Fear is a natural human response to danger. When seen as an
impetus to be cautious, fear can check us from recklessly charging into danger.
In such situations, fear is not only natural but also desirable. This positive
role of fear is conveyed in sayings such as, “Fools rush in where angels fear
to tread.”
But fear often degenerates into panic, wherein we get
carried away by our imagination. In the horror movie broadcast by our mind, we
see the possibility of danger transmogrifying into the inevitability of
disaster. That dystopian imagination may overwhelm us emotionally and paralyze
us physically, thereby putting us in the clutches of a full-fledged panic
attack.
In the horror movie broadcast by our mind, we see the
possibility of danger transmogrifying into the inevitability of disaster.
For example, we may see a terrible road accident. The
resulting fear can prompt us to take necessary precautions such as putting on
the seat belt and avoiding over-speeding. But if we let our fear-fueled
imagination run wild, we become sitting ducks for a panic attack. TheBhagavad-gita (18.35) indicates that habitual fearfulness characterizes
determination in the mode of ignorance. Such misdirected determination impels
us to hold on to negative thought-patterns despite knowing that they are
irrational and injurious.
To prevent the fear stimulus from triggering a panic
reaction, we can strengthen our intelligence by practicing bhakti-yoga
diligently. Of course, bhakti’s main gift is to connect us with Krishna, whose
remembrance provides the supreme security and is the best counter for anxiety.
Additionally, bhakti sharpens our intelligence and curbs our mind so that the
intelligence replaces our mind as the default determiner of our actions. By
intelligently evaluating the situation, we can take effective steps to minimize
the possibility of danger.
Thus, we don’t need to get worked up about panic attacks –
we just need to work for curbing the imagination that allows panic to attack
us.
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