Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Jun/July 2019 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 47

Why do we hold onto fear?
Here are four
common reasons
for holding fear
in the body:
1. PROTECTION. We hold onto fear
as a layer of armor against anything that may
harm us. This fear may not even be related
to the perceived danger. It often generalizes
against anything it perceives as adverse or
dangerous.
2. HABIT.
After experiencing several
fearful occurrences, the body becomes
programmed to react in fear every time,
whether it is warranted or not. Fear becomes
the go-to response to all situations.
3. REMINDER. Fear can also be held
as a reminder to not make the same mistakes
or allow the same things to happen again.
4. FORGOTTEN STORAGE.
During times of overwhelming emotion, the
body has an amazing ability to close off the
emotion, contain it within the body where
it can’t be felt and doesn’t need to be dealt
“Nothing in life is to
be feared, it is only
to be understood.
Now is the time to
understand more,
so that we may fear
less.”
the body, or the body holds onto the fear, it
really doesn’t matter which since the result is
the same. The fear can stay in the body long
after the situation has past, often it stays for
many years or even the rest of one’s life if
not specifically released and healed.
– MARIE CURIE
with. This helps a person to cope in the
aftermath of trauma and is very effective.
The person, however, is not consciously
aware of this container of fear, and doesn’t
realize all that it is holding onto it until
the held emotion starts to cause other
problems later on.
What happens to
the body when it
holds fear?
The armor of fear may be beneficial in the
immediate period after a traumatic event, but
in the years since, it becomes more harmful
to the body than it is helpful. It develops into
a barrier to feeling and experiencing any
life beyond fear. The armor grows so thick
and impenetrable that it not only keeps out
danger, but it also blocks love, joy, peace and
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