Brain & Body
a sign of an illness or problem, such as a fast heartbeat
Symptom
a sudden strong feeling of fear that makes it hard to think clearly
Panic
an extreme and unreasonable fear of a specific thing or situation
phobia
to succeed in dealing with a difficult problem or feeling
Overcome
a way of calming the body and mind, for example with deep breathing
Relaxation
the part of the brain that detects threats and triggers the fear alarm
amygdala
great fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen
Dread
an extreme fear of spiders
arachnophobia
not based on logic or reason
Irrational
therapy that changes negative thinking patterns in order to change feelings and behaviour
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
the body's automatic reaction to danger, preparing it to confront the threat or run away
fight-or-flight response
a sudden episode of intense fear with physical symptoms such as a racing heart
Panic attack
staying away from something that causes fear or anxiety
avoidance
something that causes a strong emotional or physical reaction
Trigger
a treatment in which a person gradually faces what they fear in a safe way
exposure therapy
a hormone that makes your heart beat faster when you are scared
Adrenaline
a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen
trepidation
an extreme fear of small enclosed spaces
claustrophobia
making someone severely weak or unable to function normally
debilitating
the process of becoming less reactive to something that once caused a strong reaction
desensitisation
a state of being excessively alert and constantly scanning for danger
hypervigilance
unwanted thoughts that keep entering your mind
intrusive thoughts
an extreme fear of open or crowded public places
agoraphobia
to think about something repeatedly and at length, often in a distressing way
Ruminate
the ability to recover quickly from difficulties
resilience