The Faces of Fear

Inner Tension

Tight Muscles

Clammy Hands

Dry Mouth

Pounding Heart

Finicky Stomach

Physical Aspects of Fear

Fear can be overcome

Components of Fear

FEAR itself is unpleasant

often strong emotion caused by the anticipation of or awareness of danger.

ANXIETY is extreme and

overwhelming fear which can paralyze us and hinder our ability to act, to make decisions and carry out our mission.

PANIC is a sudden, severe, overpowering anxiety often marked by lightheadedness, heart palpitations and a sense of impending doom.

PHOBIA is a irrational dread of an object, person, act or situation.

• Afraid to leave home

• Afraid of elevators

• Afraid to fly in airplanes

• Afraid to walk in public places

Fear Is Normal

1. Nervous tension prepare more thoroughly

• Before giving a speech

• Appearing in court

• Going on a job interview

• Anticipation of retirement

2. Fear of being mugged precautionary measures to avoid desolate areas in the middle of the night

3. Fear of a job lay-off seek retraining or develop other skills

FEAR IS A NORMAL HUMAN EMOTION &AT TIMES A USEFUL ONE

Fear Can Destroy

Fears IMPRISION and KEEP US FROM forward movement in the road to

MATURITY

HAPPINNESS

TRUE LOVE

FEAR CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE, CAN BE OUT OF HAND, DESTROY OUR LIFE & POISON PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Nuclear War

Crime

Youthful Fears

Parents are responsible for providing a secure environment for their children.

No matter how good job parents do, young people inevitably experience fear.

CHILDREN TEENS

IMPORTANT ISSUE DEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE

COMMON FEARS MonstersWild animals and insectsGhostsPoliceRelativeJesus/ Saints

Career choicesPersonal appearanceDeathLoss of a friend

SIMILAR FEARS Abandonment , death of parent, getting a bad report card, seeing parents argue, street violence, crime, drugs & natural calamities

FEAR MOST Being humiliated( self-image and sense of guilt )

To be popular & accepted( fear of not doing the things that others are doing because you are afraid they won’t like you )

PARENT EXPRESSION Fear may be disguised & will take patience to uncover

Teens may push you away but that doesn’t mean they no longer need you. “BE THERE” for them.

Parents can give advice AFTER they’ve LISTENED & really KNOW what’s really troubling a child.

Facing Up To Fear

Prophet Jeremiah

God doesn’t ask us to come to Him perfect and without fear. He works with us, fears and all, like “clay in the hand of the potter”

Jeremiah 18:6

RELATED to the word

courage is ENCOURAGE, meaning to hearten or put heart into.

LOOK to GOD to give

your heart and you will be able to MEET FEAR with DIVINE ASSURANCE.

.

IN THE WORLD YOU HAVE TRIBULATION; BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD

Banishing Fear

PUT YOURSELF AT THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.

TRANSFORMED BY THE POWER OF GOD, PETER BECAME THE LEADER OF THE EARLY CHURCH AND LATER EMBRACED THE CRUCIFIXION HE ONCE DREADED.

Denial Of Peter During Christ’s Trial

OTHER RESOURCES

1. Turn to prayer

4. Build your confidence

5. Act decisively

6. Talk through your fear2. Try controlling the

fear (relaxation

techniques)

8. Seek professional help

3. Meet the fear head on

7. Join a support group

PERFECT LOVE

CASTS OUT FEAR4: 18

• Fear is the enemy of happiness.

• It can make us: • suspicious, self-centered,

• immobile and full of self-pity.

• In this way, we are put in hell little by little. But we were made for heaven and there is always grace.

• God’s love is bigger than all our fears.

• Trust in God and take heart.

Psalm 27:1

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow.

The same loving Father who cares for you today, will care for your tomorrow and everyday.

Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.

St. Francis de Sales

Fr. Larry Tan, SDB

Inspirational Series