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Posts Tagged: fear dragons

What is the Root Cause of Your Anxiety and Fear?

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Creating and Taming Fear Dragons | FocusWithMarlene.com

Years ago, I was attacked in my home by an intruder. I was fortunate and came away unhurt. But it was a moment of real fear when confronted with a danger that was overpowering and very real.

Fear – like all emotions – gives us information. It can warn us, keep us safe, and alert us to danger. It can help prevent disasters. It can empower us to take appropriate action to avoid a calamity or to correct behaviors.

Today on my blog and podcast, we’ll talk about “what if” fears that can overwhelm us and lead to a negative internal dialogue that creates a “fear dragon.” You’ll learn what to do when you recognize a “fear dragon.”

Legitimate Fears vs Paper Dragons

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

paper dragon

Fear is a critical survival warning system.

It triggers our fight/flight response system to meet any threat by fleeing, fighting, or remaining frozen in place.

Fear can be our friend, or it can be our enemy. It can prepare, instruct, and keep us safe; or it can become a huge threatening shadow that keeps us locked in doubt, worry, uncertainty, and helplessness.

In this article (with accompanying audio), I’ll help you recognize the differences between unhealthy fear and healthy fear, and I’ll share preventive measures you can put in place when you sense the fear dragon breathing down your back.

Creating and Taming Fear Dragons

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Creating and Taming Fear Dragons | FocusWithMarlene.com

What scares you the most on a day-to-day basis? Are you concerned about your job, or your kids or testing positive for cancer?

Fears are normal and natural. They help us plan and think and prepare. But they can also become deep-seated anxieties that monopolize our thinking to the exclusion of problem solving.

Fears, like anger, can become excessive

They can appear like huge dragons or monsters threatening everything we do to the point where we no longer see options or opportunities.

The excessive fears we create in our mind seem just as real as any physical danger we might encounter.