“And the angel said (to the shepherds), ‘Fear not.’ And the shepherds said, ‘Are you out of your mind? We are frightened out of our skulls!!’
OK, I made that up. But it makes sense to me.
Sometimes being frightened is the right reaction. Being scared is not always wrong.
What scares people the most? You might be surprised. It isn’t terrorism, earthquakes or tsunamis.
According to one report, it’s walking alone in the dark.
I remember a time when I was 15, walking home from my uncle’s house, maybe a half-mile. The darkness was absolute. I had to feel my way along the old country road. Trouble is, halfway home, I had to pass George Lawson’s house and he had a massive dog that was beyond frightening. As I was approaching the general area of that house, I walked as quietly as I could. Then, without warning, suddenly the dog was there, not more than five feet from me, splitting the night air with a howl that could be heard in the next county. You’ve heard of “jumping out of your own skin”? If it was possible, that’s what I did. I ran the rest of the way, taking my chances on staying in the road.
So, yes, walking alone in the dark can be a fearsome thing.
The Sunday Parade magazine, the insert that accompanies the Sunday paper, for January 18, 2015, outdid itself this time. The cover article by Maura Rhodes asks in large letters no one can miss, “What are you afraid of?”
The article provides extensive insights into the effect of fear on the human body. When we are frightened, a lot of things happen …
—Your heart pumps to arms and legs more quickly and forcefully, priming them to fight or flee and spiking your blood pressure. Blood flow may increase by as much as 400 percent.
—The extra tension in your poised-for-action legs can literally cause you to shake in your boots.
—Breathing speeds up to pump oxygen into your lungs, where it gets picked up by blood and delivered to muscles.
—Adrenal glands release chemicals such as epinephrine and cortisol into the bloodstream, triggering a variety of defense mechanisms.
—Hair on arms and legs stands up for some reason, producing goose bumps. It’s why we describe a horror movie as hair-raising.
—Perspiration picks up when you are scared in case you need to fight or run, producing clammy hands and a sweaty brow. As it evaporates, you cool down.
—Eyelids widen and pupils dilate so you can see as much of your surroundings as possible. Cartoonists draw your eyes popping out of your head.
