From speaking in from of a large classroom of people to stumbling across a bear and her cubs in the woods, fear can be induced in many different ways. These situations can be unexpected and possibly dangerous or exhilarating and safe environments.  These different situations can prompt various reactions bases on what situation the stimulus of fear is triggered.  As a result of this fear, there can be short-lasting or long-lasting effects ranging from positive to negative.  Fear-inducing activities can be traumatic; however, these activities can be beneficial for your health and seeking these uncomfortable situations in a safe and stimulating way can be personally gratifying. 

 

Brains are a complex organ capable are amazing things from basic instincts to greater problem-solving.  According to an article from The Smithsonian Magazine, entitled “What Happens in the Brain When We Feel Fear”, fear is one of our baser instincts.  Psychologists, Dr. Javanbakht and Dr. Saab, write that over time, human bodies have evolved to protect themselves from perceived threats and dangers.  The amygdala is a region of the brain that is activated whenever emotions are felt.  This causes the body to prepare for whatever situation it is in, resulting in the triggering of the sympathetic nervous system and what is called the “fight or flight response”.  Stress hormones are also released that causes changes in the body, including; dilated pupils, hyper-alertness, bronchi dilation, accelerated breathing, and heart rate increase.  A signal is also sent to the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which is where the situation is interpreted to see if the threat is real (Javanbakht and Saab).

 

Tim Newman, a Senior Editor at Medical News Today, writes in his article, “Dissecting Terror: How Does Fear Work?” when the fight or flight response is triggered epinephrine, cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenocorticotropic are released into the bloodstream.  Epinephrine is also known as adrenaline.  This hormone is, for the majority, responsible for the more obvious effects of fear on the body.  In situations where the potential threat is deemed harmless by the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, this can cause a euphoric feeling.  This is why some people enjoy thrill-seeking activities such as; haunted houses, skydiving, and race car driving.  This agrees with the Harvard-educated, Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer, Rush W Dozier Jr’s book “Fear Itself”, where he states, “The fearful experience itself vividly focuses our attention and memory-making us feel alive.  The fact that we often find surmounting a fear to be exhilarating and pleasurable explains many things about human behavior”.  Fear and stress can have physical and mental health benefits for the body.  These psychologists and psychiatrists agree that in situations where fear is stimulated in a place where the body is safe from a real potential threat. 

​

"Fear and stress can have physical and mental health benefits for the body."

​

​

Feeling fear or worry in safe situations can mental health benefits.  There was a study conducted in 2010, by collegiate professionals in numerous universities in the United States, entitled, Co-occurring Anxiety Influences Patterns of Brain Activity in Depression, where people who had reported feelings of depression were given activities to perform that would purposefully cause worry.  During said activities, an EEG scan of the brain showed less activity of depression. They found that their study suggested that those are depressed and are caused anxiety by a worry-inducing activity, have heightened arousal, which then, in turn, causes them to feel less depressed because of the chemicals and hormones released when the body feels this stressor.  In other words, as a result of worry-inducing activities, the participants felt less depressed.  This can also be applied to situations where fear is felt because worry and fear are very closely similar and the body releases the same chemicals in reaction.  This shows that mental health can be improved seeking fear-inducing or uncomfortable situations in a safe environment and in moderation (Co-occurring Anxiety Influences Patterns of Brain Activity in Depression).

 

David Ropeik, an international consultant, author, and teacher, writes in his article, “The Consequences of Fear”, that humans have an issue with misconception in terms of fear.  As a result of the amount of fear and danger humans have been exposed to, we now incorrectly judge risk factors of fear.  Which, in turn, can be dangerous.  He says that this is a result of being exposed to fear regularly and also through thrill-seeking and fear-inducing activities.  Humans are now incorrectly responding to the stimuli of their fear.  As a result, when there are traumatic situations of fear, the impacts are far more harmful than they would have bee if we were evolutionarily prepared.  There are times when people who enjoy thrill-seeking activities become addicted to the euphoric effects and seek more and more dangerous activities. 

 

It is understood that fear-inducing situations can be traumatic, however, in other situations where the individual actively seeks the feeling of fear in a safe situation, it can be beneficial.  Humans have evolved physically and so have their complex brain functions.  Human bodies are programmed for survival and this includes detecting threats even when we are not consciously aware of it.  According to Rush W. Dozier Jr’s, Fear Itself, “Basic research on the brain and the nature of fear clearly enhances our ability to survive…Our growing understanding of the brain’s fear circuitry gives us the tools to intelligently manage our fears”.  Although evolutionary speaking, we have developed to not view certain things as threats that our ancestors in the past have, we still are programmed for survival.  As the world we are in is more developed and has changed, so have stressors and fear-triggers.  Despite thrill-seeking activities becoming more main-stream, our natural preservation system still works.  If these activities are done in moderation and safely, then there is nothing to fear.  It is necessary to confront fear and not let it control you.  Letting fears control your life will prevent you from making progress in goals and life (Dozier). 

​

​

"Safely facing your fears in small steps will help you have control over your life and goals."

​

​

Seek the things that make you feel discomfort.  If you live your life inside a box of comfortability, then you will not experience growth of mind and be able to embrace changes that happen in your life.  Safely facing your fears in small steps will help you have control over your life and goals.  Do not be afraid of life’s changes and uncontrollable events.  Thrill-seeking activities can be a way to help you face your fears safely and physically stimulate the body.  These activities not only cause a euphoric feeling in some participants but also have mental health benefits.  It is important to do these things in moderation so that there are no ill-impacts of the hormones released during the activities and the event becomes traumatic.

 

 

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited

 

Carey, Elea. “Is Being Scared Actually Good for You? - Healthline.” Healthline, Healthline,

29 Oct. 2015, https://www.healthline.com/health/halloween-being-scared-good-for-you.

 

Engels, Anna S et al. “Co-occurring anxiety influences patterns of brain activity in

 depression.” Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience vol. 10,1 (2010): 141-56. doi:10.3758/CABN.10.1.141

​

Javanbakht , Arash, and Linda Saab. “What Happens in the Brain When We Feel

Fear.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 27 Oct. 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-happens-brain-feel-fear-180966992/.

​

Johnson, Luke R. “Editorial: How Fear and Stress Shape the Mind.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 4

Feb. 2016, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00024/full.

​

Newman, Tim. “Fear: What Happens in the Brain and Body?” Medical News Today,

MediLexicon International, 31 Oct. 2018, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323492.php#1.

​

Ringo, Allegra. “Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company,

31 Oct. 2013, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/why-do-some-brains-enjoy-fear/280938/.

​

Ropeik, David. “The consequences of fear.” EMBO reports vol. 5 Spec No,Suppl 1 (2004):

S56-60.   doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400228

​

​

Argument First Draft - November 19, 2019

​

From speaking in from of a large classroom of people to stumbling across a bear and her cubs in the woods, fear can be induced in many different ways. These situations can be unexpected and possibly dangerous or exhilarating and safe environments.  These different situations can prompt various reactions bases on what situation the stimulus of fear is triggered.  As a result of this fear, there can be short-lasting or long-lasting effects ranging from positive to negative.  Fear-inducing activities can be traumatic; however, these activities can be beneficial for your health and seeking these uncomfortable situations in a safe and stimulating way can be personally gratifying. 

 

Brains are a complex organ capable are amazing things from basic instincts to greater problem solving.  According to an article from The Smithsonian Magazine, entitled “What Happens in the Brain When We Feel Fear”, fear is one of our baser instincts.  Over time, human bodies have evolved to protect themselves from perceived threats and dangers.  The amygdala is a region of the brain that is activated whenever emotions are felt.  This causes the body to prepare for whatever situation it is in, resulting in the triggering od the sympathetic nervous system and what is called the “fight or flight response”.  Stress hormones are also released that causes changes in the body, including; dilated pupils, hyper-alertness, bronchi dilation, accelerated breathing, and heart rate increase.   A signal is also sent to the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which is where the situation is interpreted to see if the threat is real (Javanbakht and Saab).

 

According to an article from Medical News Today, “Dissecting Terror: How Does Fear Work?”, when the fight or flight response is triggered epinephrine, cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenocorticotropic are released into the bloodstream.  In situations where the potential threat is deemed harmless by the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, this can cause a euphoric feeling.  Which is why some people enjoy thrill-seeking activities such as; haunted houses, skydiving, and race car driving.  This agrees with Rush W Dozier, Jr’s book “Fear Itself”, where he states, “The fearful experience itself vividly focuses our attention and memory, making us feel alive.  The fact that we often find surmounting a fear to be exhilarating and pleasurable explain many things about human behavior”.  These psychologists and psychiatrist agree that in situations where fear is stimulated in a place where the body is safe from a real potential threat. 

 

Feeling fear or worry in safe situations can mental health benefits.  There was a study done in 2010 entitled, Co-occurring Anxiety Influences Patterns of Brain Activity in Depression, where people who had reported feelings of depression were given activities to perform that would purposefully cause worry.  During said activities, EEG scan of the brain showed less activity of depression. They found that their study suggested that those are depressed and are caused anxiety by a worry-inducing activity, have heightened arousal, which then in turn causes them to feel less depressed because of the chemicals and hormones released when the body feels this stressor.  This can also be applied to situations where fear is felt because worry and fear are very closely similar and the body releases the same chemicals in reaction.  This shows that mental health can be improved seeking fear-inducing or uncomfortable situations in a safe environment and in moderation (Co-occurring Anxiety Influences Patterns of Brain Activity in Depression).

 

David Ropeik, an international consultant, author, and teacher, writes in his article. “The Consequences of Fear”, that humans have an issue with misperception in terms of fear.  As a result of the amount of fear and danger humans have been exposed to, we now incorrectly judge risk factors of fear.  Which, in turn, can be dangerous.  He says that this is a result of being exposed to fear regularly and also through thrill-seeking and fear-inducing activities.  Humans are now incorrectly responding the to stimuli of their fear.

 

It is understood that fear-inducing situations can be traumatic, however, in other situations where the individual actively seeks the feeling of fear in a safe situation, it can be beneficial.  Humans have evolved physically and so have their complex brain functions.  Human bodies are programmed for survival and this includes detecting threats even when we are not consciously aware of it.  (continue)

…

Seek the things that make you feel discomfort.  If you live your life inside a box of comfortability, then you will not experience growth of mind and be able to embrace changes that happen in your life.

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited

 

Carey, Elea. “Is Being Scared Actually Good for You? - Healthline.” Healthline, Healthline, 29 Oct. 2015, https://www.healthline.com/health/halloween-being-scared-good-for-you.

​

Engels, Anna S et al. “Co-occurring anxiety influences patterns of brain activity in depression.” Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience vol. 10,1 (2010): 141-56. doi:10.3758/CABN.10.1.141

​

Javanbakht , Arash, and Linda Saab. “What Happens in the Brain When We Feel Fear.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 27 Oct. 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-happens-brain-feel-fear-180966992/.

​

Johnson, Luke R. “Editorial: How Fear and Stress Shape the Mind.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 4 Feb. 2016, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00024/full.

​

Newman, Tim. “Fear: What Happens in the Brain and Body?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 31 Oct. 2018, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323492.php#1.

​

Ringo, Allegra. “Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 31 Oct. 2013, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/why-do-some-brains-enjoy-fear/280938/.

​

Ropeik, David. “The consequences of fear.” EMBO reports vol. 5 Spec No,Suppl 1 (2004): S56-60.   doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400228