2. Fear

How Does Fear Magnify Pain?

Fear provides a gateway to our inner truths, leading us to the darker sides of ourselves. It keeps us on high alert, in a perpetual state of perceived danger.

Do you often feel nervous?
Are you frequently overwhelmed by fear?
Does your brain incessantly scan for signs of danger or threats?
Have you noticed an increased sensitivity to potential risks?

Both fear and pain exist with the best of intentions: to protect us. For instance, you need to notice a nail on the ground before you step on it. Fear serves as our alarm system, identifying potential dangers in everything, from our environment to the food we eat, which could lead to digestive issues. It also alerts us to alarming smells (potential allergies) or the threatening words and actions of others, which can result in traumas.

However, some individuals have an alarm system that never turns off, leaving them perpetually stressed and constantly on high alert.

Fear can indeed lead to pain. The cycle often looks like this:
Pain induces fear, which heightens our alertness, subsequently leading to more pain. This increased pain then results in greater fear, continuing the vicious cycle.

While some might use different terms such as frustration, despair, or anxiety, these feelings often stem from fear.

Why are you so overwhelmed by fear? Why are you perpetually on high alert? This heightened state typically originates during challenging times in one’s life. Major life changes, such as starting a new job, going through a divorce, experiencing the death of a loved one, or accumulated traumas and stress from childhood can act as triggers. It is during such periods that the brain might shift into a perpetual high alert mode.”