Dimensions of Fear

Fear is a basic survival instinct to help protect and keep people safe. The body's first reaction to fear is "fight or flight." Symptoms include shaky hands, sweaty palms, elevated heart rate, rapid breathing and increase in blood pressure, which can last from a few seconds to a number of hours. Symptoms subside once the brain receives the message that everything is safe. Dimensions of fear range from mildly worrying to extreme paranoia.

Worry

• Worry is the practice of thinking of something that you fear will happen. There is no evidence that the events will occur. An acronym for fear is "False Evidence Appearing Real." That is what happens when you worry. Worry is the act of tormenting oneself with disturbing thoughts that create uneasiness and disturb peace of mind.

Anxiety

• Anxiety goes beyond worry in that it disturbs the mood, thinking and behavior. It creates tension in your body and an intense feeling of fear of danger or misfortune. It makes you believe that something dreadful is about to happen and you must take action immediately. In some instances, anxiety is classified as a mental disorder.

Terror

• Terror is an extreme feeling of fear in the presence of danger. It implies a prolonged period of fear, such as the terror of war or the terror that victims feel while a violent crime is being committed against them. Night terrors and nightmares are another type of terror. Even though the situation is not real, a person has the same physiological and emotional responses.

Phobia

• A phobia is a powerful reaction to a particular thing or a situation. People generally recognize phobias as irrational. Common phobias are those of flying, heights, elevators, water, snakes, bees, rats, birds, needles and spiders. People with phobias often have panic attacks that create an intense fear that may include trembling, shortness of breath, palpitations, sweating, chest pain or a sense of choking. Panic attacks often subside within 30 minutes.

Paranoia

• Paranoia is a form of schizophrenia. It is when a person has irrational fears that a specific person or group is out to get them. People with paranoia can be extremely hostile to others, as they believe they are acting in self-defense. Paranoid people are often delusional and suffer from hallucinations.