Of all human beings on this earth, none look the same or have the same personality. We are so unlike each other, in many different ways. But there is actually one thing we have in comment: We are all afraid of something!

What can people be afraid of?

There are so many things people can be afraid of. Some are frightened of spiders, snakes and other reptiles. Then you have people who are terrified of things like being alone, heights, public speaking or death. But one thing we know for sure is the fact that we are all afraid of something! Many children are afraid of witches, trolls and characters they have heard of in stories or maybe seen on television. Most people are able to outgrow their fears during their life. But we also have stories of people who are so afraid of something, it really becomes a problem in their everyday life. Some can not sleep at nights, but are instead awake, thinking about their fear. When it comes this far, you probably need professional help.   

How do people react when they are afraid?

If you are with a person who is afraid of speaking in public, one of the first things you will notice is that he or she is not able to look others in the eye. The person will most likely look down, talk fast, low and maybe shake a little bit. If you are afraid of heights, your pulse will immediately go faster and you feel a ball of sickness in your stomach. Other symptoms of being afraid can be that your heart rate increases to pump more blood to your muscles and brain. Your lungs start to take in air faster, so your body gets enough oxygen. Your pupils get larger so you can see better, and your digestive and urinary system slow down so you can concentrate on more important things. The upper lip can also rise and your muscles tighten. The body puts it self in defense!

How can you overcome your fear?

As already mentioned in this article, some people are unable to defeat fears on their own. Their fear is so huge that they are not able to live a normal life. For some people, the only option to success is to contact a psychologist. However, you could try to make it on your own. If you are afraid of talking in public, practice in front of a mirror and imagine yourself speaking in front of a group of people. This can be a nice exercise to help you overcome the problem. Remember, the number one step to overcome your fear is to TRY!