theFearbox

I’m scared of myself. I hurt myself. I bring myself down. I make myself anxious. I’m tearing myself apart slowly…

I’m scared of the future. Only because I don’t think there is one…so really i’m just scared of nothing i guess.

I’m scared of being happy. Like actually being truly happy, because that would mean I have to change… 

When I’m scared I always just want to hold your hand…but then again I’m too afraid to tell you. 

I’m afraid all I’ll ever be is the smart girl who could have tried harder.

TheFearbox and this blog that followed evoke therapeutic feelings that many participants have commented on. As we begin to understand fear, it is important to understand why this discussion helps to begin the process of overcoming fear.

Research into overcoming fears has shown that accessing our fears in a controlled and safe environment allows us to better determine what exactly we are scared of and why. It helps us pinpoint what is actually the source of our dread, something that is nearly impossible to do when the primitive fear system is engaged. The primitive fear system has the ability to override all other systems, specifically the rational fear system. Once engaged, an individual will find it hard to focus on anything but getting rid of the sense of fear. Considerations for whether this is something worth fearing are removed.

When engaged, an individual will also lose sight of their full range of options in a situation. By creating a passive and non-threatening environment for users to interact with their fears, theFearbox motivates participants to activate their rational fear system without setting off their primitive fear system. This allows for a moment of calm reflection that is often not spent on fears.This does not generally happen because of our society’s insistence that we do not discuss fear. By allowing a calm reflection,  users can come to terms with what they fear, determine if it is worth fearing, and fully consider how to avoid their fears in ways they would never be able to think of if their primitive fear system were activated.  

TheFearbox also allows us to begin the process of habitualizing our fears. In extreme conditions, humans have the ability to become desensitized to things that used to scare them by experiencing a constant exposure, like a doctor that becomes habitualized to disease and death. By choosing when to expose ourselves to our fear triggers, we hold some control over them and can learn to overcome them.

My apologies for my extended absence. I needed so time to breathe and do other things since the show. But today I’ll be posting a new Factual Friday - one of my favorites - from the exhibit. You should all be sure to check it our at 5pm EST

I just wanted to let everyone know that this will be the finally week the full exhibit will be on display, so if you’ve been wanting to go but waiting, GO!

I’m incredibly proud of the show and have gotten great feedback from everyone who has seen it. I went to document it again yesterday. It was amazing to see how much the community has been interacting with the project. There are so many new fears up!

To reiterate: The show is in Pittsburgh, PA in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. It’s hosted by the American Jewish Museum (located within the Jewish Community Center) and is free and open to the public!

The address is 5738 Darlingtion Road. You’ll need to have the receptionist buzz you in, just tell her you’re there to see the show.

M-Th: 8 am - 10 pm, F: 8 am - 6 pm, Sat: 1 pm - 6 pm, Sun: 8 pm - 6 pm

I fear facing him after knowing what he has done. I fear him after what he has cause our family. I fear facing him because I don’t know what I’ll say or what I’ll do. I hate him, and I fear him. I don’t want to face him, but one day I’ll have to, and it’s that day that I fear.