As much as there are several potential triggers to your fear, there are also as many types of fears. However, they can be categorized into three basic fears: external, internal, or subconscious. Among the three, the subconscious and internal types of fear are most difficult to find treatment because the person must take the initiative to recognize the source of fear and take the necessary steps to overcome it. Recognizing the category in which your fears fit into will help you know how to deal with it.
External Fear
Among the types of fear, this one is the easiest to diagnose and manage. It is similar to phobias wherein an outside source elicits a degree of internal fear or any manageable level of anxiety. For example, fear of spiders and heights is among the most common phobias that several people share. A feeling of fear, anxiety, or discomfort is experienced by the person with that particular fear when the situation confronts them with those triggers. Since the source of fear is easier to identify, one can easily look for alternative ways in which to confront that trigger and overcome fear.
Since external fears are often caused by negative experiences in the past involving those external sources of fears, you can adapt some techniques that will help you understand the reality of the situation. Hypnosis or some other psychological methods are employed to erase any previous negative associations with these objects or creatures that elicit fear.
Internal Fear
This type of fear is closely associated with low levels of self-esteem or confidence. But like with external fear, the triggers are coming from an outside source and yet it produces a negative emotion. This trigger will then produce internal reactions or fears, such as self-doubt or questioning one’s capability to do something. Most often, when people begin to question their abilities, failure is inevitable. This type of fear often impacts one’s ability to interact with the social environment.
If you want to conquer internal types of fear, you often have to go back to your childhood years wherein character development is at its peak. This is the stage in people’s lives wherein they build characters and develop fears. Some people seek professional help that enables them to adopt a new perspective in life and change any behaviors that produce such insecurities and fears.
Subconscious Fear
This type of fear is produced by accepted beliefs in your mind that serve to limit your potentials and, worse, could end up in self-sabotage. This one is somewhat associated with the internal type of fear wherein you tend to question your capacity to achieve something. Thus, the tendency for self-doubt and negative self-talk. This one requires you to take active steps towards reversing those beliefs and enable you to maximize your potential.
Goals to Overcome Your Fears
One of the many reasons people neglect the need to overcome their fears is the lack of motivation. Therefore, setting goals will help increase the desire to manage and overcome your fears. Aside from that, this will enable you to take careful methods toward your goal and provide a sense of direction. One benefit you can get from it is that aside from getting rid of your fears, it offers a more focused direction in your everyday living as opposed to not having a clear idea of what you want to do in life.
Setting goals as motivation to overcome your fears will also enable you to have a bigger grasp at the need to fight your fears as an opportunity to grow and delimit yourself.
