Fear: When is it Healthy or Unhealthy? -24

Google says fear can be defined as, “an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by expectation or awareness of danger.”

Zig Ziglar has said that there is an acrostic for FEAR which is False Evidence Appearing Real.

It is not my intention to make this podcast another discussion about COVID19, or CoronaVirus.  Nobody can deny that as the world has turned its attention to this, it has at best dramatically disrupted normal.  Education, business, finances, travel, entertainment, and just our ability to purchase necessities like toilet paper and hand soap have been impacted.  We have seen it bring out the best in people and organizations, as well as the worst. From companies like Zoom and Spectrum offering free access to enable internet based instruction, to fist fights in stores over getting access to toilet paper. A local store had to move hand sanitizer to wipe cart handles down from the front to customer service because it was being hoarded  And has been sadly the norm, it has created divisiveness based on whether people feel there is an over-reaction or an under-reaction. We have seen the financial markets suffering huge losses, with wild swings from the stock market.  On a recent Dave Ramsey Show he quoted Art Laffer, one of the leading economists in the world as saying “People don’t make good decisions when they are drunk, and they don’t make good decisions when they are panicked.”  He goes on to talk about the loss of value in Southwest Airlines and the cruise line industry.  He makes the point that even though they have lost huge percentages of value in the stock market based on panic selling, people are “fools” to believe they have really lost that much actual value and that they won’t bounce back from this once the frenzy settles.

A recent post by friend and pastor Al Squitieri said: “So many polarizing posts about fear during this mind boggling situation. Ridicule for being afraid and ridicule for marginalizing it. As a Deputy, narcotic detective and Swat operator,  I learned very quickly how to appreciate her. As odd as this sounds, don’t be afraid of fear. It was fear of the situation that caused me to properly assess and choose the best course of action, for all parties involved. Succumbing to the fear was as much of a mistake as dismissing it. There is a balance we must find to operate effectively, with an eye on success as the end result. Stay calm, weigh the dangers, respect the fear and keep moving!”

In an article by the Center for Life Change titled “Healthy Fear Vs. Unhealthy Rear, they say the difference between healthy fear and unhealthy fear in two simple lists. The author writes that healthy fear is stimulated by real threatening danger and then disappears when that danger is no longer present. Being faced with what could be a matter of life or death, healthy fear encourages or requires us to take action. Taking action out of healthy fear rarely results in any feelings of shame. Good reason stands to have been fearful, and the fear-based action had clear motives: to get out of the way of danger.

Unhealthy fear, on the other hand, according to the author, is stimulated by perceived or imagined danger- which usually isn’t dangerous at all. While healthy fear recedes after it serves its purpose, unhealthy fear tends to carry on because there is no real end goal. Since there is no clear directive from unhealthy fear, rather than inspiring us to take action it causes paralysis. Neither defending ourselves nor confronting the fear can lead to shameful feelings. Lastly, since there is no real definition of the fear, there aren’t any clear motives for taking action on it. Unhealthy fear is illogical, oftentimes irrational, and mostly without use.

Through recovery, we learn to face our fears- both healthy and unhealthy. We feel equipped to do so because of our trust and faith in God, or the Higher Power of our understanding. It is impossible to be in faith and fear at the same time. If we replace our unhealthy fears with unending faith, we will be amazed by how quickly our fears will fade.

Woodrow Wilson once said, "Fear God and you need not be afraid of anyone else.” So what does it mean to fear God? We are to love Him and take great pleasure in serving and obeying Him, to marvel at His glory and majesty. If we are to believe that God is ultimately in control and wants what is best for us, then there is nothing left to truly fear but God

In an article titled “Healthy Vs. Unhealthy Fear” by Mercy Multiplied, they say that “yes, fear is unpleasant, but the emotion of fear is not a bad thing! In fact, God gave us fear as an innate form of protection.

So why do we hear so many things about fear and the negative effects it has in our lives? When fear is distorted from its intended purpose, to protect us from dangerous situations, fear becomes unhealthy. This distortion leaves us with a problem: distinguishing healthy vs unhealthy fear.

Unhealthy fear develops when we allow the emotion of fear to spill out into other areas of our lives that aren’t life or death situations. This unhealthy fear causes us to make decisions based on an emotion that doesn’t correspond to the circumstance. Unhealthy fear can often be caused by trauma or hurtful experiences that we have gone through. Left unchecked, unhealthy fear can begin to manifest as anxiety or worry, playing a role God never intended it to play in our lives!”

Author and podcaster for “48 Days to the Work You Love” Dan Miller states “Yes, these are challenging times. And yes, we recommend you carefully protect yourself. 

• Stay away from people spreading fear
• Stay away from those trying to damage your dream
• Don’t spend time with complainers and those pointing blame
• Protect your confidence and optimism
• Be creative about seeing new opportunities - as always
• And yes, wash your hands.

Is the media creating an out of bounds atmosphere of fear?  Probably. Are people who are trying to marginalize this pandemic being unrealistic?  Probably.  What am I going to do during this time?  I plan to exercise caution while living my life and looking for what this makes possible.  I am going to enjoy my family and friends.  I will protect myself and my family and friends by avoiding close contact with crowds, and yes, washing my hands regularly.  We eat out a lot, more than we should.  We still will do that but we are looking at expanding our cooking options at home and have fun with that to limit going out for meals a bit. We are planning to get out and ride bikes and kayak and take walks in the park. I believe that I will come out of this with a new appreciation for things that will ultimately lead my wife and I to have a healthier and more joyful life.  These are activities that can easily be enjoyed to take the place of visiting theme parks, events, and travel that aren’t options right now. I will absolutely not have the TV blaring the news constantly.  And I will not make decisions if I am drunk or fearful.

Action Item:  Ask yourself what this time of uncertainty makes possible.  Plan to do one thing that allows you to do something new or something you haven’t done in a while that will calm your mind.  Maybe visiting someplace you haven’t been, getting outside, exercising

Psalm 27:1 

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:13-14

I remain confident of this:

    I will see the goodness of the Lord

    in the land of the living.

 Wait for the Lord;

    be strong and take heart

    and wait for the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 6:27

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Resources:

Healthy Fear Vs. Unhealthy Fear: The Center For Lifechange

Dave Ramsey on Potential Stock Market Crash

Bible Gateway

Contact Craig