Extended Definition Essay On Fear

Fear has been a part of everyone’s lives from the moment he emerged in this world. It journeys through life right beside them, growing as experiences stack against them. Although many might associate fear with something unwanted, the truth is that we need fear in our lives. Fear is what keeps us from jumping off a ten-story building with no rope; the reason we have medicine and vaccines is that we fear illnesses. However, it is also a hindrance when we need to try something new – when we need to get out of our comfort zone in order to create new memories. What is fear? According to most sources, fear is a chemical in your brain caused by stress – in other words, something that is only in your mind. So why do we always feel that it is more than just that? Since fear is part of our day-to-day lives, research has given us two key points to combat against it: Understanding and will. Simply put, if we understand why we are afraid of something, it no longer holds any power over us. However, our human nature revolts at such a simple idea, not knowing that it is harder than it seems when there is so much more to it. Modern research has given us …show more content…
Fear of the unknown is exactly what it sounds like – a fear of the unknown. However, this fear does not just apply to that fear alone but also for countless of other ones. For someone scared of heights, it may be because he is only scared of what will happen when he falls – the unknown. For someone afraid of spiders, the general understanding is that he is unsure of what will happen when he happens upon one – which is another part of the fear of the unknown. For people with fear of the unknown, the logical answer would be that they educate themselves. For the man afraid of heights, perhaps jumping into a pool a few meters off the ground would cure it, since he knows that nothing will happen except the impact of