes us to press hard on the brakes when somebody in front of us loses control or stops abruptly. Fear also helps us make decisions about certain risks that are better not taken, such as handling an open electric wire or walking in a dangerous neighborhood at night.
The individuals affected with the Urbach-Wiethe disorder, then, as expected, put their lives in risk in many ways that we wouldn’t have. They do handle that wire and do make the decision to walk in that neighborhood. Such decisions often lead to actual harm to these individuals, harm that the rest of us would have simply avoided.
When fear takes over
In addition to exhibiting fear’s benefits, this disorder also brings up the question of how much of what we do is guided by fear even if there is no physical or psychical danger to our lives. In other words, it becomes apparent that unlike the above-mentioned situations where fear is our protector, there are so many other circumstances in which its protection is actually detrimental to our well being, growth and ambitions. If we take a moment to reflect on just the past month, we will likely remember at least one time in which we had avoided a situation that has induced fear in us due to its challenging and novel nature, not due to its threat to our survival.
How many chances and opportunities are we not taking because of fear?
Again, many times, fear helps us to calculate consequences, and see if something is actually worth the risk of doing or not doing it; and very often we would reach an informed conclusion to not approach a certain business endeavor or to not bungee jump with a novice instructor, all thanks to our sense of fear. In these cases, we thank our fears and move on.
Other times, however, it’s when our friends suggest that we go to that new karaoke bar and we freeze with fear of exposure, criticism, or attention. Or, it’s when our inner child is urging us to try out a new type of game or activity because it seemed so badass, only to be turned down by our adult selves, insisting that we don’t need the unnecessary adventure. In these instances, feeling scared may actually suggest that there’s an opportunity here.
Use fear to guide you not only away from risk but also towards adventure
The point is that there would never be a time when you’re fear-free. And the Urbach-Wiethe syndrome illustrates that this is actually a good thing. And so, in addition to fear alerting you of a potentially compromising situation, consider that when something scares you, it could also be an alert for growth. It could be an opportunity to discover parts of yourself that you thought did not exist or to which you had said good-bye long ago. You may be surprised to find out that you are bigger and bad-assier than you thought, or find out that there’s a precious old reason for your fear of something. In either case, you would get to know yourself better, and potentially think or feel differently about who you are.
So the next time that you want to take that road trip to that famous campsite, or are really anxious about going to that audition, or really need to reach out for help—consider that these things may be your chance to break through your fear into discovery. You may find out that you’re actually an outdoorsy kinda-gal, or a much funnier actor than you thought, or that people are willing to help and wish to connect with you. Could be kinda worth it here, couldn’t it?
To paraphrase the timeless serenity prayer: grant me the serenity to accept my fear, courage to use it as a guide for growth, and the wisdom to know when to do so.
The WILA blog is brought to you by the heart and expert wordsmithing of our Blog Countess, Eva Patrick, PsyD. “My passion for blogging is tied to my appetite for practicing psychotherapy – they both allow me to surrender to the uncertainty of life, and to find my way out through words, stories and the discovery of new ideas for doing, being and telling these stories in the world.”