Fear:
Old
English- disaster, sudden calamity. (Originally the word did
not indicate the emotion, only the physical danger.)
An
emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or
danger, usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight.
Stages of Fear:
Stage
1: The Stimulation Stage- A protective reaction to
unfamiliar stimuli. Prepares the body for flight or fight
reaction.
Stage
2: The Arrestive, Inhibitory Stage- The body becomes
incapable of fleeing or fighting.
Stage
3: The Paralyzing Stage- The body emulates death.
Stage 1
is healthy and necessary for normal physical and
psychological health. Without it, the body becomes
imbalanced and can lead to pathology. (This makes an
excellent excuse when you scare the crap out of friends and
family, “I’m just keeping you balanced.” Just expect them to
return the favor.)
Too long
in Stages 2 and 3 can cause irreversible effects in the
body. They become increasingly dangerous and can lead to
debilitating paranoia and psychotic states.
Theory of the Physical Process of Fear:
Outside
stimuli is sent to the amygdala in the brain (an
almond-shaped group of nuclei in the temporal lobe of the
brain). The input travels in 2 separate paths:
Path 1: The sensory
information goes directly to the amygdala, where a
physiological response is triggered . This is the route that
physically prepares the body for flight or fight response.
(Stage 1 Fear)
Path 2: At the
same time, the sensory input also travels to the higher
cortex, then on to the amygdala. This process allows the
brain to analyze the stimulus to decide what response, if
any, is needed.
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