How to deal with irrational fears

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Do any of you have fears that are completely unreasonable? Like water, planes, heights, etc?
I’m petrified of planes, for instance, and my two daughters left this morning for a trip to Florida with dh. They are on their way to a beach right now (presumably in southern FL or the Keys) and I’m sick to death thinking of a shark attack or an undertoe or something.
I know that these things are very unlikely to happen, but I’m going to worry, worry, worry until they’re home again.
Anyone else have such difficulties?
 
I have irrational fears, but mostly of spiritual based things - if that makes sense. If I do this, well then I might do that, which will send me to hell.

My counselor has told me that those types of fears are irrational and whenever I have those fears just tell myself that is a “thought error”.

It sounded really silly at first, even almost insulting…but after I did it a few times I could tell that it helped - after all I can make a “thought error” in my check book or on my grocery list why not on an emotional or spiritual level.

I still do struggle, but the “thought error” does help me.
 
See a psychotherapist to address your irrational fears.

Matthew
 
How to deal with them?? Whatever you are afraid of…just do it, just face it. Usually the thought is much worse than the reality. I used to be afraid to drive somewhere I’ve never been, especially in a city…and I’ve done it often enough now, where I just made myself go, that I am not even afraid anymore and will actually go out and explore a little bit.
 
drafdog said:
See a psychotherapist to address your irrational fears.

Matthew
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I want to second this suggestion…
One person may be able to work through irrational fears in one manner, and another person may need a totally different method.
Getting to the root of your particular fears can be difficult if you don’t have the right guidance.
Otherwise you can go down the wrong path and get spun up in the failure… starting on the right method is important.
 
But then again, when there are things that you are afraid of that are things that you don’t want to happen…like a shark attack…I guess you can’t go out and “do” those. What I do with those kinds of fears is just picture what the end result would be…I would die or a loved one would die. These would be the worst case scenarios. Then I just realize that we are all going to die, that is what is supposed to happen, and that is a good thing. I don’t want to waste my life by being afraid of dying anymore than I want to waste my life by being reckless.

There are healthy fears, that will keep you from doing stupid things, and then there are unhealthy fears, that will keep you a hostage and won’t let you experience what life has to offer. I think staying active and having some faith in God are the best ways to not be hostage to those unhealthy fears.
 
because I have a child i have fears of her being taken all the time. I am paranoid and it’s pretty hard for me to let her go
i also have fears of fire. nightmares as my brother died in Iraq in a car fire. it’s something that doesn’t end
 
drafdog said:
See a psychotherapist to address your irrational fears.

Matthew
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I’ll put in a third vote for this. I get anxiety/panic attacks and have seen both a therapist and psychiatrist. It has helped so much.
 
momstheword said:
Do any of you have fears that are completely unreasonable? Like water, planes, heights, etc?
I’m petrified of planes, for instance, and my two daughters left this morning for a trip to Florida with dh. They are on their way to a beach right now (presumably in southern FL or the Keys) and I’m sick to death thinking of a shark attack or an undertoe or something.
I know that these things are very unlikely to happen, but I’m going to worry, worry, worry until they’re home again.
Anyone else have such difficulties?
Click to expand...
Me!!! Well, I am better now.:o
I actually read a book about my fears, especially that of planes, and the author discussed how a phobia of heights, and planes really means that we don’t like being out of control. Hmmm…and it also discussed how worry doesn’t help to prevent anything from happening, so why worry? I used to freelance write for a Christian magazine where I wrote an article about that very topic! (If you’d like to read it, it’s on the web, please pm me)I’d be happy to send you a link to it.

In the article, I pulled passages from the Bible about how Jesus addressed worry with his followers, stating that we needn’t worry about yesterday or tomorrow, because today has enough in it to worry over. And will worrying ‘add one cubit to your life?’ (Gospel of Matthew)

Pray that God will stop you from worrying, and over time, if you keep praying about that, you will soon learn to just be calm, and leave even your worries, in God’s hands. God bless!!!
 
Hi, I am new and unfortunately the “Meet and Greet” section was closed. I suffer from irrational fears. I’m a nice guy, young poet and linguistic translator, Irish Republic. 😉 I have a nice job and a nice family and friends but I still suffer from irrational fears. I’ve been reading ALL the posts and I just wonder if I can maintain them all in my silly little head! LOL My fears are also spiritually based. This life and all of its exigencies are endless but there is a new life in store for us and if we have begun a spiritual new life then God allows glimmers of the life to come to shine through into this one. Tonight I was listening to the KJV version of St. Matthew’s Gospel. I used to be a Presbyterian, you see; I too have returned to the Holy Church. The Church is under threat and I know I must sound like I am ramblng on but I mean well. LOL Honestly, the Church has been under threat or, better, attack since Calvary. But Jesus promised us that His Church would never be lost, if you know what I mean, and this applies to our personal lives also. He loves each and every one of us, no matter what our exigencies, and we must cleave unto Him and He will shower us with blessings. Part of my problem is that I do have a spiritual malaise: if, as a North American Protestant once succinctly put it, I do bad then I feel bad. This can be cured by going to confession because Jesus is TRULY present in the booth along with the holy priest. I know this spiritual malaise sounds crazy but it is my own personal situation – in which, I will admit, I from time to time find myself. If we hope for the best and trust in YHWH and maintain our identity ALONG WITH a positive sense of humour we should – and I stress should – be alright. There is more goodness than badness out there and that applies to each one of us too. Sometimes I listen to nasty secular music – well, secular but not too nasty LOL – just to mock it. Maintain a healthy sense of humour and whatever you do trust in YHWH or Jesus. He will provide. He loves you. I will part with that thought about the music for you to chew on. 😃
 
Some people say I have an irrational fear of spiders. I view it as being one of the few people enlightened enough to realize that are all slowly trying to kill us and take over the world.
 
LOL at Bataar!

I hear you, completely. The small ones are no problem, but the longer the legs, the fuzzier, the, ugh, fatter, I just can’t handle.
I have several small ones that live in my windows. I leave those, b/c they are so good at catching the odd stray mosquito or fly.
But the steroid spiders? Uh-uh, DH better get his ‘manly’ on, or I’m off to the gun rack! Ick…Just stay outside, away from me, and we’ll be just fine.

I can’t stand when we’re hunting down in the river bottoms, and I run into a web, I always panic. Or even just seeing a banana spider in it’s giant web will freeze me. Literally. I hyperventilate (depending on the distance) and find it hard to remove myself.
Freaks me out just to talk about…

And I have no desire or intention to overcome this fear. Happy with the separation!
 
As my seventeen year old just hopped in the car to drive to her Winter Formal I can 100% empathize with what you are going through. Car jackers, flats, crashes, you name it, it is going through my mind. Because I worry so much I happen to have a handy little St. Francis de Sales quote taped to my computer: “Have no fear for what tomorrow may bring. The same loving God who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. God will wither shield you from suffering or give you strenght to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations”.
So I have to say it of course: DON’T WORRY.
 
Bataar said:
Some people say I have an irrational fear of spiders. I view it as being one of the few people enlightened enough to realize that are all slowly trying to kill us and take over the world.
Click to expand...
hahahaha I forgot about spiders:D I am terrified of those things!:eek:
 
I fear heights and water, among other things, like being alone in dark houses at night. I housesat by myself, and whenever I went to bed/it got late my brain had waaaay too much fun with irrational fears. I didn’t have any reason to be afraid, but I was.

I think, on some level, I also have fear of losing control. But when I think about the fact that I really have no control over anything, I just have to trust God, I can let go of those fears. Though it’s still very hard for me not to cringe when people get really close to the edge of things…
 
Height. I avoid letting it show and I’m good at not letting it show when it doesn’t look like I’ll be falling. But you’ll find me unsure if a glass wall is safe enough, not wanting to approach low balcony trails and so on and definitely not standing on the sill to wash an open window above what height allows a safe fall. Since my fear of heights could make dizzy and actually act like a self-fulfilling prophecy, I don’t put myself in such risk situations. 🙂

Another irrational fear is I get a little freaky in certain situations with people. I can get defensive, see a bit more hostility than is there and see patterns as more evident than they really are. Also, flirtatious girls. 😛
 
I’m pretty paranoid, so here’s a little prayer that I often say, which I find rather helpful:

Lord Jesus, protect us from all dangers real and imagined.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight
 
I am afraid of dogs, but the weird thing is that I like watching the various dog shows, and I am interested in different breeds. Just when I see a real dog on the block, I always cross the street. Even just hearing the jingle of the leash makes me cross over.

I am also afraid of mice. I don’t like them at all, yucky little things and sneaky. And of course rats, I almost could not sit through Rataouille with the kids.

The funny part is, the mouse thing is translating into a fear of squirrels. I don’t fear squirrels, but the size and shape of them are a little too rat-like, But their faces and tails are cuter.

Spiders don’t bother me, I guess because I liked Charlotte’s Web as a kid. But spiders do get rid of other yucky bugs.
 
I’m afraid of planes and heights and am a total control freak! So whoever said that those fears are linked is right on, IMO.

I also think counseling helps alot. Especially if these fears/thoughts are interfering with everday life.
 
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