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Fear Essay | Essay on Fear for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Fear Essay:  Fear is a natural, powerful, and primitive emotion experienced by humans, usually triggered by an unpleasant perception of danger that is either real or imaginary—fear causes psychological and, ultimately, behavioral changes in people.

Human beings experience fear as a response to a specific stimulus that occurs either in the present or in expectation or anticipation of a future threat that might be a risk to themselves. Response to any kind of fear varies from person to person.

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Long and Short Essays on Fear for Students and Kids in English

We are providing students with samples of a long essay of 500 words on the topic Fear and a short essay of 150 words on the topic Fear for reference.

Long Essay on Fear 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Fear is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Fear, the quintessential human emotion, is an utterly unavoidable human emotion. The extent and range of fear from different things vary from person to person, but the emotion is the same. Fear is capable of causing psychological changes and, ultimately, behavioral changes in a person.

Humans experience fear as a response to a specific stimulus to a situation occurring in the present or an anticipated future threat that is a risk to oneself. The response to fear arises from the recognition of danger, leading to the confrontation of the situation or escaping the fear or avoiding the situation – also known as fight or flight response.

We all humans are programmed in a manner to recognize fear to avoid or reduce being harmed. Learning from the past about what can protect one in dangerous situations makes people capable of doing many things that one wouldn’t typically be able to or willing to respond to the threat.

Fear is broadly classified into two types, innate fears, and identity fears. Innate fears are the fears that every individual has on some level, and humans are born with these fears, which also serve as a kind of survival instinct. Humans develop identity fears as they evolve.

Apart from this, many people also fear love and connection. These fears are a subset of identity fears. As humans grow in their lives, they tend to grow connections with people, and these bonds become of great value to the person. Losing these bonds is one of the biggest fears of many.

Sometimes fear originates from real threats, but it can also originate from imagined danger – which makes fear experienced by people either rational or irrational. Rational fear is the fear of something that is real – occurring from something entirely possible or will occur. Fear of mortality is an example of a rational fear as we humans are immortal. However, irrational fears are necessarily implausible, but the fear arises from a real place in the psyche.

In some people, fear is also a response to mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, panic attacks, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Phobia is an irrational or extreme or aversion of something. An aspect of anxiety disorder can be the tendency to develop a fear of fear.

Many people confuse fear of phobias. Fears are typical responses to objects or events. Still, fear becomes a phobia when the fear interferes with functioning correctly and maintains a consistent quality of life. Fear in humans involves a biochemical response to the situation as well as a high individual emotional response.

Fear is an emotion experienced in the mind, but it triggers some strong physical reaction in one’s body. As soon as one’s body recognizes fear, the brain starts working, alerting the nervous system, which sets the body’s response to fear into motion. The human brain releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, increasing blood pressure, and adrenaline. One starts breathing faster, and blood flow in the body changes – blood flows away from the heart into the limbs.

Short Essay on Fear 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Fear is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Fear is one of the seven universal emotions experience by humans all over the world. Any fear arises with the threat of harm, physical, emotional, or psychological – from a real or imaginary situation.

Usually perceived as a negative emotion, fear can also be positive and healthy. Fear serves as a survival instinct helping humans in recognizing situations that can be harmful or dangerous.

Fear makes one foggy and makes it impossible to think clearly or make the correct decision. However, some people enjoy fear and gain pleasure due to the adrenaline rush experienced in some situations.

Fear will hold one back from achieving victories and significant accomplishments. Everything that one does in life will strike a little bit of fear in their hearts; however, overcoming the fear and giving one’s best is the most satisfying feeling. Don’t let your fears stop you from fulfilling your dreams.

10 Lines on Fear Essay in English

1. Researches have shown that humans can smell others’ fear and react to each other’s scents. 2. One can inherit fear from their parents or grandparents just like any other genetic trait. 3. We humans aren’t born with most of the fears; fear is often learned from knowledge and experience. 4. Fear is the opposite of love as the brain releases chemical oxytocin when in love, which helps overcome learned fears. 5. Sleep offers a unique state in which selected fears can be eliminated. 6. One big scary event in one’s life is not what causes fear; instead, it is a mixture of environment and genetics. 7. Fear can become extinct by associating non-fearful memories with the event. 8. Stress hormones released by humans helps in enhancing the extinction of fear. 9. Some people associate fears with pleasure – the thrill of the experience doesn’t end with the process’s end. 10. Fear can make one foggy making it difficult to make the right decision or think clearly.

FAQ’s on Fear Essay

Question 1.  Why do we experience fear?

Answer: Fear is an unavoidable feeling that is experienced by all. Fear is programmed into humans’ nervous system, and it works like a response to the perception of danger.

Question 2. Is it necessary to experience fear?

Answer: Fear helps in protecting us. Humans are equipped with survival and instinct, which is a response to the sense of danger or an unsafe feeling.

Question 3.  How can fear be avoided?

Answer: Talking about your fear, imagining the worst that could happen, distracting oneself with happy thoughts, and clearing out the mind by taking time in understanding what is causing the fear and anxiety.

Question 4. What are a few most common fears of humans?

Answer: Fear of height, fear of the dark, fear of closed spaces, fear of insects, fear of blood, fear of the violent weather, fear of dying are a few most common types of fear experienced by people.

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The Scariest Moment of My Life: A Brush with Fear

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8 Biggest Fears You Face in Life (& How to Overcome Them)

Fear is natural, but you shouldn’t let it get in your way of success. Here are eight life fears we all face and how to overcome them.

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Are your greatest fears holding you back from achieving your biggest dreams? People who hold themselves to high standards may accidentally self-sabotage their success by fearing things like failure, rejection, or vulnerability. But with some daily practices and mindset shifts, you could transform your biggest fear into one of your greatest assets. 

Whether you’re on the path to self-improvement, entrepreneurship, or accomplishing a big goal, you’re probably interested in courageously facing whatever is holding you back. Here are the 8 most common life fears and how to beat them once and for all.

8 Biggest Fears In Life

Fear is an innate emotion that humans evolved to protect us from danger. But in the modern day, fears can prevent you from achieving your biggest dreams or leading a happy life. 

Fear can rear many ugly heads. In more extreme situations, people often mark it as:

  • Stress : The most obvious reaction to fear is stress. This is how our brains naturally register danger and catapult into “fight or flight” mode. Much of this reaction occurs in the amygdala. 
  • Panic : When intense anxiety triggers physical reactions, panic attacks can occur. These are often in response to intangible and imaginary situations that feel very real inside your mind. 
  • Phobias : Some of the most common phobias include a fear of snakes, spiders, germs, agoraphobia (wide open spaces), claustrophobia (enclosed spaces), and ghosts.
  • Avoidance : When we fear failure or vulnerability, we avoid it altogether. This can perpetuate the fear because you never face it or try to dig into its origins in your psyche. 

Regardless of its form, fear can feel like an inescapable mental prison. Fear brings about self-imposed limitations, negative thoughts, low self-esteem , and self-doubt. Instead of seeing all the possibilities, you can achieve, fear takes over your vision and sends your brain the message that these things may harm or even kill you. 

Whatever the reaction may be, rest assured that fear is completely normal . Everyone feels it in some way or another. 

Many of these fears have psychological roots that likely protected us from harm in ancient times. But in the modern day, your fears may not work in your favor. 

Use this actionable guide to identify and overcome the 8 biggest fears you may face in life.

#1 Fear of Failure

We’ve all heard motivational speeches about failure. Thomas Edison conducted over a thousand failed experiments before he finally completed the light bulb. Denzel Washington received a lot of rejections after auditioning for dozens of plays and movies before getting a role. 

These are grand, obvious examples that successful people can delineate in hindsight. But when you look at your own life, a fear of failure may disguise itself as:

  • Setting goals that are too easy to attain 
  • Setting goals that are too high so you aren’t hurt if you don’t accomplish them
  • Creating low expectations for yourself
  • Avoiding new hobbies, sports, or career endeavors (sticking with what you know)
  • Hiding your creative talents 
  • Coming up with lots of ideas and never executing them
  • Getting easily discouraged by setbacks and giving up too soon
  • Perfectionism (working forever to “make something perfect” as a means of procrastination because you don’t want the project to be a failure)

Fear of failure keeps you in your comfort zone . It prevents you from doing anything your brain thinks is risky. 

“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” —Dale Carnegie

How to Overcome It : Overcoming the fear of failure sounds nice in inspirational quotes, but how do you beat this fear daily? 

Try the “Fail at Something Everyday” Method. This is perfect for someone disguising their fear of success as a fear of failure. If you’ve always been good at what you do, you’re probably staying in that comfort zone because it feels good. You like winning, and you don’t have many losses under your belt. 

The premise is simple: do something every day that you can fail at. Sounds painful, right? Don’t worry. These can be little things utterly unrelated to your bigger goals. For example:

  • Obsessed with perfection? Create a totally abstract, imperfect painting and hang it on the wall. 
  • Bad at writing? Do a journal entry every day for a month. 
  • Out of shape? Try joining an adult sports team with other novices.
  • Always wanted to try surfing or skiing? Take lessons and keep getting up after every fall.  
  • A horrible dancer? Bring a friend out to let loose on the dance floor.
  • Bad at singing? Go out for a karaoke night.
  • Here are another 20 Simple Ways You Can Step Out of Your Comfort Zone . 

This process can boost your confidence because it helps you build resilience to failure. Awkwardly trying something, embarrassing yourself, and laughing it off are crucial steps to sharpening your failure sword. You’re trying something awkward every day and getting used to that feeling of sucking. 

Most people are afraid to be bad at something, so they never try. Denzel Washington said it best—you will be bad at something, so why not practice building up your failure immunity in advance? You can see his infamous speech at the University of Pennsylvania here: 

#2 Fear of Rejection

Fear of rejection is among the most common fears in the world. Science tells us that rejection and physical pain signal the same pathways in our brains. 

It’s no surprise that getting rejected is one of the most ancient fears amongst our species. In the primal part of your brain called the limbic system or “lizard brain,” any form of denial or exclusion sounds an alarm: your tribe has left you behind to fend for yourself. Next thing you know, you’re in “fight or flight” mode. Stress and loneliness skyrocket while motivation and self-esteem plummet.

Whether you’re dealing with social awkwardness , letting go of someone who doesn’t want to be your friend , or getting denied an essential professional opportunity, remember that everyone has gotten rejected at some point in their life. For example, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript was rejected by 12 different publishing houses before she finally found a publisher for the book. You can conquer this fear of rejection by boosting your confidence and adjusting your mindset. 

How to Overcome It : Reframe rejection as redirection . Imagine your life as a long hallway filled with doors. You knock on one (perhaps a romantic partner or a new job ) and whoever answers thoroughly rejects you. They slam the door in your face. 

While so many of us wind up standing there and wallowing in that sadness, the best way to move forward is simply to knock on another door. Maybe that person or opportunity wasn’t meant to be because something much greater lies ahead behind a different door. 

Why want something that doesn’t want you?

Overcoming the fear of rejection means holding yourself to the highest standards so you can let go of opportunities that aren’t for you. 

Of course, this doesn’t mean rejection won’t hurt. Here’s more about Why Rejection Hurts So Much and How to Heal the Pain .

#3 Fear of Change

Change is indeed the only constant in life. Even the same routine repeated over and over will encounter minor changes daily. Psychologically speaking, a predictable routine satisfies our primal needs for comfort and familiarity. Predictability makes us feel safe. 

Yet, many fear change because they feel out of control and out of their comfort zone. On a small scale, a fear of change can manifest as getting frustrated by unexpected changes or plans for feeling overwhelmed by new job assignments outside your everyday responsibilities.

It may also show resistance to changing bad habits or developing new routines. The fear significantly worsens when enormous upheavals arise, such as a major breakup, moving to a new place, or trying to start a new business endeavor.

As you push back against change, it also pushes against you and tries to keep you stagnant. You may feel stubborn or blocked in trying to face your patterns and improve yourself. The fear of change ultimately prevents you from growing and evolving.    

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” —Henry Ford

We all have to face the fundamental truth: your reality can shift overnight or even in a single moment. One phone call. One conversation. One positive or negative event. That’s all it takes! 

Developing an adaptable attitude is essential to shield you from the anxieties and stress of changing circumstances. Instead of resisting change, you can embrace it as part of your evolution.

How to Overcome It : Adaptability is the capacity to adjust to new conditions. It has allowed certain animal species to evolve while others have gone extinct. It’s also one of the most coveted job skills amongst employers. 

If you want to become more adaptable, try a few of these simple practices:

  • Switch things up : One of the easiest things you can do daily to adapt to change is simply switching up tiny parts of your routine. If you usually brush your teeth with your right hand, try using your left. If you always take the same route to work, try some backroads. If you notice yourself repeating certain words you don’t like, substitute them with new vocabulary. This can help build mental elasticity and improve brain function so you can be a better problem-solver who is more equipped to approach the ever-changing reality.
  • Try something new : ​​Exposure to new stimuli links to better memory , more creativity, improved brain health and longevity, and greater overall happiness. Here are 60 new things to spark your creativity and get used to change. 
  • Be spontaneous : Spontaneity is probably the greatest enemy of someone who fears change. You want a solid plan that unfolds exactly how you thought it would in your head. But getting out of your routine can drastically improve your flexibility around plans and expectations. Try spontaneously heading out on a hike, going for a long drive, or inviting friends for drinks. 
  • Read a new book: Pick a book in a genre or on a topic you’d likely ignore. Go in with an open mindset and try to understand why the author wrote the book or how you can learn from it.
  • Adopt a growth mindset : As opposed to someone with a fixed mindset that thinks intelligence is set-in-stone, someone with a growth mindset believes that intelligence is ever-evolving. This mindset allows you to embrace and even seek change by learning new things. The result is a positive feedback loop— learning new things alters the neurology of your brain, so you feel more prepared to learn more and adapt to changing circumstances.

#4 Fear of Public Speaking

Nearly 30% of Americans rank glossophobia (the fear of public speaking) as one of their biggest fears. Getting up in front of a crowd may awaken nightmare visions of people throwing tomatoes at you or “booing” every word you say. 

While it may seem easy for “glossophobia” to avoid speaking in front of crowds, this fear can significantly hinder your success in the workplace and your social life. After all, public speaking isn’t just something you do on stage at a TED Talk . 

Whether you’re a high achieving student, C-level executive, or small business owner, speaking is integral to everything from meetings to business pitches to dinner toasts . Finding comfort when speaking in front of a group of people can help you become more popular and a better leader . 

How to Overcome It : Ultimately, the fear of speaking is rooted in the fear of criticism. Nobody wants to feel like their words, stories, or perspectives are being picked apart by an audience (whether that audience is 2 or 2,000). However, more often than not, your inner critic is the most ruthless of all. 

To conquer the fear of speaking publically, you have to face it. Thankfully, you can start small and approach it with these public speaking resources from the experts behind Science of People:

  • 15 Science-Based Public Speaking Tips To Be A Master Speaker , including how to warm up your voice, how to use a “what is-what could be” sparkline framework, and the reason you should avoid touching your own body while talking (hint: it shows that you’re nervous).
  • 10 Presentation Ideas that will Radically Improve Your Presentation Skills , like how to leave a solid first impression with a sparkling one-liner and why you should save your best ideas for the beginning and end of the presentation.
  • 5 Incredible Public Speakers Show You How to Improve Your Speeches , such as Malala Yousafzai and Brene Brown’s top secrets for speaking slowly and creating a strong non-verbal stage presence.

Want to sharpen your presentation skills and make your ideas more impactful? Whether it’s a video call, conference call, or sales presentation, here’s your free sneak peek at our ultimate science-based course, Powerful Presentations:

#5 Fear of Imperfection (or not being good enough)

Perfectionism is just a pretty mask for fear. It may look like perfectionists seek flawlessness because they hold such high standards for their work. But when you peek behind the curtain, people who claim perfectionism as a strength often struggle with:

  • Procrastination : The main problem with perfectionism is how it delays us from putting our work out into the world. If seeking the ultimate unblemished final product, an artist could paint over little details indefinitely. You may do the same thing in your work projects, hobbies, or relationships. 
  • Poor time management : If it takes an hour to write, edit, and re-read a simple email, you may have an issue with perfectionism. Because you badly want everything to be flawless, you waste a lot of time on things that may not matter in the long run. 
  • Unreasonably high standards : Perfectionists tend to hold themselves to impossibly high standards and beat themselves up for minor setbacks. This can quickly harm your self-esteem and prevent you from celebrating your wins. 

How to Overcome It : If you have been putting off a particular project because it isn’t perfect yet, this is the method for you. Whether it’s developing a product, learning to paint, or creating social media content, try the “Throw Spaghetti at the Wall” Method and “see what sticks”:  

  • Stop overthinking and take imperfect action : You can always go back and edit later. If you’re writing a book, try these 10 Ways to Stop Writer’s Block Dead in its Tracks . If you want to start a YouTube channel, set a goal to put out 1 or 2 imperfect videos per week. Look back on the first videos ever released by prominent Youtubers and see how far they’ve also come. While you can still work to put out your best work, try to avoid seeking perfectionism every step of the way. 
“Done is better than perfect.” — Sheryl Sandberg
  • Set strict deadlines : One of the keys to overcoming perfectionism (especially in creative endeavors ) is starting every project with a strict deadline for completion. This will help you focus on the largest, most important tasks instead of getting stuck on the details. 
  • Toss ideas around and execute them instead of ruminating : Get a stack of index cards and make a “brain dump” stack. On each card, write down an idea you’ve been thinking about but not taking action. Then shuffle the cards, grab one, and take action without hesitation.  
  • Ask people you admire about their mistakes : When trying something new, it often seems like all the successful people in your field have it all figured out. They probably had to undergo much trial and error to get to where they were. Reach out to someone you admire and ask them about their biggest lessons from failures in their business, hobby, or career. 

Watch our video below to learn how to be more interesting:

#6 Fear of Vulnerability

In her book Daring Greatly , shame and vulnerability expert Brene Brown defines vulnerability as “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.” There is no denying that exposing your deeper emotions to friends, coworkers, or a significant other can be utterly terrifying.

But the caveat is that this fear can hold you back from major personal and professional opportunities. Science tells us that:

  • Vulnerability improves employee motivation and connection with managers 
  • Vulnerability improves trust in leaders (especially when leaders are vulnerable enough to admit their shortcomings or mistakes)
  • Self-disclosure can make others more likely to open up to you
  • Vulnerability strengthens interpersonal relationships   

Nonetheless, being open about your emotions or deepest fears is super hard. If you’ve been betrayed, shamed, or publicly embarrassed in the past, you’ve probably put up some walls to protect yourself emotionally. 

This creates a paradox where:

  • On the one hand, we are afraid of being lonely or without meaningful relationships
  • On the other hand, we are also scared to open up and be vulnerable because we might get hurt. 

Vanessa Van Edwards calls this the “Relational Paradox” that can lead to a vicious cycle of unfulfilling relationships. Watch our video below for her tips to stop hiding your true self, like using a “slow opening” to announce your true self, plus why you should tell people you care about them so you feel freer to be yourself around them:

How to Overcome It : Many mainstream efforts have been to “rebrand” vulnerability as courage, but the American culture still ingrains the idea that vulnerability is a weakness. Conquering this mindset requires shifting your mindset and practicing small forms of self-disclosure with people you already trust. Watch this famous TED Talk by Brene Brown to learn more about transforming vulnerability into strength: 

#7 Fear of Time

Time anxiety or productivity shame is the feeling that “there’s never enough time.” Perhaps you feel rushed through life or like you can’t get enough done in a day. 

“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” —William Penn   

But time is the one great equalizer: everyone has the same amount of hours in a day, no matter their class, race, career, or location. Time is the one thing more valuable than any amount of money or a rare precious jewel. It holds this value because, once it is gone, you can never get it back. That is understandably daunting.  

However, the fear of not having enough time can cause undue anxiety and stress. Harvard’s infamous happiness study found that people nearing the end of their lives regret working too much . Rushing through life is no way to live. You have to stop and smell the flowers! Plus, you need to be sure you’re using your time to the best of your ability. 

How to Overcome It : While a feeling of urgency can be great for the ultra-ambitious, it can also distract you from enjoying life in the present moment. Yes, time is passing with every tick of the clock. But you can take solace in knowing that life is long and you don’t have to accomplish everything right this very moment. Instead:

  • Slow down and practice mindfulness : Mindfulness is simply being more present and aware of yourself as you perform daily tasks. It can help you slow down and realize that you have as much time as you need. Research shows that mindfulness meditation can significantly reduce anxiety and improve productivity . Try a daily meditation practice or a phone-free nature walk. 
  • Monitor your screen time : Mindlessly checking your email or social media every 15 minutes can quickly eat up your most important hours of the day. Start monitoring your screen time or try a digital detox so you can focus on productivity in your own life (instead of watching the lives of others). This alone will help you feel like you’ve magically created more time. 
  • Improve time management : Little time-wasting habits can quickly devour your waking hours. Do you catch yourself multitasking and taking twice the necessary time to complete a project? Get a planner and start planning your day for the greatest productivity possible.
  • Use a productivity hack : Monitoring your rhythms or learning to speed read are little-known hacks for making your time work for you. Try these 14 Unique Productivity Tips: How to Be More Productive with Less Effort .   

#8 Fear of Loneliness 

Humans are undeniably social animals with a need for companionship. Fear of loneliness is practically wired into our physiology. After all, ancient humans separated from their tribe were unlikely to survive. 

However, without the risk of saber tooth tigers or starvation, spending time alone in the modern day is scientifically proven to improve your health and well-being. Studies show that spending time in solitude is correlated with: 

  • Higher confidence
  • More creativity
  • Higher emotional intelligence
  • More emotional stability in challenging situations 

This is likely because alone time allows for deep reflection on yourself and your life. You can metaphorically clear the mirror of your mind to see yourself as you are rather than how others perceive you. If you fear aloneness, you may inadvertently become clingy or unsure of your identity in the absence of other people. 

How to Overcome It : The best way to start valuing your alone time is to find something you genuinely enjoy and take yourself out on a date to do it. Get dressed up in your favorite outfit, head to a delicious restaurant or a place where you can do your favorite hobby, and enjoy the act of being you. Practice positive affirmations and celebrate a few things you love about yourself.

Caveat : However, if you feel chronically alone, it may be time to pick up a social hobby or take an inventory of your relationships to develop ways to feel less alone.  

Learn more in our video below and in this guide: Are You Afraid of Being Alone? How to Overcome Your Fear  

Key Takeaways: How to Overcome Your Biggest Fears 

The key factor all these fears have in common is their sneaky tendency to sabotage our success. 

In her inspiring TEDx Talk about overcoming your biggest fears, New York Times bestselling author Ruth Soukup describes why identifying and understanding your inner fears is so important. She asserts that every fear has two components: 

  • What is serving you 
  • What is holding you back

For example, a fear of vulnerability can serve you by protecting your heart from getting betrayed or hurt again after a terrible divorce. But it can also hold you back by preventing you from opening up and finding love again. 

Similarly, a fear of imperfection may protect you from putting out sub-par work, but it can also hold you back from taking action necessary to reach your goals.

Her insights help us remember that fear doesn’t need to be embarrassing or shameful. It is part of your psyche for a reason. 

Ultimately, analyzing your fears through this perspective and using the action tips above can help you build the courage to face life’s fears head-on. Learn more about How to Overcome Fear and Conquer Self-Doubt .

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97 Fear Essay Topics & Examples

🏆 best topics about fear & essay examples, 📌 good fear essay topics, ❓research questions about fear.

If you study psychology, you will probably have to write a fear essay at some point. The emotion is strong and can significantly affect any person, with effects potentially impairing his or her judgment and performance.

It can also result from a variety of sources, such as phobias or trauma, and manifest in many different conditions, taking the person by surprise. As such, it is essential to study the topic of how a person may deal with fear, with the most well-known one being courage.

However, there are many ideas on how the trait can be developed that can be used as fear essay hooks, but not all of them are viable. This article will help you write a powerful essay on the various topics associated with fear.

Fear is an emotion triggered by a perceived threat as a response that prepares the person to address it in an appropriate manner. As such, it is a reaction that helps people cope in the short term, but its effects when the person is constantly in a state of fear can be dangerous.

Examples include physical health deterioration due to the hormone production associated with the reaction and permanent mental health effects, such as PTSD.

As such, people who are affected by chronic fear should try to escape the state to avoid threats to their well-being. The first step towards doing so would be to discover and investigate the causes of the emotion.

Fear triggers in response to danger, whether real or perceived, and the nature of the reaction can provide you with ideas for fear essay titles. While it may be challenging to alleviate real conditions of real danger, not many people have to live in such situations.

Most chronic fear comes from various phobias, or persistent fear reactions to situations that may not warrant such a response. There are numerous variations, such as acrophobia, the fear of heights, and they are interesting topics for an investigation.

Between the many tall buildings designed by people and travel methods such as airplanes, a person with the condition may find it challenging to avoid stressful situations. However, they can generally avoid worrisome conditions with careful planning and the help of others.

Courage is a well-known quality that helps people overcome their fear, one that is described in many stories and images. However, it should be noted that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather a willingness to acknowledge it and confront the source.

The act involves a conscious effort of the will, and many people believe they do not have the capacity to do so. You should discuss the ways in which people can learn to be courageous and the methods that can be used to inspire them to try.

Here are some additional tips for enhancing your essay:

  • Focus on the positive implications of fear and courage, as they are responsible for many of humanity’s great successes, and provide fear essay examples. Our society is safe from many different dangers because people were afraid of them.
  • Make sure to cite scholarly sources wherever appropriate instead of trying to rely on common knowledge. Psychology is a science that has developed considerably since its inception and can offer a wealth of knowledge.
  • Follow standard essay formatting guidelines, such as the use of academic language, the separation of different essay parts with appropriate titles, and the use of an introduction and conclusion.

Get more fear essay theses and other useful paper samples at IvyPanda!

  • “The Big Wave” by Pearl S. Buck: Jiya and Kino’s Rise Above Fear A deeper contemplation of the first few pages of the story reveals that Jiya is always afraid of the ocean since he understands the wrath of the storm and the changes it has brought in […]
  • Xenophobia – The Fear of Foreigners This reaction of the woman is xenophobic because it highlights fear and hatred of people of another race emanating. The second component of xenophobia entails the fear of cultures and the main target of this […]
  • Ghost’s Fear Believe you me that as one listens to all mysterious actions of the ghosts in the stories, he or she is forming the same picture in the mind.
  • Substance Abuse in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas The protagonists constantly increase the dose of the hallucinogen, which leads to “a quantitative increase in the effects of the experience”.
  • My Monster: The Fear of Being Alone Thus, my monster is the fear of being alone, and it is similar to several literary characters at once: Grendel’s mother, the Demon Lover, and the fear of a couple from Once Upon a Time.
  • Fear and intolerance of aging – “Love in the time of cholera” by Gabriel Marquez This passage was chosen because it carries with it one of the most dominant themes of the narrative which is the fear and intolerance of aging.
  • Atychiphobia, or the Fear of Failure in Psychology Putting it simply, the fear of failure is the incapability to suppress the anxious and irrational feeling of fear that, as a result, affects one’s life.
  • Hitler’s Use of Propaganda and Fear-Mongering The establishment of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party led to the adoption of a properly coordinated propaganda campaign that would prepare the country for war.
  • ”Courage to Teach” by Palmer: How to Deal With Fear The relationship between the teacher and the student is a very important element of the teaching process according to the author, meaning that the human condition must be considered in the process of teaching.
  • The News Media Role in the Culture of Fear The reception of such news has the potential of eliciting fear among the public depending on one’s understanding or relation to the news spread by the media houses.
  • The Movie “Color of Fear” The issue of racism is introduced by the film’s director right from the beginning. Therefore, by the end of the video the issue of race is already embedded in the mind of the viewer.
  • The Pianist: When the Mercy Comes Where Angels Fear to Trod Among them, there is the film called The Pianist, a winner of the Palme d’Or on the Cannes Festival and the movie that has raised a great stir among the audience, them regarding the film […]
  • Robert Frost’s Fear Poetry In Sheehy’s article, Lawrence Thompson notes that the ultimate problem of Frost biographer is to see if the biographer can be enough of a psychologist to get far enough back into the formative years of […]
  • How to Overcome Fear and Succeed: Informative Speech General purpose: To describe Specific purpose: To teach my listeners the method I use to speak confidently in public and learn new skills.
  • Why Are We Afraid of Death? However, it can be interesting to understand why the rest of the people are so afraid of death. People are afraid of the unknown.
  • “Mediating Effect of the Fear of Missing Out” by Fontes-Perryman and Spina In particular, they were interested in the FOMO and CSMU’s potential mediating effect between OCD and SMF. Overall, the main strength of the argument is that the authors conducted two separate studies involving people from […]
  • Fear of Missing Out and Scarcity in Social Media The study’s independent variables were “none”, “some”, and “all”, while the dependent variable was “the number of friends who agreed to attend the event”.
  • The Views on the Freedom from Fear in the Historical Perspective In this text, fear is considered in the classical sense, corresponding to the interpretation of psychology, that is, as a manifestation of acute anxiety for the inviolability of one’s life.
  • Fear of Immigrants and People of Color in the US The enhancement of strict immigration laws was due to the transfer of immigrants out of Europe to foreigners from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
  • Increasing Level of Fear of Crime and Its Cause Curiel and Bishop report that the rate of victimization, meaning the rate of actual crime taking place, is opposite to the rate of fear of crime.
  • The Salem Witch Trials: A Time of Fear The outbreak began with the sudden and rather unusual illness of the daughter and niece of the local Reverend Samuel Parris.
  • Gagging Prevalence and Its Association With Dental Fear in 4-12 Year Old Children The Gagging Assessment Scale (GAS) is a questionnaire in which children answered questions about their feelings during a regular dental procedure, for example, tooth brushing.
  • Researching of Why Human Beings Fear Death From the religious perspective, some people know about their sins committed on earth in their life and are afraid of the punishment for those sins as opposed to people who believe in God and His […]
  • Fighting Fear: The Only Secret Behind Becoming Rich The aim of the proposed research is to determine how fear of risks may affect the decisions taken in accounting and finance and in turn the development of an entrepreneurial culture in people.
  • Effects of Community Policing Upon Fear of Crime The purpose of the article aimed at identifying the intervening factors in relation to how people perceive community policing and decrease of criminal threat and anxieties among citizens; therefore, the two researchers aimed to address […]
  • The Effects of Campus Shootings on Fear of Crime on Campus This study focuses on investigating the impacts of shootings on fear of crime on campus. First, there is a relationship between campus shootings and fear on crime.
  • “Childbirth Fear and Sleep Deprivation in Pregnant Women” by Hall To further show that the information used is current, the authors have used the APA style of referencing which demand the naming of the author as well as the year of publication of the article/book […]
  • Culture, Gaze and the Neural Processing of Fear Expressions The paper has a cross-cultural setting and this justifies the appeal to an earlier authoritative study that compared the cultural experience to the expression of basic emotions.
  • Theory of Fear as a Part of Public Policy As Machiavelli points out, fear is an integral part of the policy of a prince, in case it bites not his royal majesty, but the people of the state. And since that certainly means a […]
  • Abnormal Psychology: Nature of Fear There is a group of disorders which share obvious symptoms and features of fear and anxiety and these are known as anxiety disorders.
  • Fear in News and Violence in Media In the proposed paper I intend to present the prevailing fear in American society and which has been produced by news media and the rise of a “problem frame” which is used to delineate this […]
  • Edgar Allan Poe’s Fear of Premature Burial For instance, in The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat the police arrive and stimulate a desire on the part of the narrator to confess his crime and undergo punishment from the state.
  • Gender Inequality, Violence Against Women, and Fear in The Sopranos Thus, the major research question will be “Does The Sopranos endorse or criticize VaW through the frequent depiction of the scenes of cruelty?” The hypothesis of the research paper will be “The portrayal of VaW […]
  • Technophobes and Their Fear of Technology Technophobes assume that they will whether be laid off by the company or will have to commit to continuous learning, which to many people, is a big challenge on its own.
  • Patient’s Dental Fear: Managing Anxiety In order to find out the most effective ways to cope with the patient’s dental fear, one might consider those methods which will be applicable in accordance with the state of a client.
  • Navigating Leadership Challenges: Insights from Erica Suzman’s Journey The particular case that Erica has to deal with is the case of Royal Collins, a fourth-grader who has problems in his family and often demonstrates misbehavior at school.
  • Fear from Media Reporting of Crimes The biggest question is whether it is the fact that there are criminals all around us, or it is in the head. The role of the media is quite profound in this.
  • Psychological Science: Fear of Heights in Infants The article ‘Fear of Heights in Infants?’ by Adolph et al.shows that the conventional belief is a myth and provides an alternative explanation as to why infants avoid falling off the edge.
  • Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and Social Media Usage The first hypothesis, for instance, is that the greater the number of social media platforms used regularly, the higher the level of FoMO a person will experience.
  • Definition of Dental Anxiety and Fear That way, studying the facts that contribute to the prevalence of anxiety in dental patients, the researchers should study the psychopathological profiles of anxious individuals.
  • Overcoming Fear of Failure Consequently, this essay evaluates the roles of research practitioners on how fear of failure generates and the significance of their research in the websites.
  • Fear in Behaviorist and Cognitive Perspectives Therefore, my fear is a result of the retrieval of what happened to me on the day I found that snake in my room.
  • Psychology of Fear: Amanda Ripley Views Another important element associated with disbelief is lack of information among the victims and those responding to the disaster. The immediate decision to vacate a disaster prone-area is dangerous and lacks in terms of deliberate […]
  • Sociological Book “The Culture of Fear” by Barry Glassner The book “The Culture of Fear” presents many examples of the sources of fear in the United States. The peddlers of panic in the country inflate statistics to pursue their causes and goals.
  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Film Analysis The drugs presented in “Fear and loathing in Las Vegas” are of various types, cigarettes and alcohol are legal, grass is legal only in some countries, and the rest of the drugs are illegal everywhere […]
  • Dissecting the American Society: Baltimore, Fear and the Fight for Life Despite the fact that the citizens of Baltimore are also partially responsible for the moral decomposition of the city, the society and the prejudices that it produces also seem to have had a hand in […]
  • “Freedom from Fear” by David M. Kennedy Whereas the latter omission may be judged bitterly by critiques of this book, it is interesting to note that the era of the Great Depression has been dramatically discussed by the author to the best […]
  • Critical Analyses of the Climate of Fear Report From Southern Poverty Law Center Following the murder of Marcelo Lucero in the Suffolk County, the federal government initiated an investigation to establish the foundations of the practice and pattern of hate crimes against the undocumented immigrants.
  • Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard: Passage Analysis To a great extent, this feeling belittles a human being, and in the long term, this emotion can only lead to the bitterness of the individual who is a subject of pity.
  • Fear Appeals in Advertising Fear appeals work when advertisers present a moderate amount of fear and a solution to the problem is present in the advertisement. A thorough elaboration of fear may interfere with the communication of the intended […]
  • Fear vs. Courage On the other hand, the goodies that ensue from being obedient form the basis of his courage to adhere to set rules and do the will of his authorities.
  • Summary of the Article “Should We Fear Derivatives?” It is necessary to become more attentive to the use of derivatives, to follow the development of derivatives, and to study the peculiarities of each derivative’s type in order to use them properly.
  • Hopes and Fears in Regard to the “Network Society” On the other hand, the importance of mass media and communication means has led to prevailing role of computers and other instant messaging devices over personal communication, and the resulting depersonalization of human relations.
  • The Culture of Fear The culture of fear is not new: it continues to breed with the sustaining efforts of the opportunistic politicians seeking votes from the public by playing on people’s emotions through mass media.
  • Embracing the Entire Globe: Globalization Is not to Be Feared! Despite the fact that globalization is designed to reunite people, restoring their economical, political and personal links with one another, there are certain suspicions that the effect of globalization can possibly harm the ethnicity and […]
  • Fear and Trembling in Las Vegas In the book “Fear and Trembling in Las Vegas”, the author takes his readers through their experience in the chase of the American Dream.
  • Machiavelli’s Claim to Be Either Feared or Loved In describing a leader’s demonstration of his personal skills and knowledge for the attainment of the state’s good, Machiavelli focuses the importance of statesmanship.
  • Aerophobia or Fear of Flying The main aim of the careful explanation of the positive reasons of recovering from the condition is to enable the victim to have a feeling of absolute calmness as the session winds up and to […]
  • Phil Barker: What Is Fear? According to the author, there is some form of fear that is understandable and advantageous to an individual while there is also some fear that accounts for conflicts that result in war.
  • The Movie Tarnished as a Threat: Did They Fear Egoism, Altruism or What Hid in Between? Thus, it is reasonable to suggest that the movie gives a good example of what such people’s traits as egoism and altruism can lead to, once they have been too exaggerated.
  • The Fears Within: What Do You See in the Mirror? Without thinking much of what she should take with her, or where the trip would take her, Cassie had bought the tickets and soon was flying away to the islands where the world would be […]
  • Fear associated with sexuality issues in society This essay has shown how sexuality particularly in Africa is an issue that has for a long time served to propagate the fear of different people.
  • Fear’s Psychological Aspects The controls and the fearful research participants were quicker in finding a target that was fear relevant, which the research group did not fear.
  • SARS: It’s as Bad as We Feared but Dared Not Say The cornerstone of the study is the article written by Jennifer Eagleton wherein she described not only the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003 but also the way the media dealt with the crisis […]
  • How Far Did the CCP Control China Through Fear?
  • Does Fear Make Our Lives Decisions for Us?
  • How Does Iago Inspire Fear and a Looming Sense of Tragedy Through His Soliloquies?
  • Can Fear Beat Hope?
  • How Does the Reporting of Criminal Offenses Create Fear?
  • Does Global Fear Predict Fear in BRICS Stock Markets?
  • How Far Was Fear of Communism the Main Reason for the Rise to Power of the Nazi Party?
  • Did Hitler Use Fear to Control?
  • How Does Spielberg Create Fear and Humour Within Jaws?
  • Does Imagination Overcome Fear in the Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe?
  • How Does Fear Affect Personal Behavioral Development?
  • Can Fear Cause Economic Collapse?
  • Does Fear Increase Search Effort in More Numerate People?
  • How Does Bram Stoker Use Gothic Conventions to Create an Atmosphere of Suspense and Fear for the Reader?
  • Does Monetary Policy Credibility Mitigate the Fear of Floating?
  • How Can Fear Arousal Be Used as a Method of Health Promotion?
  • Does More Unemployment Cause More Fear of Unemployment?
  • How Can One Overcome Fear of Public Speaking?
  • Does One Gender Incite Fear Over Another?
  • How Are Characters Affected by Fear in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?
  • Does Religiousness Buffer Against the Fear of Death and Dying in Late Adulthood?
  • How Does Culture Mold the Effects of Self-Efficacy and Fear of Failure on Entrepreneurship?
  • Does the Fear Gauge Predict Downside Risk More Accurately Than Econometric Models?
  • How Does Charles Dickens Build a Sense of Fear Throughout the Signalman?
  • Does the Media Affect People’s Fear of Crime?
  • How Does Fear Affect Our Society?
  • Why Do Males and Females Register Fear Differently?
  • How Can Fear Destroy an Individual?
  • Was the Cuban Missile Crisis the Result of Castro’s Fear of the U.S. Invasion?
  • How Does ‘Moral Panic’ Increase Our Fear of Crime?
  • Respect Essay Topics
  • Moral Development Essay Topics
  • Safety Essay Ideas
  • Conflict Research Topics
  • Hope Research Topics
  • Leadership Concept Essay Titles
  • Personal Values Ideas
  • Stoicism Topics
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 24). 97 Fear Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/fear-essay-examples/

"97 Fear Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 24 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/fear-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '97 Fear Essay Topics & Examples'. 24 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "97 Fear Essay Topics & Examples." February 24, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/fear-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "97 Fear Essay Topics & Examples." February 24, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/fear-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "97 Fear Essay Topics & Examples." February 24, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/fear-essay-examples/.

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Fear isn’t the Enemy: Eileen Gu’s Striking Words on how to Overcome Anxiety.

essay on worst fear

  • Shaun White & Kevin Pearce: the Untold Story of what it takes to be a Role Model.
  • It’s Never too Late to Follow your Dreams—Anna Gasser & “The Spark Within.”
can we talk about how eileen gu is an olympian, a model, AND a freshman at stanford?? pic.twitter.com/zwQEzp8lBF — abby (@leahtobins) February 7, 2022

What’s the difference between fear, excitement, and anxiety?

Fear can be our worst enemy. There is a pandemic of anxiety. But what if we change our perspective on these feelings?

Maybe we need to question our perception of these emotions and take a nonjudgmental approach? Why do we label certain feelings as negative? What happens when we actually enjoy the rush of adrenaline instead of trying to stop it?

This morning, I read an essay written by gold medalist Eileen Gu  in The New York Times . She describes her relationship with fear in a way that could be of benefit to all of us (even if we don’t plan to throw a triple backflip on skies anytime soon).

Gu is about to become the superstar of the Winter Olympics 2022. Her dad is American, her mom is Chinese—and she decided to compete for China, despite the fact that she grew up in California.

Her decision to represent China at the games has sparked some controversy, but I love the way Gu is dealing with ongoing criticism. She wants to inspire women to “break their own boundaries.”

As many women (and men) struggle with anxiety these days, I feel Gu’s essay perfectly describes how to develop a healthy relationship with our feelings.

She wrote, “‘Fear’ is really an umbrella term for three distinct sensations: excitement, uncertainty, and pressure. I’ve learned that the nuanced indicators of each of these feelings can be instrumental to success when recognized and positively leveraged, and harbingers of injury when ignored.”

Wow! This is the most grounded description of fear I have ever heard.

She continues to differentiate between the empowering effect of adrenaline and the limitations arising from uncertainty. Gu writes , “Every freeskier’s goal is to recognize the minute differences between excitement and uncertainty in order to maximize performance while minimizing the risk of injury.”

We don’t need to be a freeskier to apply this to our daily lives. We can have a similar experience as authors, parents, and partners. What we call fear is often just a feeling of excitement that we learned to label as fear.

Being a professional athlete, Gu knows that pressure can be limiting, but she also takes a nonjudgmental perspective when she writes, “Pressure can be a positive force for competitors who leverage it to rise to the occasion, but it can also single-handedly dictate competitive failure.”

And again, this is helpful for athletes but also a powerful reminder for average folks like you and me. Competition is not necessarily a bad thing; it’s more about how we approach it.

The next time I feel my heart pumping before an important meeting, I will think of Gu’s wisdom. And I invite you to explore any feelings of anxiety by simply asking, “Am I excited or scared? And what’s the difference?”

There had been a lot of talks and necessary discussions on China’s role in hosting the Olympics. There are valid accusations against the government of China.

But there is also this 18-year old athlete who wants to build a bridge between two different cultures. Gu is not only an outstanding athlete but also an inspiration to young women (and men) around the world to develop a healthy relationship with fear.

She worked hard to get into this position. And let’s not forget that she will return to the United States after the games. It might look as if the Chinese government is using her fame to fit into their own propaganda, but if she wins another two gold medals, there is no way to silence her.

She will become the voice of a generation of young people with American-Chinese heritage—no matter if either of the two governments likes it or not.

Gu is here to stay. She is likely to dominate freeskiing for the next decade.

And I can’t wait to read her next essay—because, on top of being a gold medalist, model, and accepted into Stanford University, she is also an amazing writer.

I wish her the best of luck for her next competitions and hope that she continues to use her voice to inspire others. I hope that she uses her popularity to speak up on topics like freedom of speech and human rights—but I understand that she will wait for that until her return to California.

She didn’t make the rules, but it looks as if she knows how to play the game.

Maybe it’s because she knows how to deal with fear?

  • 6 Heartwarming Stories in Olympic Snowboarding that have Nothing to do with Shaun White.
  • Why Boycotting the Olympics doesn’t Help Anyone (& What we need to Talk about Instead).
  • 12 Addictive Behaviors that are Hidden Signs of Anxiety.
  • Anxiety is not Our Enemy—but Rather a Dear Friend.
  • The Fears, Limiting Beliefs & Perceived Obstacles Disconneting us from our Heart.
  • Fearlessness is feeling the Fear.

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Robert Busch is a yoga teacher, author, musician, and explorer of life. After finishing his training at the Elephant Academy, he published two books in his first language (Ger… Read full bio

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Essay on Fear in 600 Words: Steps to Overcome Fear

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  • Mar 22, 2024

Essay on Fear

Essay on fear: Fear is a feeling of apprehension, anxiety, or dread in response to a perceived threat or danger. We all fear something. Fear can be caused by any situation, stimuli, individual, or past memory. Fear activates our fight-or-flight response, a surge of hormones like adrenaline that prepares us to face danger head-on or escape a risky situation. 

essay on worst fear

Overcoming fear requires courage, determination, and willpower. A person who has hydrophobia can overcome his/her fear through exposure therapy under an expert, cognitive behavioral therapy, and efforts. Fearing something for a long time can lead to persistent anxiety and stress, causing symptoms like racing thoughts, difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, and fatigue.

Table of Contents

  • 1 Why Do We Fear?
  • 2 What Are Some Popular Fears/ Phobias?
  • 3 Steps to Overcome Fear
  • 4 10 Motivational Quotes to Overcome Fear

Also Read: Essay on Chandrayaan 3

Why Do We Fear?

There are several causes of fear. Humans and animals fear a specific stimulus associated with their unpleasant memories. Our response to fear varies. 

Survival instinct can lead to fear. Individuals who are more cautious and alert to potential dangers are more likely to survive and pass on their genes. Fear drives us to react quickly to threats. This reaction is mostly of fighting or fleeing, increasing our chances of survival. 

Personal experiences or learned behavior can be a cause of fear. A person with a negative experience with a particular situation or object may develop fear or phobia associated with it. This learned fear helps us avoid potential harm in the future.

Our lives are greatly influenced by our cultural and social values. Societal norms, religious beliefs, and cultural traditions often influence what we perceive as threatening or dangerous. 

What Are Some Popular Fears/ Phobias?

The list of fears or phobias is endless. Some of the popular fears/ phobias are:

  • Fear or Darkness – Achluophobia
  • Fear of Heights – Acrophobia
  • Fear of Flying – Aerophobia
  • Fear of Failure – Atychiphobia
  • Fear of Being Alone – Autophobia
  • Fear of Bacteria – Bacteriophobia
  • Fear of Gravity – Barophobia
  • Fear of Books – Bibliophobia
  • Fear of Snow – Chionophobia
  • Fear of Dogs – Cynophobia

Steps to Overcome Fear

Identifying your fears, their causes, and their consequences is very important as it can help you overcome them and become successful in life. A person who fears something finds it difficult to deal with everyday situations. Imagine you have Acrophobia or fear of heights and your office is located on the 40th floor of a building. Will you be able to concentrate on your work? Don’t need to panic, as we will provide you with some easy steps to overcome fear.

  • Identify Your Fear

Start by identifying your fear, its causes, and what triggers it. What is your fear? Heights? Water? Insects? Whatever it is, talk to yourself about it and understand how you react when you face your fear.

  • Challenge Your Thoughts

Our thoughts play an important role in fueling fear. Often, our fearful thoughts are exaggerated or irrational. Challenge these thoughts by asking yourself: How realistic is this fear? What’s the evidence to support this thought? 

  • Relaxation Techniques

Fight or flight is the immediate response when we face our fear. This is a natural response. Simple techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can help calm your body and mind, making it easier to think clearly and rationally.

  • Graduation Exposure

Pushing yourself in a controlled and safe way can be a great way to overcome your fear. A person who fears heights can overcome his fear by watching videos of high places. Then progress to visiting a low balcony, and eventually working your way up to higher heights.

  • Positive Visualization

How great will you feel when you realize you have successfully overcome your fear? Visualizing can help you take steps that can lead to positive outcomes. This can help build confidence and reduce anxiety.

  • Reach Out for Support

Talking to a close friend, family member, or therapist about your fear can be a great way. Talking it out can provide valuable support and encouragement.

  • Reward Yourself

As we make progress in overcoming our fears, it is very important to reward ourselves by staying positive and moving forward.

10 Motivational Quotes to Overcome Fear

Here are 10 motivational quotes that can help you overcome your fears.

‘The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ – Nelson Mandela

‘You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.’ – Eleanor Roosevelt

‘Do the thing you fear and keep on doing it… Fear is a bully. A bully thrives on your silence. The more you cower, the more it swells. But when you stand up to it, when you seize it by the throat and say, ‘That’s enough,’ it wilts. It shrinks.’ – Rosie Greer

‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ – Franklin D. Roosevelt

‘Fear is a natural reaction to a perceived threat. Courage is the movement forward despite that fear.’ – Pauline Rohn

‘Fall seven times and stand up eight.’ – Japanese Proverb

‘I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.’ – Michael Jordan

‘There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the life you are capable of living.’ – Nelson Mandela

‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frighten us.’ – Marianne Williamson

‘Do not let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.’ – Babe Ruth

Ans: Fear is a feeling of apprehension, anxiety, or dread in response to a perceived threat or danger. Identifying your fears, their causes, and their consequences is very important as it can help you overcome them and become successful in life. A person who fears something finds it difficult to deal with everyday situations. Imagine you have Acrophobia or fear of heights and your office is located on the 40th floor of a building. Will you be able to concentrate on your work?

Ans: Survival instinct can lead to fear. Individuals who are more cautious and alert to potential dangers are more likely to survive and pass on their genes. Fear drives us to react quickly to threats. This reaction is mostly of fighting or fleeing, increasing our chances of survival.  Personal experiences or learned behavior can be a cause of fear. A person with a negative experience with a particular situation or object may develop fear or phobia associated with it. This learned fear helps us avoid potential harm in the future.

Ans: ‘The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ ‘Fear is a natural reaction to a perceived threat. Courage is the movement forward despite that fear.’ ‘Fall seven times and stand up eight.’

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Essay on Fear

Students are often asked to write an essay on Fear in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Fear

Understanding fear.

Fear is a basic human emotion that alerts us to the presence of danger. It is fundamental to our survival, making us respond quickly when we sense a threat.

Fear’s Role

Fear helps us make decisions that protect us from harm. It triggers our ‘fight or flight’ response, preparing our bodies to either confront or escape danger.

Overcoming Fear

Fear can be overcome by understanding and facing it. When we challenge our fears, we learn to control them, reducing their impact on our lives.

The Positive Side of Fear

Fear can also be positive, motivating us to push beyond our comfort zones, leading to personal growth and achievement.

250 Words Essay on Fear

Fear is an innate emotional response to perceived threats. It is evolutionarily wired into our brains, acting as a survival mechanism that alerts us to danger and prepares our bodies to react. While fear can be a beneficial response, it can also be debilitating when it becomes chronic or irrational.

The Physiology of Fear

Fear triggers a cascade of physiological responses, including the release of adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones prepare the body for the ‘fight or flight’ response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. This process, while crucial for survival in threatening situations, can lead to health problems if sustained over a long period.

Fear and the Mind

Psychologically, fear can be both a conscious and subconscious experience. It can be based on real threats or imagined ones, leading to anxiety disorders and phobias. Fear can also influence decision-making, often leading to risk-averse behavior. Understanding the psychological aspects of fear is essential for effective mental health treatment.

Overcoming fear involves recognizing and confronting it. Techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction can be effective. These strategies aim to change the thought patterns that lead to fear and teach coping mechanisms to manage fear responses.

Fear in Society

Fear also plays a significant role in society, influencing politics, economics, and social interactions. It can be used as a tool of manipulation, or it can drive societal change. Recognizing the societal implications of fear is crucial for fostering a more understanding and empathetic society.

In conclusion, fear is a complex emotion with profound impacts on individuals and society. Understanding its mechanisms and implications can help us navigate our fears and use them as catalysts for growth.

500 Words Essay on Fear

Introduction.

Fear is a universal human experience, an essential part of our biological makeup that has evolved over millions of years. It is a complex emotion that can be both protective and paralyzing, serving as a warning signal for danger while also potentially hindering personal growth and exploration. This essay explores the multifaceted nature of fear, its psychological implications, and its role in shaping human behavior and society.

The Biological Basis of Fear

Fear is fundamentally rooted in our biology. It is a response triggered by the amygdala, a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain that processes emotional stimuli. When we perceive a threat, the amygdala activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, leading to physiological changes such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened alertness. This response is adaptive and has been crucial for human survival, allowing us to react quickly to potential threats.

The Psychological Aspect of Fear

Psychologically, fear is a multifaceted emotion with wide-ranging implications. It can be both acute, as in the immediate response to a threat, and chronic, as in the long-term fear associated with anxiety disorders. Fear can also be learned through conditioning or observation, which explains why different individuals may have different fear responses to the same stimulus.

Fear and Society

On a societal level, fear can be both a unifying and a divisive force. It can bring people together in the face of a common threat, but it can also be exploited to manipulate public opinion and justify oppressive policies. Fear can lead to stereotyping and discrimination, as individuals or groups are scapegoated as threats to societal safety and order.

Overcoming fear involves recognizing and understanding it. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one effective method, as it helps individuals reframe their fearful thoughts and gradually expose themselves to feared situations. Mindfulness and meditation can also be beneficial, allowing individuals to stay present and focused rather than getting caught up in fearful thoughts.

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Theo Tsaousides Ph.D.

7 Things You Need to Know About Fear

5. The more scared you feel, the scarier things will seem.

Posted November 19, 2015 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

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Fear can be uncomfortable and crippling. But eliminating it would be the equivalent of taking down your home alarm system because it sometimes makes loud and irritating sounds.

Being fearless doesn’t mean eliminating fear. It means knowing how to leverage fear. And to do that, you need to know a few things about what you are dealing with. (Part 1 of this series was about the fears that keep people up at night.)

1. Fear is healthy.

Fear is hardwired in your brain, and for good reason: Neuroscientists have identified distinct networks that run from the depths of the limbic system all the way to the prefrontal cortex and back. When these networks are electrically or chemically stimulated, they produce fear, even in the absence of a fearful stimulus. Feeling fear is neither abnormal nor a sign of weakness: The capacity to be afraid is part of normal brain function. In fact, a lack of fear may be a sign of serious brain damage.

2. Fear comes in many shades.

Fear is an inherently unpleasant experience that can range from mild to paralyzing—from anticipating the results of a medical checkup to hearing news of a deadly terrorist attack. Horrifying events can leave a permanent mark on your brain circuitry, which may require professional help. However, chronic stress , the low-intensity variety of fear expressed as free-floating anxiety , constant worry, and daily insecurity, can quietly but seriously harm your physical and mental health over time.

3. Fear is not as automatic as you think.

Fear is part instinct, part learned, part taught. Some fears are instinctive: Pain, for example, causes fear because of its implications for survival. Other fears are learned: We learn to be afraid of certain people, places, or situations because of negative associations and past experiences. A near-drowning incident, for example, may cause fear each time you get close to a body of water. Other fears are taught: Cultural norms often dictate whether something should be feared or not. Think, for example, about how certain social groups are feared and persecuted because of a societally-created impression that they are dangerous.

4. You don’t need to be in danger to be scared.

Fear is also partly imagined, and so it can arise in the absence of something scary. In fact, because our brains are so efficient, we begin to fear a range of stimuli that are not scary ( conditioned fear ) or not even present ( anticipatory anxiety ). We get scared because of what we imagine could happen. Some neuroscientists claim that humans are the most fearful creatures on the planet because of our ability to learn, think, and create fear in our minds. But this low-grade, objectless fear can turn into chronic anxiety about nothing specific, and become debilitating.

Through a process called potentiation , your fear response is amplified if you are already in a state of fear. When you are primed for fear, even harmless events seem scary. If you are watching a documentary about venomous spiders, a tickle on your neck caused by, say, a loose thread in your sweater will startle you and make you jump out of your seat in terror. If you are afraid of flying, even the slightest turbulence will push your blood pressure through the roof of the plane. And the more worried you are about your job security, the more you will sweat it when your boss calls you in for even an uneventful meeting.

6. Fear dictates the actions you take.

Actions motivated by fear fall into four types—freeze, fight, flight, or fright. Freeze means you stop what you are doing and focus on the fearful stimulus to decide what to do next (e.g., you read a memo that your company will be laying off people). Next, you choose either fight or flight . You decide whether to deal with the threat directly (tell your boss why you shouldn’t be laid off) or work around it (start looking for another job). When the fear is overwhelming, you experience fright : You neither fight nor flee; in fact, you do nothing—well, you obsess about the layoffs, ruminate, and complain, but you take no action. Being continuously in fright mode can lead to hopelessness and depression .

7. The more real the threat, the more heroic your actions.

We react differently to real and imagined threats. Imagined threats cause paralysis. Being scared about all the bad things that may or may not happen in the future makes you worry a lot but take little action. You are stuck in a state of fear, overwhelmed but not knowing what to do. Real threats, on the other hand, cause frenzy. When the threat is imminent and identifiable, you jump to action immediately and without flinching. This is why people are much more likely to change their eating habits after a serious health scare (e.g., a heart attack) than after just reading statistics about the deleterious effect of a diet based on fried foods. If you want to mobilize your troops, you have to put yourself in danger.

Fear can be as much an ally, as it can be an enemy. And fear of fear can keep you locked in a cage of insecurity. How do you overcome it? You learn to leverage it. More about that in Part 3.

Theo Tsaousides Ph.D.

Theo Tsaousides, Ph.D. is a neuropsychologist, assistant professor, and author of the book Brainblocks: Overcoming the Seven Hidden Barriers to Success .

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The top 7 worst phobias to live with, according to a psychologist.

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The following seven phobias are equally debilitating as they are bizarre. Have you heard of them ... [+] before?

Nobody in the world is truly fearless. Whether it’s spiders, clowns, the dark or failure—each of us has a personal kryptonite. However, not all fears are created equally. Many of us can navigate life with minimal disruption, either rarely or never having to face our greatest fears. But for some, this is not the case.

There are certain phobias so profoundly debilitating that they can deeply impact every aspect of an individual’s life. The following seven fears are ones you’ve likely never heard of before, and—based on psychological research—are arguably the most challenging to live with.

7. Ambulophobia

Ambulophobia, according to a 2022 study from Frontiers in Psychology , is the specific phobia involving an intense fear of walking—which primarily affects the elderly. These individuals often avoid walking on uneven surfaces and may prefer to stay in bed or at home to reduce the risk of falling. The fear can become so overwhelming that it significantly restricts their mobility and independence.

According to the authors, “This phobia may arise as a result of a traumatic experience, a past experience—the affected person may have experienced a fall or witnessed another person fall. As a consequence of this incident, they experience a real, but irrational and disproportionate fear of walking due to lack of confidence in their own abilities.”

People with ambulophobia experience severe anxiety at the mere thought of walking, especially on uneven or unfamiliar surfaces. This fear manifests through panic attacks, a rapid heartbeat, sweating and an overwhelming desire to avoid situations that require walking. Everyday activities—such as going for a walk, shopping or even moving around the house—become daunting tasks. The fear of falling looms large, making the world outside feel like a dangerous place filled with potential hazards.

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Ios 17.6—update now warning issued to all iphone users, trump vs. harris 2024 polls: harris leads trump in 3 surveys this week, 6. decidophobia.

Decidophobia, according to a 2021 study from the Journal of Sociology and Ethnology , is an irrational fear of making decisions—which can cripple one’s ability to navigate daily life. People with this phobia often experience significant panic even when faced with minor choices.

This overwhelming fear can result in physical symptoms—such as increased heart rate, shortness of breath, elevated blood pressure, sweating, muscle tension and tremors. The fear can leave sufferers feeling helpless; according to a Reddit user with decidophobia, “All I can say is that if you don’t decide anything, a decision will be made for you—and you won’t like it.”

The fear of decision-making can be paralyzing—ranging from what to eat for dinner to significant life choices like career moves or relationships. The fear of making the wrong choice can lead to chronic procrastination, avoidance and reliance on others to make decisions for them. Life becomes a series of stressful dilemmas, where each decision feels like a potential catastrophe waiting to happen.

5. Cibophobia

Cibophobia—also known as sitophobia—involves a persistent and irrational fear of food. Individuals with this phobia experience extreme anxiety about food preparation, contamination and poisoning.

“I’m scared it's gone bad, and I’ll get physically ill just thinking about it—as though I’ve already eaten it and it was bad. But I have to think of it as bad first for that to happen. If it seems fine, then I can eat—no worries. Unfortunately, my criteria for food being fine is drastically different to ‘normal’ people,” explains a Reddit user with cibophobia explains

Cibophobes may obsessively fret over how food is prepared, who prepares it and potential contamination. This intense fear leads to reduced food intake, significant anxiety around meals, sleep disorders and physical illness from constant worry. Daily life becomes a struggle as the fear of food affects nutrition and overall health; each meal becomes a source of stress rather than sustenance.

4. Somniphobia

A 2023 study from Psychology and Education outlines that somniphobia—the fear of sleep—involves intense anxiety related to falling asleep. The symptoms associated with somniphobia include difficulty initiating sleep, increased arousal at bedtime and significant distress. This phobia can lead to sleep deprivation and impaired functioning during waking hours.

The lack of understanding we have regarding what happens to us when we sleep—as well the fact that we never truly know that we will certainly wake up—is deeply distressing to somniphobes. One Reddit user explains, “This is exactly what I’ve pinpointed to be the reason as to why I fear sleep. We don’t know when our brains are gonna shut off. It just happens, and not having the ability to control that is scary since unconsciousness—where we know nothing and don't ‘exist’—is scary.”

Individuals with somniphobia may dread bedtime—fearing the loss of control that comes with sleep. They might experience insomnia, frequent waking and panic attacks. The resulting sleep deprivation can cause fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating, which can severely impact daily life. Nightfall brings about a battle against their own minds, as the fear of falling asleep takes precedence over the body's need for rest.

3. Acousticophobia

Acousticophobia, or fear of noise, often originates in childhood—according to a 2019 study from Jacobs Journal of Neurology and Neuroscience. It’s often triggered by particularly loud noises that cause intense fright, but can extend to a variety of startling, strange or overwhelming noises.

Acousticophobes emphasize the wide range of sounds that can be potentially triggering. “I tend to get panic attacks when I'm around too many sounds. I say sounds because it’s not necessarily just noise, like a baby crying or people talking. It might just be music playing. I have never been claustrophobic in the sense that small spaces frighten me; I don’t mind closed spaces at all. I just sometimes get panic attacks from too much sound. Kind of like a sensory overload,” expressed a Reddit user , who likened their experience to claustrophobia.

People with acousticophobia can become majorly panicked in environments with various sounds—such as busy streets, concerts or even household noises. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, sweating and an overwhelming desire to escape noisy environments. This phobia can lead to social isolation and avoidance of public places—making it difficult for individuals to engage in normal social activities or even leave their homes.

2. Chronophobia

Chronophobia, according to a 2020 study from the Asian Journal of Psychiatry , is the fear of passing time. This strange phobia is often seen in individuals experiencing extended periods of confinement—such as individuals in prison or quarantine—and involves a neurotic fear of time’s relentless progression.

However, this fear can affect others too. A 15-year old high-schooler laments over his experience of chronophobia: “In the blink of an eye, the weekend was over. Today is over. What the f*ck. Time is so weird. It makes me want to throw up. I'm not even saying this to be quirky or grasp at straws to say that something is wrong with me. I’ve had existential crises over this since the ages of 6 or 7.”

Symptoms of chronophobia include panic attacks, anxiety and deep, existential dread at the thought of time passing. Individuals may feel trapped by the concept of time, which can make it incredibly difficult to focus on the present moment. This fear can significantly impair daily functioning and mental health, as the awareness of time’s passage—and how unstoppable it is—becomes a source of constant distress.

1. Phobophobia

Phobophobia, according to Cleveland Clinic , is the fear of fear itself. It manifests as a fear of experiencing fear—physically or emotionally—or showing it to others. Both ironically and sadly, it is a self-perpetuating condition; the anxiety about potential fear leads to constant vigilance and stress.

A Reddit user explains how truly inescapable and phobophobia can feel, saying, “It basically permeates through your whole existence, and you can’t feel safe anywhere anymore—even in previously happy places because of the looming fear that you could freak out at the sight of a desk, or your bed or literally any concept.”

Individuals with phobophobia live in a persistent state of heightened anxiety, constantly worried about encountering situations that might trigger fear. This can lead to avoidance behaviors, social isolation and difficulty in daily activities. Fear becomes a pervasive presence, affecting every aspect of life; the individual becomes trapped in a cycle of anxiety and dread, which in turn fuels the fear of fear itself.

Mark Travers

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Fear — The Causes And Effects Of Fear

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The Causes and Effects of Fear

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Published: Feb 8, 2022

Words: 569 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited:

  • Chen, K. (2004). Chinese silk: A cultural history. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
  • Chinese Silk Association. (2020). Chinese Silk Association. Retrieved from https://www.silk.org.cn/index.html
  • Kuhn, D. (2009). The age of Confucian rule: The Song transformation of China. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  • Liu, X. (2012). The silk road in world history. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Mazumdar, S. (2015). Silk textiles of India. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
  • Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China. (2020). Silk Road. Retrieved from http://en.silkroad.org.cn/
  • Park, J., & Han, D. (2019). Historical review on the characteristics and manufacturing process of silk. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, 11(3), 1-22.
  • Tong, X. (2016). A history of silk: The history of China's legendary silk cloth, from its creation to the 21st century. London: Academic Press.
  • Wei, L., & Lai, W. (2013). Analysis of the production and export of silk in ancient China. The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, 22(4), 488-503.
  • Yang, Y. (2014). Exploring the silk road. New York: China Institute Gallery.

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Young boys sell groundnuts on the street in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Ismaeel Ogunsola, centre, member of take it back movement, who said he will participate in tomorrow’s protest, buys vegetables at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

People buy food at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

A man sells sachet drinks on the street in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Women sell tomatoes and pepper at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Tricycle drivers queue to buy fuel at a petrol station in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

FILE - Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, center right, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Nigeria ruling party, center left, during an election campaign rally at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos Nigeria, Feb. 21, 2023. Nigeria has long been among Africa’s top economies and oil producers. But many Nigerians, frustrated with prevailing economic hardship, are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)

Women sell plantain and tomatoes at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

People buys food stuffs at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

A woman waits for customers to buy her fish at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

A woman sells smoke fish at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

A woman reacts during a transaction with a point of sale machine at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation .

And with momentum soaring on social media, authorities fear a replay of the deadly 2020 demonstrations against police brutality in this West African nation — or a wave of violence similar to last month’s protests in Kenya, where a tax hike led to chaos in the capital, Nairobi.

The government of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu says it is determined to prevent such a scenario in a country that has long been a top African oil producer but whose citizens are among the world’s poorest.

On Wednesday, security forces were deployed on major roads in cities, including the capital of Abuja and the country’s largest, Lagos. Authorities touted the positives, appealing to organizers to shelve plans for the protests.

“Is a protest the catalyst for progress we need now? I strongly believe it isn’t. Instead, it could undo the modest gains we’ve made,” Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said in a speech.

Nigerian politicians and lawmakers, often accused of corruption, are some of the best-paid in Africa. Even the president’s wife — her office nowhere in the constitution — is entitled to SUVs and other luxuries funded by taxpayers .

Image

Nigeria’s population of over 210 million people — the continent’s largest — is also among the hungriest in the world and its government has struggled to create jobs.

The current economic hardship under Tinubu, who promised “renewed hope” when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government’s economic policies that have pushed the local currency to record low against the dollar .

Local media have reported that organizers of the protests, which are planned for Thursday, rejected a proposal from Nigeria’s police to instead hold rallies in confined spaces — easily controlled by security forces.

“So many people are struggling to stay alive,” Rev. Peter Odogwu said during his Sunday sermon at a church in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

“There is so much hardship and that is why collectively people want to speak out,” the Catholic priest said. “But there’s so much opposition from the government trying to discourage people from going out.”

The frustration is widespread, though it is worse in northeastern Nigeria, where the world’s longest war on militancy has left 4.8 million people in dire need of food, according to the United Nation’s food agency. Nationwide, at least 32 million Nigerians face acute hunger, which is 10% of the global burden, the World Food Program said.

“The malnutrition rates and the rate of food insecurity in the (three northeastern) states have never been as bad as they are this year, but they’ve never been as bad country-wide either,” said David Stevenson, WFP country director in Nigeria.

Tinubu’s aides have sought to defend his achievements and efforts to ease the hardship, citing convoys of food trucks dispatched to the worst-hit states, cash support to families and businesses and a new law that more than doubled the minimum pay of government workers.

But the new minimum monthly wage of $43 is six times lower than what labor unions said they needed to cover for the loss in the value of the naira, Nigeria’s currency.

The president’s critics also say he has performed below the expectations that catapulted him to power 14 years ago. They point to Nigeria’s deadly security crises in the conflict-battered north and an ailing economy, which was once ranked Africa’s largest but is set to slip to fourth place this year, according to the forecast by the International Monetary Fund.

Tinubu’s economic reforms — including the suspension of decadeslong and costly gas subsidies and measures by the country’s central bank such as currency devaluations to halt the distorted foreign exchange rate — were supposed to save the government money and shore up dwindling foreign investments.

However, their poor implementation has had a knock-on effect on the price of just about everything else, analysts say, pointing especially to the absence of adequate and timely support programs.

The suspension of gas subsidies more than doubled the price of petrol.

In a country where millions have little to no electricity , that meant more money spent on fuel for generators and a growing number of people trekking to work because of rising transport costs.

More people are also having to work multiple jobs.

“The work that you’ve never done before, when Tinubu came, all of us began to do it,” said James Ayuba, a laborer who lives in Abuja.

His family has had to move from the city center to the outskirts, where living is cheaper and costs are lower. He also got a second job but his family still struggles to buy food and other basic needs.

“Everything in Nigeria has turned upside down,” the father of three said.

essay on worst fear

How Trump Supercharged Project 2025—Whether He Wanted To or Not

Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump Holds A Campaign Rally In Charlotte, North Carolina

F rom running a business into the ground to doing the same with our country, Donald Trump does a lot of things wrong . But, if we’re being honest, his instincts in marketing are usually pretty darn good. In recent weeks, though, he’s made a colossal marketing mistake.

On July 5, Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to declare that he “knows nothing” about Project 2025, a 920-page guidebook for a second Trump presidency, put together by right-wing think tank Heritage Foundation. And he tried it again this week. He thought he could distance himself from the backlash to his blueprint. But, Donald Trump claiming to not know Project 2025 would be like Jeffrey Dahmer claiming to be an introvert who has never met people before.

More than simply not being believed, though, Trump did something that he never expected: He supercharged interest in Project 2025. On Jun 24, the pollsters at Navigator Research found Project 2025's favorability underwater by 9-points (10-19%) with most people unaware of the plan altogether. Less than one month later, the favorability had plummeted to negative 32-points (11-43%) after Trump made it a bigger subject of conversation. When people learn about it, they react like they would watching a horror movie: They hate each minute of it but they can’t stop themselves from watching what comes next.

In fact, by July 11, more people were searching for information about Project 2025 than were searching for Taylor Swift or the NFL. People ranging from John Oliver to Taraji P. Henson have brought attention to it. Vice President Harris even referenced it in the announcement that she was running for President last weekend.

Project 2025 outlines how a second Trump administration would take over the government and give the MAGA movement more power than any president has had in the history of the United States The detailed plan meticulously lays out all the freedoms the Trump administration plans to take away from the American people and the threat they pose to working families and seniors, including letting government monitor women’s pregnancies while they pass a national ban on abortion; overturning health care protections for people with pre-existing conditions while removing the $35 cap on the price of insulin; and eliminating the Department of Education, Head Start, clean energy and the National Weather Service.

Read More: Project 2025’s Plan to Eliminate Public Schools Has Already Started

There is real power in having a national conversation about Project 2025. As people hear more about the plan, they shift from opposing it by 13-points to opposing it by 48-points. The biggest growth comes from non-MAGA affiliated Republicans and independents, especially non-college educated women under 55. All of these are key to building an electoral coalition in 2024 and beyond.

There are three main things people need to know when it comes to communicating about Project 2025.

It’s not your typical political BS

Most voters think a “plan” or an “agenda” from a politician is meaningless and largely disconnected from what will really happen. While that is sometimes true, Project 2025 isn’t like that. Twelve years ago, Republicans were caught on defense because they actually passed a budget (the Ryan budget) that would privatize Medicare. For the last two years, they’ve had to defend the actual overturning of Roe v. Wade. It wasn’t theoretical. It was real. People will know that this 920-page meticulous blueprint to takeover government is just as real and as present a danger. 

It confirms people's worst fears about Republicans, especially Trump

People are fearful of what another Trump presidency would mean—the chaos, the criminality, and shredding the Constitution. Americans start with a pre-existing belief that Trump and the MAGA allies are power-hungry, but Project 2025 proves they intended to do it and shows how. For example, they will take away the Department of Justice and replace it with hand-picked loyalists who report to them. It’s clear this is exactly what people featured—them pursuing absolute power. 

It’s mysterious and sinister

If you look at the massive uptick in the online conversation about Project 2025, one theme emerges consistently: curiosity. People see a 920-document written in secret by a bunch of Trump’s agents as mysterious and probably sinister. So they want to read it. They want to understand it. They want to reveal it. It plays into the conspiratorial notion of how people think and the conspiracy-theory attributes that drive many of the algorithms that dominate social media. In fact, as Trump found out starting with his July 5th tweet, the more that his team denies ownership of the plan, the more convinced people are that they own it.

But Democrats can’t just name drop the plan and expect that to evoke its intended impact. We have to frame the plan as the extreme blueprint it is and explain its consequences. We need to tell a common story, not just use a common set of magic words.

Project 2025 is more than a white paper, a policy proposal, or an agenda. It’s an instruction manual for a takeover—eliminating the protections for people and strengthening their ways to control people. We have to treat it as such.

The Trump team made the mistake of writing down their manual, giving everyone a chance to see what the future would look like under their administration. Then, they told everyone not to look at it. Predictably, now everyone wants a peek.

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Contact us at [email protected]

essay on worst fear

Democracy challenged

‘A Crisis Coming’: The Twin Threats to American Democracy

Credit... Photo illustration by Matt Chase

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David Leonhardt

By David Leonhardt

David Leonhardt is a senior writer at The Times who won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Great Recession.

  • Published Sept. 17, 2022 Updated June 21, 2023

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The United States has experienced deep political turmoil several times before over the past century. The Great Depression caused Americans to doubt the country’s economic system. World War II and the Cold War presented threats from global totalitarian movements. The 1960s and ’70s were marred by assassinations, riots, a losing war and a disgraced president.

These earlier periods were each more alarming in some ways than anything that has happened in the United States recently. Yet during each of those previous times of tumult, the basic dynamics of American democracy held firm. Candidates who won the most votes were able to take power and attempt to address the country’s problems.

The current period is different. As a result, the United States today finds itself in a situation with little historical precedent. American democracy is facing two distinct threats, which together represent the most serious challenge to the country’s governing ideals in decades.

The first threat is acute: a growing movement inside one of the country’s two major parties — the Republican Party — to refuse to accept defeat in an election.

The violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress , meant to prevent the certification of President Biden’s election, was the clearest manifestation of this movement, but it has continued since then. Hundreds of elected Republican officials around the country falsely claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Some of them are running for statewide offices that would oversee future elections, potentially putting them in position to overturn an election in 2024 or beyond.

“There is the possibility, for the first time in American history, that a legitimately elected president will not be able to take office,” said Yascha Mounk, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University who studies democracy.

Vote Margins by State in Presidential Elections since 1988

Senate representation by state.

Residents of less populated states like Wyoming and North Dakota, who are disproportionately white, have outsize influence.

essay on worst fear

1 voter in Wyoming

has similar representation as

1 voter in North Dakota

6 voters in Connecticut

7 voters in Alabama

18 voters in Michigan

59 voters in California

essay on worst fear

has similar

representation as

Landslides in 2020 House Elections

There were about twice as many districts where a Democratic House candidate won by at least 50 percentage points as there were districts where a Republican candidate won by as much.

essay on worst fear

Landslide (one candidate won

by at least 50 percentage points)

Barbara Lee

Calif. District 13

Jerry Nadler

N.Y. District 10

Diana DeGette

Colo. District 1

Donald Payne Jr.

N.J. District 10

Jesús García

Ill. District 4

essay on worst fear

Landslide (one candidate won by at least 50 percentage points)

Presidential Appointments of Supreme Court Justices

essay on worst fear

Supreme Court appointments

Presidential election winners

Popular vote

Electoral College

Party that nominated a justice

David H. Souter (until 2009)

Clarence Thomas

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (until 2020)

Stephen G. Breyer (until 2022)

John G. Roberts Jr.

Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Sonia Sotomayor

Elena Kagan

Neil M. Gorsuch

Brett M. Kavanaugh

Amy Coney Barrett

Ketanji Brown Jackson

essay on worst fear

Supreme Court

Presidential election

nominated a justice

Souter (until 2009)

Ginsburg (until 2020)

Breyer (until 2022)

State Legislators and Election Lies

The share of Republican state legislators who have taken steps, as of May 2022, to discredit or overturn the 2020 presidential election results

essay on worst fear

Pennsylvania

essay on worst fear

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