Mental Health: Scientific Research on Fear

By- Robert Griffith

Fear is natural and useful to a human being. It helps them respond correctly to specific circumstances. In early civilizations, fear helped the early man escape from predators and other forms of danger. Even today, fear plays an important role in human survival. 

The effects of fear change when its size increases. The affected individual may flee from the slightest assumed threat. If not managed adequately, the individual may develop anxiety which can quickly escalate to depression. A lot of research about fear has been done and published. 

How fear works in an individual

Fear is part of the mechanisms that help human beings to survive. It is triggered when a person perceives a threat. It can be real or imagined, but its effect is the same. When a person's brain senses fear, it prepares them to react in defense. The type of defense they take depends on the size of the threat. They can either flee, attack, or do nothing. 

To prepare an individual to react to danger, the body releases hormones. The hormones may shut somebody's systems that are not required for survival, such as the digestive system. 

They also raise alertness to body functions that can help the individual survive. For example, eyesight can become sharper. The heart beats faster to increase blood flow to muscles. In this condition, the person can run faster or fight harder. 

The amygdala in the brain is served with more hormones. This is the part of the brain that helps a person focus on the threat and store the information in the brain. When the level of fear is too high, the person could develop complications. 

Every individual has fears in their life. They have things that make them fear, but when the level of fear is too much, it directly affects the person's health. When writing a college essay about fear, students should consider how fear is derived and how it escalates to become a health problem. To help you write a detailed paper, make use of any relevant writing tool or useful site you may find. You will get better ideas if you read the free fear essay topics on Samplius before your write your essay. The information will help you write better to enhance educational performance. 

Here's how higher levels of fear affect an individual.

When the level of fear is normal, it is healthy and useful to an individual. The situation changes when the level of fear becomes too much. The individual may suffer some of these complications.

Damage to memory

A person who suffers from too much fear sees the world as a scary place. The crucial part of the brain that can be affected is the Hippocampus. This is the part of the brain that helps with learning and memory. Too much fear could damage this part leading to loss of memory. The person will have problems remembering issues, tasks, or events. If it's a student, they forget much of what they learn in class. 

Mental sickness

Too much fear could affect the limbic system. This is the part of the brain that controls emotional and behavioral responses. When fear goes overboard, it interrupts the limbic system. The person can no longer control their emotions or behavior. The person becomes mentally sick due to intense emotions and the inability to make decisions.

Physical sickness

A lot of fear directly impacts an individual's physical health. The body releases excessive hormones that can affect their physical health. The hormones responsible for stress are adrenaline and cortisol. They could suppress the body's immune system. The person can experience muscle tension and bowel disorders. The result could be ulcers, faster aging, or premature death. 

Dealing with fear

If it's not dealt with, fear can disrupt an individual's life entirely. When helping someone deal with fear, you must help them overcome their emotional, physical, and behavioral effects. Social support is important to help someone overcome fear. You may also help them engage in meditation. 

The person may also practice healthy living habits like eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Other stress management strategies include taking deep breaths, muscle exercise, and visualization. 

Conclusion 

Every human being has a certain level of fear which is normal. It is what helps them survive in any environment. When the level of fear is too much, it affects the health of the individual. They could develop emotional sickness, mental, and physical sickness. When a person fears, the brain releases several hormones to help them cope with the fear. As the levels of fear increase, the body releases more hormones which eventually affects their health. 

Author's Bio

Robert Griffith is an academic writer and also an e-book developer. His career is centered around books, essays, thesis and dissertations and providing every kind of academic assistance to college students. In his free time, he loves doing digital art, listening to tech podcasts and practicing mindfulness.

Disclaimer: ( This article is sponsored and includes some commercial links)