This week’s QUOTE FOR STRESS:
“Fears are educated into us and can, if we wish, be educated out.” Karl A. Menninger
Karl Menninger (1893-1991) was one of the most distinguished psychiatrists of his time. He lobbied for better care of patients in state hospitals who were housed in very dirty conditions. On many a Saturday morning he would rally his staff together to go to the Topeka State Hospital to clean up the hospital and care for the patients. These patients had very little treatment as the hospital was understaffed. Through Menninger’s lobbying, the quality of care improved.
The statement that “fears are educated into us and can, if we wish, be educated out” is so true. So many of our fears are learnt responses that we acquire as we grow up. Parents who are anxious and fearful teach their children to be anxious and fearful. Fear and anxiety become the subconscious way in which we deal with situations.
Overcoming fear
The main factor in overcoming a fear is to recognize it and ask yourself ‘exactly what am I afraid of, what exactly do I fear?’ Free-floating anxiety is very hard to deal with, but naming the fear means that you can make a plan of overcoming the fear. Ask yourself if your fear is based in reality. Ask other people what their response would be to the situation that causes you fear.
You can educate yourself out of your fear, but education is the important word here! If you would like to know more about overcoming fear and anxiety, please click here which will take you to another site of mine with tips for overcoming anxiety.