Fear.

Isn't it interesting how some of us crave safety and security?  So much so that when we are in the presence of fear, we want to retreat, run, or hide away in order to avoid the situation completely.  On the other hand, some of us actually crave adventure or even risky situations; we have a warrior-like mentality and rise to meet the occasion, daring to embrace whatever the situation to be.  Both of these are normal reactions in the body, and we are hard wired to have a physiological response in the presence of fear.  How we handle the situation, however, is based on a variety of factors.

Fear is a normal physiological response that occurs when in the presence of stress, whether that is a perceived threat or any other form of exciting situation.  It is a time when the sympathetic branch of our autonomic nervous system becomes activated, more commonly known as the "fight or flight" response.  Our body either wants to run from the threat, or rise to face it head on.  When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, the brain sends a signal to the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, to release adrenaline.  We experience an increase in heart rate, breathing becomes easier, the pupils become dilated, and we receive a rush of stored energy, while other "non-essential" activities such as digestion slow down.

Although this response is normal, it can become overactive when we are persistently exposed to a threat, whether it is real or imagined.  This means that for some, there is no "real" danger, only a perceived one.  We see this phenomena in the manifestation of phobias and irrational fears.  Some of us may even be genetically predisposed to having an overactive response or have experienced some sort of disease which disrupts the nervous system or glandular function.  Even modern day living can trigger this response through the heightened use of technology and the constant exposure to stressful information.  Less commonly, we can see an under active stress response where, despite perceived danger, an individual is unaffected.

So what can be done? 

First, simply bringing awareness and noticing how you respond in certain situations can be incredibly helpful.  Allow yourself to experiment with the feelings of fear.  Instead of going through your immediate response, pause and take notice of how you are feeling before taking action.  This, of course, does not apply if you are in immediate danger such as in some sort of attack.  In those situations, please, by all means, allow your sympathetic nervous system to do its job! 

Secondly, reach out for help.  Depending on the underlying reason there are so many different avenues to take towards restoring balance in the body.  This may be meditation, acupuncture, bodywork, talk therapy, supplementation (whether natural or synthetic), the list goes on.  Find the route that works for you with where you are at now, and be open to the idea that your needs may change and a different course of action may be required somewhere along the road.

The reason that this topic was on my mind today was because last night I went for a walk in the woods to enjoy the Full Moon.  This was not the first time I was out in nature at night, and we were not in the deep back-country; however, I still felt that creeping sensation of fear climbing up my spine and a minor panic from the unknown.  Because I knew that I wasn't in any immediate danger, I was able to pause and reflect on what I was feeling.  I took a deep breath and allowed myself to fully take in my surroundings.  My vision adjusted and I was able to see more clearly, my hearing became sharper, and my feet became more attuned to the terrain.

See if you can pause the next time you experience fear and ask yourself what your body is trying to communicate with you.  Are you in true danger or is it simply a habit your body has learned?

The Full Moon.

Today the Moon is Full in the sign of Libra.  According to Yasmin Boland, in her book Moonology: Working with the Magic of Lunar Cycles, the energy is focused on relationships and partnerships.  It is reminding us to see the beauty in life, and find balance between our individual needs and what we do for others.  Some questions to consider at this time include: