DeepSummary
The episode discusses the psychology of fear and how it can both help and hurt us. Psychiatrist Arash Javanbakht shares his personal experiences with fear, such as being afraid of heights from a young age. He explains how fear is a normal response that evolved to protect us from threats, but in modern life, it can hold us back from achieving our goals.
Javanbakht provides examples of how fear can distort our perception and lead to avoidance behaviors, causing fears to become more ingrained. He also discusses exposure therapy and other techniques to manage and overcome excessive fears, such as cognitive reappraisal, mindfulness, and gradual exposure.
The episode emphasizes that while fear can be debilitating, it can also be overcome through understanding its purpose and harnessing its power. Javanbakht shares stories of individuals who have faced their fears, such as Carly Simon's return to performing after a bout of stage fright, and his own experience overcoming his fear of heights at the Grand Canyon.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Fear is a normal and healthy response that evolved to protect us from threats, but it can also hold us back in modern life.
- Understanding the purpose and context of fear can help us develop a wiser relationship with this emotion.
- Cognitive techniques like reappraisal, mindfulness, and gradual exposure can help manage and overcome excessive fears.
- Facing our fears through exposure is ultimately necessary to overcome them, but it should be done gradually and with a sense of control.
- Sometimes, a deep sense of meaning or purpose can provide the motivation to overcome even extreme fears.
- While fear can be debilitating, it is possible to harness its power and live a fuller life by developing strategies to manage it effectively.
- Sharing personal stories and experiences with fear can provide insights into the human experience and inspire others to face their own fears.
- Seeking professional help from therapists or counselors can be beneficial for individuals struggling with severe anxiety or trauma-related fears.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So bravery and courage are defined in situations which are difficult and challenging for the person. But the person is able to overcome that primitive animal reaction and take their eye into action.“ by Arash Javanbakht
- “I tried to basically do as much as I could looking at others, getting so seeing other people are having fun, remembering the fact they told us that they are running this business for 100 years and nobody has been injured or died. No mule has been killed. So basically, utilizing all my cognitive and non cognitive resources, we went down to the canyon and the next day we come back up and that basically, not that I recommend this as a way of overcoming your fears, but that was it for me. And I overcame my fear of heights.“ by Arash Javanbakht
- “Fear has a very long story with us, and we have to understand the context within which it evolved. And the context within which fear evolved was a context of physical threats.“ by Arash Javanbakht
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Episode Information
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
3/4/24
Fear is a normal and healthy response to things that may harm us. But fear can also hold us back from doing the things we want to do. This week, we talk to psychiatrist and neuroscientist Arash Javanbakht about the psychology of fear — how it helps us, how it hurts us, and what we can do to harness it.
For more on the science of fear and anxiety, including how you can overcome it, check out our episode A Better Way to Worry.