Learning the psychology of fear
Dr. Susan Albers of the Cleveland Clinic explains the psychology of fear and how it impacts people when they experience a scary moment.
Transcript
00:00 Fear impacts your brain in many different ways.
00:03 Dr. Susan Albers is a psychologist
00:05 with Cleveland Clinic.
00:07 She says doing something spooky,
00:09 like going to a haunted house,
00:10 gives people the chance to step out of their comfort zones
00:13 and experience something new,
00:15 but in a safe and controlled way.
00:17 They may also feel a sense of accomplishment once it's over.
00:21 When you are sensing or anticipating danger,
00:24 your brain becomes more alert and focused.
00:27 It also releases dopamine into the brain,
00:30 which is the reward and pleasure neurotransmitter.
00:33 This is why we seek those experiences over and over again.
00:37 While feeling fear can be thrilling,
00:39 it's important to know your limits.
00:41 For some, it can actually be damaging to their mental health.
00:45 The enjoyment that we experience from scary situations
00:48 can vary from person to person.
00:50 It depends on individual differences and experiences
00:53 that you've had in the past with scary situations.
00:56 Dr. Albers says red flags to look out for
00:59 include difficulty sleeping, nightmares, paranoia,
01:02 and having trouble relaxing your body.
01:04 Know your limits.
01:06 Be mindful of how you respond to scary situations
01:09 and seek them out.
01:11 For AccuWeather, I'm Brie Guy.
01:12 [MUSIC]