Fear Is Stress

Fear Is Stress

Fear comes with aging. As you age, fear may come in many different forms, such as fear of falling, fear of becoming ill, fear of loneliness, and, above all, fear of dying. Fear makes you depressed.

Fear can paralyze you. If you are afraid to fall, it will immobilize you. You will be afraid to go out lest you fall. Unfortunately, immobility is the leading cause of falls among the elderly. The reason is that you fall because your muscles have lost their flexibility due to immobility, and hence the body balance, resulting in falls. Overcome fear of falls by exercising muscles at any age, and by improving vision.  

Fear of becoming ill is another cause of stress to the body and the mind. You become more vulnerable to illnesses, not necessary due to age, but because of a weakened immune system. Stress, in any form, weakens the immune system. Learn to relax your mind. It is easier said than done. You need the mind to help you. Learn to harness your mind power, which controls your thinking, your decisions and actions as a result of it. Meditation is the best way to relax. Meditation can heal; easy meditation techniques to relax both your body and mind.

Fear of loneliness is often due to lack of purpose in life. Spirituality is the art of living well. Cherish your spiritual growth as you continue to age to overcome fear of loneliness and fear of death.

Remember, although a mental feeling, fear is a delayed physical reaction. If you feel fear in your body, you become fearful for your body. For example, if you have a deadline to meet in your work, you become stressed; that is, you become fearful of the possibility of losing your job. By the same token, fear of fall, of becoming ill can have similar related consequences created in the mind. Any physical fear creates yet another stress—the stress to avoid the fear of pain, injury, or even death. Do not let the vicious circle of fear impair your health and rob you of your wellness.

When fear is acutely felt in your body, it causes anxiety that can cause physical illness. Worse, once fear becomes a habit, it is hard to be eradicated. Much of human adult behavior is based on the fear that is created in the mind through erroneous perceptions. To solve this mental problem, you will have to begin with the mind—always mind over matter.

The good news is that meditation can help you stop, and listen to your inner voice, and accept who you are and what you are. Essentially, meditation enables you to get to know true self with self-acceptance without fear. Meditation changes what the mind’s eye perceives. It is based on a feeling of isolation and separation, so that you will understand ultimately your true self.

Stephen Lau

Copyright © by Stephen Lau