Fear is an emotional state; one of 6 core emotions, and when using Robert Plutchik’s flower model of emotions, fear branches to terror, apprehension, and isolation. When you break down emotions this way it not only gives you a more extensive vocabulary
What makes crises so difficult to navigate?
In August 2011 I found myself in a Polish hospital which was scary enough because all I could say in Polish was hello and can I have a beer. I was bleeding profusely and was told I would need to
Response to the Covid-19 pandemic
Initially when I saw all the information in the media about Coronavirus I was very sceptical because it felt like scare mongering. However the more I read from sources that I trust, the more I find myself feeling the need
How do you stop exam nerves becoming exam anxiety?
At some point I bet you felt that sense of fear that comes from having to sit an exam at school or university. That’s normal but for some it goes so much deeper than that. I was a grade A
What stops you speaking your truth?
When I was young if my father spoke quietly with me and said he was disappointed in me, it had a very powerful effect. I could feel the full weight of his disappointment and felt awful for letting him down.
How do I deal with a partner who has extreme anxiety but won’t do anything about it?
Jane and her partner were out together for a meal, something that they had been looking forward to for ages. Theirs was a complex relationship as they both had children from previous relationships and so these times together as a
How do I know whether someone I love has a mental health issue?
In 2011 public awareness of the importance of mental health got greater awareness when Antonio Horta-Osorio, the Lloyds bank CEO, took eight weeks off with the consent of the board. Anxiety over the precarious position of the bank was affecting
How do I build a better relationship with my teen whose emotions seem to be all over the place?
Your daughter (although I use daughter throughout this article it could also be your son) asks to speak with you alone. You go into the living room and within minutes she’s very distressed. She bares her soul, revealing a deep unhappiness.