The effects of fear
31 Oct 2020 por Ted Escobedo
2 minuto de lectura
Fear is a human emotion that is triggered by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism that signals our bodies to respond to danger with a fight or flight response
However, when people live in constant fear, whether from physical dangers in their environment or threats they perceive, they can become incapacitated. Living under constant threat has serious health consequences:
Physical health.Fear weakens our immune system and can cause cardiovascular damage, gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, and decreased fertility.It can lead to accelerated ageing and even premature death. Memory.Fear can impair formation of long-term memories and cause damage to certain parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus. This can make it even more difficult to regulate fear and can leave a person anxious most of the time. To someone in chronic fear, the world looks scary and their memories confirm that. Brain processing and reactivity.Fear can interrupt processes in our brains that allow us to regulate emotions, read non-verbal cues and other information presented to us, reflect before acting, and act ethically. This impacts our thinking and decision-making in negative ways, leaving us susceptible to intense emotions and impulsive reactions. All of these effects can leave us unable to act appropriately. Mental health.Other consequences of long-term fear include fatigue, clinical depression, and PTSD. Experts agree that whether threats to our security are real or perceived, they impact our mental and physical well-being.
Source: https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/impact-fear-a...
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