Instead of reading, you can also just listen …
The purpose of fear is to keep us safe.
We observe, keep our distance, withdraw and refuse to interact for the sake of safety.
Fear is an essential emotion to secure survival because it ensures adaptive reactions in hostile situations.
The purpose of fear is to keep us safe.
Fear and precautions to keep us safe
When fear is present, the vigilance is focused on the actual or supposed threat.
We stare at the threat.
Sometimes, fear can grow to intense measures.
In a state of fear, the next action will be withdrawal, freeze or fight of the danger. When we are fearful, we are not open for any new input.
We are simply aiming to protect ourselves.
Additionally, when we are anxious, our cognition is impaired because we expect negative events.
So, the purpose of fear is to keep us safe.
Unfortunately, fear can become so dominant, that it becomes difficult to notice anything else than the (expected) threat.
Whatever they say, we cannot process due to fear.
Consequences of fear for the doctor
Doctors would need to address this narrowed view because of fear, when we want to engage with the patient. We need to actively deal with fear, if we aim to empower (paediatric) patients to become a partner in dealing with their disease. Unfortunately, especially with children as patients, we frequently miss out on removing fear. It is for us just normal that children are afraid of us.
Mental baggage of fear
Any earlier experiences by the (paediatric) patient of “hostile acts” by any specialist lead to the conclusion for the child that all doctors are enemies. These “hostile acts” can be routine treatments like nurses or parents holding the child tight, while the doctor examines it. Children are not afraid of white cloths, or scrubs, not even of houses. Children are afraid of doctors because doctors have proven to be … bastards.
During the first 18 months of life, every child learns, that going to the doctor means someone will put a needle in their arm!
Not a pleasant experience and not easy forgotten, let alone forgiven.
In a nutshell: The purpose of fear is to keep us safe, but we pay a significant price for that.
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