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Eurípedes
Kühl |
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Overcoming our
fears |
"We classify
fear as one of
creature's worst
enemies, because
it enters our
soul, and
affects our
inner and
deepest
strength".(1)
Part 2 (Final)
Through
Psychoanalysis,
we know that
most phobias
actually
disguise a
symbolic danger,
the exact object
of which is
hidden in our
subconscious, as
a subjective
defense,
deriving from a
real fact into
an imaginary
danger.
As an example,
we mention the
case of Hans, a
child who was
analyzed by
Freud, and was
"terrified" by
horses, which,
paradoxically,
he admired... In
his research,
the great
Austrian master
arrived to the
conclusion that
for Hans, the
horse (strong
animal) was a
symbolic
representation
of his father,
who lived
threatening the
child with
castration.
Let us quote
some phobias:
-
Claustrophobia:
is the most
quoted of all
phobias and
refers to the
fear of closed
places: [based
on Jung's theory
- Carl Gustav
Jung
(1875-1961),
famous Swiss
psychiatrist -
this fear is
related to
birth. The need
to be leaving
the comfort and
cross a narrow
tunnel into the
unknown ...];
also manifested
when in crowds;
- Nosophobia:
the fear of
getting sick,
leading the
phobic to think
that he is ill;
begins with the
fear of becoming
infected by
microbes and,
therefore, he
does not even
stretch out his
hand to greet...
This quickly
leads to
hypochondria
(obsessed with
seeking
treatment for
nonexistent
diseases);
- Agoraphobia:
Fear of open and
wide spaces:
(afraid to move
without help);
(When we think
about this
phobia, we can
imagine
Christopher
Columbus'
courage...);
- Altophobia:
fear of heights;
- Antropofobia:
fear of facing
society; the
person ends up
by living alone;
- Gerontophobia:
fear of aging
... and even
socializing with
the elderly;
- Necrophobia:
fear of death,
and of the dead;
- Obesophobia:
fear of fat
(phobia of most
of today's young
models); almost
always leads to
anorexia (loss
of appetite),
and this
compromises the
immunity system;
- Water phobia:
fear of water,
rivers, and so
on.
Self-analysis
With no
exception, we
all have certain
fears...
This always
results in some
type of unease.
Therefore, we
need to "manage"
our fears.
We say, "To
manage" because
it is almost
impossible to
put an end to
them.
First, we have
to identify and
classify our
fears.
Once we have
done this, the
following step
is to find out
how and why they
appeared.
We must have in
mind that
Mankind was
always
confronted with
fear and many
tried to
explain, and to
understand to be
able to put an
end to it.
All failed, and
although fear
helps us to
avoid what is
bad for us, it
is an instrument
of survival of
all living
beings too.
There is a fear
that benefits
us...
Therefore, fear
can be a friend
or an enemy.
NOTE: If the
person agrees,
an analyst can
help. We must
remember that
Spirituality
grants blessings
by using earthly
medicine with
its scientific
advances.
If danger is
real or
imaginary, so
will be the
fear.
To identify a
fear it is
necessary to
understand how
it installed
itself, or to
put it in
another way, how
it "appeared",
when, how and
why.
Often, fear is
disguised and it
uses symbols,
like in dreams,
the
interpretation
of which is
questionable due
to the symbolism
they use to
appear to the
dreamer.
Our opinion is
that all fear
can and should
be worked to
become a unique
instrument of
balance in our
daily lives.
Regarding all
fears, if the
person cannot
master them
rationally
(self-liberation),
the best it to
look for
counseling:
- In faith:
start by praying
to God and the
Guardian Angel!
- In the
family:
listen to the
experience of
parents and
closest
relatives;
- In
spiritual help:
look for a
spiritual
advisor; we
suggest
attending a
Spiritual Center
and talking to
someone willing
to listen with
tolerance and
brotherhood. We
suggest reading
the Gospel too.
In Spiritism
The Doctrine of
the Spirits
teaches that we
all have an
extensive
existential
past, many
lives, which
reflect our
mental panel of
emotions and
feelings. This
panel is
constantly being
updated.
With this
understanding,
the Spiritist
can begin, by
means of strict
and sincere
self-
regeneration, an
intense and
ongoing
treatment to
free himself
from his fears,
obsessions,
phobias,
neuroses and
eventual
psychoses.
In the issue 919
of "The Spirits'
Book," the
Spirit of Saint
Augustine
teaches us a
precious way of
becoming
acquainted with
our inner selves
through
observing our
daily actions at
the end of each
day, as well as
a constant
questioning of
our conscience.
In the
"Introduction"
of the same
book, he stated
regarding our
fears:
"Spiritism shows
the reality of
things and,
therefore, it
removes the bad
effects of an
exaggerated
fear."
Considering this
reality of
things, the
Spiritists are
able to
understand many
facts of their
present life,
and may see that
most of it might
have its origin
in past lives.
NOTE: In
psychology,
according to CG
Jung, already
quoted, this
atavism is
called "shadow",
and is
characterized by
components of
personality,
formed by
instincts that
produce
unpleasant
feelings and
actions.
Knowing that the
perisprit guards
indelibly what
is called
"psychic
matrices"
(important facts
of other lives),
it is not hard
to imagine that
present fear may
have been
originated by a
suicide, or by
having been a
victim.
Therefore,
- Fear of
crowds: was
this person
convicted and
maybe even
stoned in
public?
- Fear of
heights: did
this person
commit suicide
by throwing
himself or
perhaps falling
from cliffs?
- Fear of water:
did this person
drown?
- Fear of closed
places: did he
die in a
dungeon?
- Fear of
animals: was he
not attacked by
some animal?
Furthermore,
obsession and
its hidden
agents weaken
the reason of
the obsessed.
Hence, he
becomes
vulnerable, and
therefore new
fears arise...
It is at this
point that the
sincere prayer
and
self-regeneration
help him in
reaching God's
protection.
Conclusion
Fear builds high
walls, which are
an obstacle and
prevent
judgment,
analysis,
reflection and
solutions for
our daily life,
just like a
flashlight that
turns off in our
mind. It causes
great blocks and
these are an
obstacle to our
future learning.
Fears are
endless, but so
are the ways to
manage them.
However, there
is one common
fact: it is
necessary to
recognize the
fear, analyze it
rationally and
accept it as
part of an
emotional
structure.
If it is real,
then prudence
will show you
how to act.
However, if not
real, the one
who is afraid
must become
aware of it by
means of
self-analysis or
counseling, and
confront it.
Soon he will
arrive to the
conclusion that
even fear feels
fear...
As St. Augustine
said, any fear
dissolves before
faith in a
rational
confrontation.
We add:
The struggle
between fear and
reason
Is the same as
the wasp against
the lion.
It does bother,
but it does not
win!
(1)
Governor's
Instruction -
In: "Our Home"
(O Nosso Lar),
Andre Luiz / FCX,
Chapter 42, pg.
230, 48th Ed.,
1998 FEB
(Brazilian
Spiritist
Federation)
Rio/RJ.
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