Insights : THE SKY IS FALLING DOWN

There is a story for small children. Once a chick was moving around, when a seed or something (I don’t remember the vivid details) fell on its head. It went to another to say that the sky is falling down. Very soon the news was spread around among all birds and animals that the sky is falling. Ultimately the sky did not fall. Does not that happen with human beings also? A small percentage of people have undue fear as part of a neurosis, called phobias. They are cases put on psychotherapy and counselling as they are considered as mental cases for the unnecessary or irrational fear they have. Another small percentage is the one that has witnessed or suffered some manmade or natural disaster. Now any situation remotely resembling it becomes fearful for them. It is a natural reaction to something they have experienced before and which induces fear. Apart from these, bulk of the people is those who fear unduly. If there has been a theft in a friend’s house far away, they will start taking very strict security measures and lose sleep over possible theft. If there has been some accident somewhere, they are afraid of travelling. Even if they have to travel, they will be jittery and anxious and cannot sit relaxed. If X or Y has suffered heart attack, Z starts worrying about his health and rushes to go for a medical check up. He has to take tranquilizers because he is so much upset about his health. List of such fears in day to day life is endless. The individual having such fears gets tense mentally, due to which his blood pressure and sugar may go up. He also suffers from palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia, e.t.c. symptoms of anxiety in a degree depending on his mental makeup and intensity of fear he is experiencing. If it is case of an individual having undue fear, it is a non issue. But what happens usually is, this individual instils this fear in his family members or those close to him. They carry on their fears and transmit it to others who come in their contact. Net result is the phenomenon of,” sky is falling” sets in. It is not only actual events setting in such mass phobias. At times, even a rumours started by somebody inadvertently or mischievously gets magnified out of proportion and people start believing it to be true. Interesting part is, when these people come to know that their fear was unfounded, they do not admit to being silly about it. Rather they justify it by saying that it is better to fear so that they remain safe from what happened to somebody in some far off place. Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd American President had said, “What we have to fear is fear itself”. This is very much relevant today also. One needs to think sensibly about situations. Every day there is some accident or crime happening somewhere. In our day to day lives we are exposed to risks of accidents, infections and pollution of all kinds. That does not mean that we stop moving on the roads or eating and drinking or breathing. It is prudence on our parts and some other force (One can call it God or by any other name) which keeps us safe. The mind should be kept strong enough so that it is not easily disturbed by any suspected fear. If somebody gets some news which is threatening to his life or property, before getting panicky, the news should be verified. If it is true, then instead of just getting jittery, will it not be better if one thinks of a solution with a cool mind instead of just being fretful. It should also be remembered that in spite of all precautions, if something untoward has to happen, it does happen. So there is no point in losing one’s sleep over it. Whatever happens should be faced with courage. A strong calm mind, positive thinking and abundant courage helps one to steer through any fearful situation. But worrying unnecessarily over imaginary fears serves nothing. Therefore one should learn to avoid fear and getting upset about it. E-mail –rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk

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Insights : THE SKY IS FALLING DOWN