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Afraid means feeling fear or apprehension. Scared means being in a state of fear, nervousness, or panic. If you think they sound pretty much the same, you are not alone.

The fear response starts in a region of the brain called the amygdala. ... This reaction is more pronounced with anger and fear. A threat stimulus, such as the sight of a predator, triggers a fear response in the amygdala, which activates areas involved in preparation for motor functions involved in fight or flight.

What happens when you get scared, is that your body releases epinephrine, adrenalin, and that causes your heart rate to go up, causes your blood pressure to go up, causes your eyes to dilate. So these are all your body's responses to some type of threat, Andrews said during the clip.

The best way to overcome fears is to face them in small steps. To do this, you can create an Exposure Hierarchy which will gradually expose you to the situations that you fear until you can face your fears with a minimum of concern. Avoiding your fears never helps and in fact may even make them worse.

Allow yourself to sit with your fear for 2-3 minutes at a time. ... Write down the things you are grateful for. ... Remind yourself that your anxiety is a storehouse of wisdom. ... Exercise. ... Use humor to deflate your worst fears. ... Appreciate your courage.

What happens when you get scared, is that your body releases epinephrine, adrenalin, and that causes your heart rate to go up, causes your blood pressure to go up, causes your eyes to dilate. So these are all your body's responses to some type of threat, Andrews said during the clip.

A fear hierarchy is essentially an exposure treatment plan that lists out specific situations or feared stimuli the patient will gradually face (Abramowitz, Deacon, & Whiteside, 2012).

A feeling of being out of control, or a fear of death or impending doom during a panic attack. Physical symptoms during a panic attack, such as a pounding or racing heart, sweating, chills, trembling, breathing problems, weakness or dizziness, tingly or numb hands, chest pain, stomach pain, and nausea.

Take time out. It's impossible to think clearly when you're flooded with fear or anxiety. ... Breathe through panic. If you start to get a faster heartbeat or sweating palms, the best thing is not to fight it. ... Face your fears. ... Imagine the worst. ... Look at the evidence. ... Don't try to be perfect. ... Visualise a happy place. ... Talk about it.