The Hidden Pain of Fear: What You Need to Know

As I was driving to and from the Lewis Center Women's Freedom meeting today, I realized something; my driving fears and insecurities could have helped contribute to the issues that I'm having in my neck and shoulders.

In my a recent life update, I shared that I recently returned to office hours in Columbus.  I had been given a reprieve from on-site hours during the holidays and while my husband was on business travel and I had to care for our home.

I have written previously about my driving concerns during winter weather but also my driving insecurity in general. 

I recently went to Ignite Physical Therapy and Performance for an assessment.  Carlin was so patient and kind.  It was quickly realized that I needed more extensive assessment so she spent an hour taking me through range of motion checks before and after a session of dry needling.  As someone previously scared of needles, I will say the dry needling session was not bad except for a bit of twitching in my trap muscles.  I go back for another appointment and I have exercises that I have been doing at home.

It is true that I jumped into January's bench press extra credit with gusto. I wanted to get strong!! I added extra workout sessions without considering the possible physical consequences. I abruptly stopped the extra credit after experiencing the numbness in both my hands/fingers and that is when I opted to have a PT assessment.

It wasn't until I realized how I clenched my steering wheel that it occurred to me this clenching could also have contributed to the irritated nerves in my neck and shoulders with subsequent numbness.  I took a deep breath and lessened the grip on my steering wheel home.  

I took to Google to see whether fear can manifest into physical symptoms and the truth is that it can.  I linked to the full article below so you can read it if you wish.  In short, there are five things that fear can do.

• Fear is Physical - BINGO! Fear can trigger a strong physical reaction in the body.  For me, the "white knuckle" grip in my steering wheel especially during inclement weather can trigger a response from the nervous system. 
• Fear Can Make you Foggy - you can have trouble with reasoning or judgement.
• Fear Can Become Pleasure - Fear releases dopamine which can elicit a pleasure response.  When my fear of driving becomes pleasurable, I'll let you know. 
• Fear Is Not Phobia - Fear is a common reaction while a phobia interferes with your ability to function.  If I did not acknowledge how I grip the steering wheel and the need to change that, I could run the risk of letting my driving fears turn into a phobia.  
• Fears Keep You Safe - Fear can be both positive and negative.  My desire to drive safely is positive but the fear causing me to death grip the steering wheel has resulted in physical pain requiring physical therapy.  I now recognize that I can loosen my grip yet drive safely.

Why would I publicly admit that my fear of driving lead to physical pain? If one person is helped by what I've written, it is worth it.

Fear can hide in many places, often affecting our daily lives more than we realize. It can cloud our judgment and hold us back from reaching our true potential. Understanding the roots of fear is the first step toward overcoming it. Recognizing its impact can usher in a new mindset and lead to personal growth. Take action today by facing your fears, whether big or small, and watch how your life transforms.

Resources:

5 Things You Never Knew About Fear

Ryan Robinson Blogging Tools

YouVersion - Scripture Image