How To Overcome Any Fear

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Whether it's heights, flying, or public speaking, a profound fear can compromise the quality of your life. Don't live with yours another minute.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A journal, notebook, or paper
Foods high in tryptophan
Orange juice
Soothing essential oils

Step 1: Write it out

Write down exactly what you're afraid of and why. Research shows that putting your fears in writing can be empowering, giving you more confidence and helping you realize that some things you're worried about are plain ridiculous.

Step 2: Have a mantra

Pick an encouraging mantra like '"I can handle this" or "Nothing can harm me," and repeat it in your head whenever you have to do something that scares you. Psychologists say this instills courage.

Step 3: Make a fist

The next time you have to do something scary, make a fist, hold it for 10 seconds, then release. Sounds silly, but this reduces fear by relaxing muscle tension.

Step 4: Eat more turkey

Eat more turkey, cheese, and nuts. They all contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps people feel less anxious.

Tip: Drink a big glass of orange juice before you have to face any fear. Vitamin C lowers stress hormones in as little as 15 minutes!

Step 5: Use soothing oils

Use soothing essential oils. Available in health food stores, they have been used to battle stage fright, face frightening medical procedures, and deal with trauma. According to the directions, put a few drops on your wrist or under your tongue until you feel calmer.

Step 6: Face your fear

Face your fear—again and again and again. Research shows that repeatedly confronting your fear can suppress your fright response. In fact, experts say up to 90% of phobics can overcome a specific fear with this technique, known as "exposure therapy."

Step 7: Ask your doctor

Ask your doctor about medications that have shown promise in reducing fear when a person is faced with the scary situation.

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Tags:

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• how-to
• fear
• phobia
• overcome

[Snapple448]

Anybody else see

Old people

Sex

Fat people

and old age on the list?

[MrBallinBC]

So if you are afraid of dying you should die over, and over, and over again?

[NerdyWormy]

But ... I'm afraid of throwing up ....

IT'S SO SCARYYYYY:(

[sirrington]

@MrBallinBC Play a video game

[TheCyrisus]

List of things he's afraid of: spiders old people darkness planes death sex fat people snakes fire old age crime

[nightstarxxwolf]

Cant death harm you, though?

[DPrydeMixtape]

or you could just smoke weed

[detimenmennoshow]

i fear death do i have to face it a view times to and again and again so if i believe i cant die

[chicwithsunglasses]

typo at 1:13 ... lol feaful

[firegirl734]

Clowns aren't scary!! I was never afraid of clowns...

[Nekopheonix]

What if your phobia is overcoming your phobia?

[Thatguywiththelaptop]

@Snapple448 There actually is a phobia of sex, though I don't know what it's called.