The expert on the show was Major Roy, the proprietor of an adventure arena in Chennai.  His primary advice was that anyone with fears of any sort should – Recognize, identify, confront/deal with the fear and move on!

 

He said there are 2 types of fear:

(1)    Perceived – it is primarily in our minds

(2)    Actual – exists and is normal

 

The 1^st caller was a young student. She spoke about her first time fears when she did rappelling and bungee jumping. She did them when she was less than 10 years old and was only able to do so because her father was there to help her and talk her out of her fears in the first few minutes. Her biggest fear was not being able to see the bottom of the sea when she did snorkelling as it was such a different feeling than being able to see the floor of a swimming pool. She next wants to do sky diving and conquer that as well.

 

Major Roy says-The best way to rationalize fear is to think about the people who have done the activity that you are scared to do. You are not lesser than those people, so go ahead and do it! You must be willing to overcome it as external pressure does not work as much as your own conviction.

 

Is fear only about the mind? Major Roy says yes, mostly it is psychosomatic and can be overcome.

 

The next caller felt that his fears make him to feel that he doesn’t have the freedom that other people have to enjoy life. Major Roy said he then needs to confront his fear; stop saying that those fear exists. Basically he needs to – Get out and stand on the edge!

 

The 3^rd caller, also a student, is an outdoor person and is extremely claustrophobic. Major Roy told him to analyse his fear to see if it is perceived or actual.  What are you afraid of, he asked? Is it about falling down? Or the roof falling or something else? He felt one will soon realize that there is no specific reason!

 

Major Roy said his years in the army definitely helped him overcome many of his fears.  He strongly felt that the way you are brought up makes a huge difference. Children are born without fear, so any fears that form are because of the immediate environment and people, including parents, friends and family.

 

His final words – Go there, do that!

Image credits: http://cdn.cavemancircus.com/