Fear

Pulse racing, shortness of breath, sweaty palms, and struggling to focus.

There's a real irony in my fear of public speaking. I actually take great joy in speaking to people, it's part and parcel of my world, but once the spotlight is on me, the doubts start to creep in - what if I miss something important? What if I trip and fall? What if I let people down? For a woman who thrives on styling it out, the little 'doubt demon' on my shoulder is hard to shake off when addressing an audience.?

There are varying degrees of impact and repercussion regarding fears and phobias, but all are entirely valid. As humans, fear is part of our hardware, an in-built warning system, and while it's possible to manage and control the things that bring us such discomfort, it's still often hard to deal with. Not to belittle any fear or phobia, but if you fear snakes, it's easy to avoid them and possibly manage this fear, especially if, like myself, you live in a place like Yorkshire. But what if the fear or even the trigger was much harder to manage, much harder to see or even anticipate?????

Rarely has the threat of disease occupied so much of our thinking. The crippling nature of Covid has not only transformed the way we live, work, and behave but has drastically impacted our overall well being. We know what we need to do to stay safe, but even with the vaccine, there is still that fear of being ill, our loved ones getting sick, and even the thought of the very worst. Unlike snakes, the pandemic is somewhat the fear of the unknown. We can't see where it goes or control its every move; we can only stay vigilant and look out for those most vulnerable.?

While staying connected has never been more important, living in a constantly 'on' world only contributes to the stresses and strains of modern life. Access to 24/7 news, updates beeping on our phones, we are regularly consuming or being consumed, and in a time of fear, these can indeed only add to our anxieties. Our virtual environment has been a lifeline, but even technology can contribute and manipulate our thoughts and feelings.?

Fears of any kind can be crippling, and it's often tough to get a sense of perspective, even more so when the root of the cause is out of our control. Walking home alone at night, fleeing conflict, subjected to racial violence, living in a place of constant fear. The headlines paint a bleak picture of a society choked in fear. But is there a way out??

The uneasiness of standing up in a room full of people pales into significance compared to some of the genuine situations and challenges people face daily. I do believe that with fear of any kind, there is always hope. Always someone willing to help, actions made, and voices to be heard.?

Debi