It’s a natural part of human psychology. When you fear something, you avoid it. When you avoid it, you reinforce the fear.
Anxiety is a tricky opponent. The action that makes you feel safest, evasion, actually gives the monster more power. Running away from the beast makes it stronger.
This is why it’s a good idea to develop a habit of pushing in to your discomfort. You still listen to those fearful feelings, but instead of running away, train yourself to run straight toward the things that scares you. Rewire the switch so it triggers the opposite behavior.
For phobias, exposure is the most effective therapy. Exposure must be done safely, of course. It can be in vivo or in the imagination, gradual or not so gradual. For claustrophobia, agoraphobia, acrophobia, and the other common phobias, exposure is key.
The same principle applies to lesser fears, the ones we don’t normally consider phobias, the ones we experience as mild discomfort.
If you are intimidated by parallel parking, capitalize upon every opportunity you can to parallel park. If you’re afraid of the dentist, make that appointment. If bugs horrify you, be sure to visit a bug zoo. (There’s a bug zoo in Victoria, Canada that is not to be missed.)
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