There are long-term effects of fear on our bodies and our lives. What are they, and what does the Bible say about fear’s effects?
Effects of Fear on the body
From the causes of fear, we learned the amygdala is the center of our emotions and where fear is sensed. It causes our body to respond to fight off the attack or run.
Immediate Physical Effects
There are stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline, that are released. The immediate effect is your blood pressure rises and your heart rate increases. Who hasn’t felt that when something suddenly jumps out at you in a scary part of the movie? Me!!! (Raising my hand)
The blood flow that usually goes to your heart will redirect to your arms and legs (Northwestern Medicine, www.nm.org). This helps that fight or flight response. You can start throwing those punches or high-tail it away from that predator.
Immediate Effects on the brain
While the amygdala is moving quickly to respond, the cerebral cortex, the center of reasoning and judgment, is slowing down (source, www.nm.org). The brain becomes foggy, and you have a hard time making a decision.
Long-term Effects on the body
Fear that is unchecked and has been overcome has lasting effects on the body. In this article, the Impact of Fear and Anxiety.
Fear weakens our immune system and can cause cardiovascular damage, gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome, and decreased fertility. It can lead to accelerated aging and even premature death.
Louise Delagran, University of Minnesota
Long-term Effects on the brain
In that same article, Louise went on to talk about the effects of fear on the brain. Even to the point of causing damage to the brain.
When we have repeated actions or thoughts due to our fears, this can cause pathways to burrow into our brains. That is the damage being done to your brain.
Fear affects the hippocampus. This impacts our learning and memory. And it affects how we make decisions with intense emotions and impulsive reactions (Impact of Fear and Anxiety).
Even the Psalmist spoke about this. He had so much fear that he was overwhelmed.
Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
Psalm 55:5 ESV
This leads to long-term mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Even social media these days is causing long-term effects of anxiety and depression. Some of this is based on fear of the unknown and what is being shared on social media sites.
Effects of Fear in Life
Besides fear having long-term effects on your physical or mental health, the Bible talks about how misplaced fear affects your life spiritually.
Proper fear is fear of the Lord instead of the four causes of fear we discussed. We need to trust Him. He has brought us through other life issues and will do it again. We can regulate fear in our lives. In the next post of this series, we will focus on Godly fear.
Fear is a Snare
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Proverbs 29:25 ESV
People can be deceitful and tricky. And sometimes just mean! The Pharisees in Jesus’s time were all about following the rules. Even some of the leaders of the day believed in Jesus but didn’t speak up because they feared the Pharisees and were thrown out of the synagogue (John 12:42,43 ESV).
In our work settings, there can be people who are downright mean like this too. Yet, people are afraid to report them to Human Resources because of retaliation. I read a statistic the other day that 70% don’t report them for this reason.
I do love the promise at the end of the Proverbs verse. When we trust in God, we are safe! His loving arms wrap around us, and we do not need to fear.
Fear shortens your life
But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Ecclesiastes 8:13 ESV
The wicked don’t fear God and will have a shortened lifespan. Much of that has to be the result of their evil. It has cut negative paths in their brains, and they are killing their bodies with the fear that they have of other men and things in this life.
Fear leads to slavery
Jesus came to earth as a man to save us from our sins. Then we don’t have to experience the second death, or hell, away from God. We can live eternally in God’s presence.
In Hebrews, the writer speaks about Jesus’s death destroying the devil – whose power is over death. Yet Jesus delivers those who fear death. If we keep bowing to the fear of death, we live our lives in slavery to that fear.
and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Hebrews 2:15 ESV
With Jesus, we can have hope and a new life.
God’s Spirit gives us new meaning
Instead of being enslaved by that fear, God has adopted us. When we ask Jesus into our lives, we receive the Holy Spirit as a guarantee. We call Him Father, and the Spirit assures us that we are His children.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Romans 8:14-16 ESV
If you are God’s child, you are released from the slavery of fear and have bright hope for a future!
There is even a Christian song about this, No Longer Slaves, by Bethel Music, sung by Jonathan and Melissa Helser. I wrote this post, and then this song was on the radio. How cool is that!
Enjoy this youtube video of this song and praise God that you are no longer a slave to fear; you are a Child of God!
Note: If you are not sure you are a child of God, check out how you can know peace with God.
Effects of Fear: Reflection Thoughts
- What effects of fear are you experiencing in your body, brain, and life?
- Think about the many blessings in your life and what you have to be thankful for. Spend time today thanking God for all these blessings.
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