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Using Faith to Overcome Fear

Overcoming fear with faith is like being able to navigate a stormy sea with a lighthouse’s constant guidance to safety. Finding a ray of hope and putting our faith in something bigger than ourselves will get us through the worst of circumstances. Let’s explore this concept and discover how faith can effectively counteract fear.

The Character of Fear

An innate human feeling that warns of danger and shields us from injury is fear. However, fear can also become crippling at times, keeping us from experiencing life to the fullest. It may be a dread of what lies ahead, a worry of not succeeding, or even a fear of our own abilities. It might be difficult to envision a path out when dread takes hold of us.

Faith’s Function

Herein lies the role of faith. In its widest definition, faith is total confidence or trust in someone or something. It need not be religious; it could be confidence in life itself, the universe, or a greater force. Faith is the ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel even in the absence of visible light.

Using Faith as a Base

Imagine yourself on shaky footing, where each step seems risky and unclear. That’s what it feels like to be constantly afraid. Imagine now that there is a firm base beneath your feet that provides stability and support. That’s what religion offers. It provides us with a solid foundation, a feeling of safety, and the knowledge that, in the end, everything will turn out okay, despite the difficulties and uncertainties.

The Conversion of Faith to Fear

It takes time to get from fear to faith; it’s not an instantaneous procedure. It begins with owning up to our fears, facing them head-on, and consciously choosing to have faith that we’ll overcome them. It’s similar like choosing to turn on the light in a pitch-black room. The light only makes it clear that the anxiety was unwarranted; the darkness does not vanish because it is an illusion.

Stories of Faith Conquering Fear

Numerous historical accounts demonstrate how religion has enabled people to surmount great anxieties. These are true accounts of people who, amid trying circumstances, found comfort and strength in their faith rather than merely stories from holy books. Think of a person who has suffered from a serious illness and found comfort in their faith—perhaps not in a miraculous recovery, but rather in the fortitude to withstand medical interventions and the serenity to face whatever challenges may arise.

Belief in Doing

Faith is an active, not a passive, thing. It takes more than just thinking that things will get better—it takes action to support that confidence. It’s moving forward even in the face of an unclear road. It’s similar to choosing to continue walking on a foggy road in the hopes that the fog will clear and the path will become visible. Our faith gives us the motivation to take action, overcome our fears, and confidently face the unknown.

The Faith Community

In communities, faith frequently flourishes. It may be immensely reassuring and empowering to share our goals and anxieties with people who are traveling along comparable paths. Comparable to strolling in a pitch-black jungle with companions, the experience is less daunting due to the company you keep. A community’s encouragement and support can strengthen our faith by serving as a constant reminder that we are a part of something greater.

Faith’s Individual Nature

Although it can be shared among a group, faith is also very private. Everybody has a different journey with faith, molded by their own experiences, convictions, and viewpoints. It’s acceptable if something that fortifies one person’s faith does not work for another. It’s about discovering what speaks to you, what inspires bravery and optimism.

The Difficulties of Faith

It’s critical to recognize that faith isn’t a panacea that causes all anxiety to instantaneously go. There will be moments when doubt sets in, when fear seems overwhelming, and when faith is put to the test. These are the times along the voyage. They push us to delve more, to reinforce our beliefs, and to come up with fresh strategies for conquering our concerns.

Belief and Individual Development

The path from fear to faith is ultimately one of personal development. It’s about coming to trust ourselves and our life’s journey, even when it’s unclear where we’re going. It’s about finding strength in vulnerability and serenity in the middle of chaos. Faith gives us the confidence to face our anxieties because, in the end, we are capable of conquering them. It also teaches us that it’s acceptable to not have all the answers.

Final Thoughts on Faith and Fear

It takes faith to overcome fear because it allows us to welcome the unknown and has faith that we are more capable than we could have ever dreamed. It involves viewing difficulties not as insurmountable roadblocks but rather as chances for development and change. Thus, keep in mind that faith can be your compass the next time you’re overcome with dread and take you to a place of strength, serenity, and significant personal development. Recall that while everyone experiences the path from fear to faith differently, it’s a path that helps us become closer to the amazing tapestry of life, to each other, and to our genuine selves.

Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
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