Fear of the unknown, one of the most common fears

Fear is one of the most basic and useful emotions we can experience. Along the history, It has allowed us to face dangerous situations and escape of them, facilitating our survival. Thus, people learn valuable information after facing a threatening situation. We remember what the main danger was and how we overcame it. On the other hand, there are fears that are based, specifically, on the lack of that information, as is the case with the fear of the unknown.

The fear of the unknown is a universal and intrinsic feeling; according to specialists, it is a fundamental fear. Uncertainty is part of life, because generally we do not know what is going to happen or how. In this sense, there are people who cope better with this feeling, approaching it and considering possible resolutions. However, other people have more difficulty going through this situation and become emotionally blocked.

The fear of the unknown

Among psychology specialists it is also known as intolerance of uncertainty. Thus, it is defined as the tendency to experience fear in the face of a situation or object about which information is lacking, because it is perceived as a danger. That is, feeling afraid of a situation or stimulus that we do not know what it will bring us, accompanied by the perception that it will not be something pleasant.

The origin of this fear, taking into account some individual differences, is evolutionary. Our ancestors were exposed to a multitude of dangers and, although they learned from many of them, the risk they ran when entering unknown areas could be very great. In fact, the brain seems to be prepared to be afraid of the unknown.

Apparently, uncertainty is encoded in the brain in its own neural system. Furthermore, when we are faced with something new, one of the first filters through which the information passes is whether that object or situation is threatening or not. To determine if something is threatening, our neural networks access a kind of warehouse looking for memories of past experiences. If no prior information is found, it is classified as threatening.

Consequences

Some research studies on fear of the unknown have found that it increases the activity of the amygdala and hippocampus, increases the negativity related to making mistakes, and activates the Behavioral Inhibitory System. That is to say, Uncertainty causes us fear, negativity and paralyzes us, making us escape from new situations.

Having this fear was and is adaptive to the extent that it makes us act with caution in the face of potential dangers. However, the intensity of fear can compromise other activities. At the time, for example, look for food or shelter. Now, look for new opportunities or meet new people.

This paralysis caused by fear of the unknown and its consequent impediments seems to make people more accepting of negative consequences instead of tolerating the fear and facing it. Furthermore, according to one study, it seems that This fear is related to other psychological disorders: anxiety, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, depression, etc.

5 guidelines to overcome it

Intense fear of the unknown It can be the origin and consequence of other psychological disorders, preventing you from carrying out a normal life in the personal, work and social areas. In that case, it would be appropriate to go to psychological therapy with a professional. In this sense, cognitive-behavioral therapy would be the best option, since it helps identify and modify the thoughts that cause discomfort.

However, if the fear is low, a series of guidelines can be followed to overcome fear and begin to explore unknown terrain:

Accept and identify fear. The first step is to understand that fear is a natural emotion and that we all feel it. It is part of life and is generally not based on rational thoughts. At the same time, you have to think about whether the fear is generalized or hides a more specific fear. For example, fear of dying.Analyze if there is a specific cause. Fear often does not come from a bad experience. However, it is useful to analyze whether the fear of the unknown is a product of learning or the education received.Question thoughts. Trying to dismantle the thoughts that lead us to feel fear is one of the most powerful tools. Questions like: “What evidence do I have to support my fear?”, “What evidence is there that something bad will happen?”, “What is the worst that can happen?” or give yourself 3 examples in which you faced uncertainty satisfactorily, they are very useful to dismantle fear and reduce the anxiety it generates.Accept the possibility of failure. In a situation in which we do not know what can happen, controlling expectations is one of the variables that gains the most weight in emotional management. Making a mistake is not a bad thing nor does it, in most cases, have consequences that we cannot rectify. On the other hand, failures truly make sense when we learn from them, and new things can become truly exciting when we give ourselves the opportunity to experiment.

Fear of the unknown is a natural emotion that can save us some unpleasantness. However, also can prevent us from achieving certain goals or that life surprises us by itself. Thus, intelligent emotional management will be what makes us take advantage of this emotion in favor of our own interests.

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