Do you ever have moments of feeling absolutely pathetically terrified? Overwhelmed with fear and foreboding and unable to woman up to face your demons? During the past fortnight, I’ve dealt with a couple of fear-laden experiences, and it’s made me think how much shame and embarrassment is often wrapped up in being frightened. Fear is a natural and biological reaction that we all experience. We are born with two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds, with so called ‘natural fears’ – snakes, spiders, the dark developing in our youth as a result of both our environment and conditioning. Fear keeps us safe, prompting the fight or flight response. Some people are genetically predisposed to seek thrills, others (like me) still can’t watch
The phone calls - I feel seen. I will literally wiggle out of it by casually asking my husband to do it. I would love to know why this is such a trigger - perhaps growing up during the * I have to ask my crushes mom if he can come to the phone* era.
My crippling premail anxiety embarrasses me at work every day - I read, reread, reread again and still agonise before I press send. And then when I do press send I have to close my laptop and walk away for a few mins - so cool, so grown-up. But I am confident AF on a pair of skis, funnily enough. Thanks for sharing - hope to see good news about you passing a driving test very soon !
Same with the driving… I passed whilst heavily pregnant at 33 on my 3rd attempt. It was just nerves that got me on the first one and the second test went great but I failed to do a complete stop! Try again, the last lessons I had made all the difference. It’s much harder starting to drive in your 30s but it’s totally possible and one of my favourite things to do on my own. X
Apparently it’s a random pick and choose: I get the phone call phobia, but at the same time I love driving, flying, surfing and regularly seek out opportunities to hurl myself down a mountain on skis or bikes, flying over obstacles.
Who’s Afraid of the Dark? Navigating Everyday Fears in Adulthood
The phone calls - I feel seen. I will literally wiggle out of it by casually asking my husband to do it. I would love to know why this is such a trigger - perhaps growing up during the * I have to ask my crushes mom if he can come to the phone* era.
My crippling premail anxiety embarrasses me at work every day - I read, reread, reread again and still agonise before I press send. And then when I do press send I have to close my laptop and walk away for a few mins - so cool, so grown-up. But I am confident AF on a pair of skis, funnily enough. Thanks for sharing - hope to see good news about you passing a driving test very soon !
Same with the driving… I passed whilst heavily pregnant at 33 on my 3rd attempt. It was just nerves that got me on the first one and the second test went great but I failed to do a complete stop! Try again, the last lessons I had made all the difference. It’s much harder starting to drive in your 30s but it’s totally possible and one of my favourite things to do on my own. X
Apparently it’s a random pick and choose: I get the phone call phobia, but at the same time I love driving, flying, surfing and regularly seek out opportunities to hurl myself down a mountain on skis or bikes, flying over obstacles.
Thank you for the entertaining read!