Fear Factor – Scared vs. Afraid

Fear Factor – Scared vs. Afraid

pertaining to Paranormal Research

When people began to believe that they have/had a ghost haunting their home, their fears tend to help push their reported experiences along; creating an environment where anything, no matter how logical/illogical, becomes something paranormal/supernatural. People who live in reported haunted locations may begin to actively participate in the reported haunting themselves, not realizing they are part of the reason for these experiences. Thus, due to their reports and experiences, adrenaline is released into their bloodstream, the body and mind become anxious, and any little sight/sound seemingly becomes magnified along with their other senses. They may lay awake at night staring into the darkness of their rooms until finally they convince themselves that they see something that is not there; a dark apparition, a shadow moving, or evil face looming back at them. When there is a suggestion of a ghost or haunting, exploited “Hollywood-ized” and irrational fears tend to cause people to expect or overreact to an experience of the paranormal/supernatural.

Have you ever noticed the difference between a good commercial haunted house and one that is just okay. The good one will have activities happening outside, while you wait in line. This mentally “prepares” you to become scared. Exactly what several “reality based” television shows replicate to prepare their contestants before taking them to a reported “haunted” location.
Of course, this does not mean that there isn’t a ghost or haunting occurring behind all the strange and sometimes staged occurrences/reports, but it is important to understand that the human mind can involuntarily create an atmosphere of unnecessary fear. So why is fear plausibly bad? Let’s casually define some terms typically misquoted or wrongfully associated in today’s terminology.

• Afraid – An instinctual emotional and/or physical reaction to an event or situation that can result in a lapse of judgment, movement, or other health factors.
• Scared – A (temporary) emotional and/or physical reaction caused by fearful consequence of an event or situation that may/usually results in a lapse of judgment, movement, or other health factors. Usually something in which can be overcome through perseverance and dedication to move forward.
• Fear – is absence of the genuine realization of consequences/results of an event/situation, substituted by the rationalizing of self imagination of the consequences/results.

Being afraid is natural and is usually an instinctual trait within all living forms of life, a defense mechanism. (I say usually as there are some reports of medical situations whereas these instinctual traits are missing due to mutation or accidental events) Being scared is also very natural, however not typically healthy unless there is a desire in which to go beyond or overcome that fear, thus promoting both self esteem and mental growth of an individual. Distinguishing between the two aspects is usually a difficult process, however rewarding. There are a few questions one can ask oneself to help discover the difference as each case arises.

1. Am I afraid of the situation because: there is a serious risk of consequence or is it because I feel/picture that there may be based upon what I know?
2. What is the likelihood that the consequence/picture I am foreseeing would occur?
3. Is the situation/event something in which: I am personally experiencing or something I am envisioning experiencing?
4. How can I grow beyond the resulting consequence/picture I am foreseeing?

Now these may seem simple and possibly vague, but let’s put these questions into a situation that may occur while conducting paranormal research. For Example:

You are research a hallway with reports of objects having been found thrown off of shelving or tables. It is dark and quiet, and there is an eerie feeling about the area. You hesitate before entering the hallway feeling uneasy. Now ask yourself the questions from above. Such answers may likely include:

1. Feelings based upon what I know may get me hit by something flying off a shelf/table.
2. Its never actually been seen, just speculated because of objects found on the floor.
3. I am envisioning an object hitting me from flying off a shelf/table.
4. I can conduct the investigation to find that nothing actually occurs or that there is something in which causes things to fall of shelf or table unrelated to a paranormal nature.

Now of course, as circumstances change so will the outcome. For instance: if the above scenario was in a hallway where the structure was unstable (missing floor boards, broken pieces of ceiling hanging, etc.), pointed objects obstructing a clear path (nails, pieces of structure such as metal, glass, etc.), and there was no lighting available (flashlight is dead, device lighting is out, etc..), then of course, those consequences would be different as the likelihood of injuring yourself is far greater than something flying off a shelf and hitting you.

The truth is that a high percentage of reported “haunting” cases are not violent and nonintrusive. There is usually nothing to be afraid of but your own mind playing tricks on you. Mostly, the terror felt comes from a fear of the unknown and the plausibility of what one may imagine happening. Through education and understanding, we are able to realize that “ghosts”/”spirits” are not the threat as reported. In many of the cases (where as possible evidence is obtained) the “ghosts” are unaware of the presence of living individuals or are there to possibly scare them and not typically hurt them; not in all reported cases, but in most. Many people who have learned to live with “ghosts” inside their homes have described it as an enlightening spiritual experience.

As such, being afraid and becoming scared are a normal part of paranormal research. It is important that an investigator learn to control one’s fears and overcome them when possible; while at the same time being very aware of the reality of potential dangers in which they may come across during the course of an investigation.

Submitted by, Chris Ratliff, PGR-IN