Some fears we are born with
By natnickeep
@natnickeep (2336)
United States
February 8, 2011 12:49pm CST
So my first question is do you have any fears? Some people are extremely afraid of snakes or spiders. Most people fear heights. What if I were to tell you it's in our genes to fear some of these things. We are born with some of these fears. Because to our ancestors things like snakes and spiders could mean life or death. It got programmed into our genes. So what are you afraid of? It might relate to where your ancestors came from and what they had to deal with in their life.
Genetics is so interesting. We are the genes of our ancestors. I think it's what makes up half of who we are. The other half is the influence of the other living things in the world.
1 person likes this
9 responses
@akangirl (2436)
• India
8 Feb 11
I am scared of big cockroaches and if i see them in night then i don't sleep at all.My mom and sister never get scared by them.I am afraid of darkness too that's why i keep my torch with me when i sleep even when my bathroom light is on and door ajar.I am scared of being alone and long roads at night and no one is seen for a long distance and both side trees.Scares the hell out of me.Everybody in my family is very brave.
1 person likes this
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
9 Feb 11
I fear cockroaches a little also. I grew up in Florida and they were everywhere. but i think that sprouts from my fear or germs. On the other fears maybe you watched to many scary movies lol. We all have fears though.
@Cherish14 (2693)
• Philippines
8 Feb 11
oh how i hate lizards :| i am so scared of it. my boyfriend laughs because he thinks lizards are cute ugh i just hate them hihihihih. well i know most of us fear of heights too, but i dont know, i dont really fear it, its only when there is movement like in a roller coaster, water slides etc. i was so scared when i had to do it because there was no other way to get to the bottom and finish it when we went river trekking, i repelled down a 70 feet waterfall. and jumped from a very high boulder, and do the water slide. it is an achievement and i still cant believe how i did it. but still just as long as there is no movement at all, i dont think im that scared of heights, and as long as no lizards :D
1 person likes this
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
9 Feb 11
Lol your fear of lizards may come from the natural fear of crocodiles that our ancestor had. They are somewhat similar. Maybe you should look back into your genealogy and see if your ancestors came from an area with a lot of crocks.
That is great you aren't afraid of heights and that you were brave enough to accomplish that. It's in your genes I guess.
@rrowenaa (834)
• Philippines
9 Feb 11
hello there! thank u for posting this discussion for i didnt know that our fears roother from our genes. i thought it could be some things that happened to us or we experienced about it. i have fears for any things that crawl (snakes especially!) even in pictures or just watching it on television i cant stand seeing it! another is fear of drowning (because i dont know how to swim?)
and fear of heights. now i'm kinda nervous because in April we're going abroad and of course i have to get on the plane, well maybe i'm afraid of boarding a plane coz i've been thinking of negative things. but this time i have to think of good things to enjoy my flight and our tour! excited now! 
and fear of heights. now i'm kinda nervous because in April we're going abroad and of course i have to get on the plane, well maybe i'm afraid of boarding a plane coz i've been thinking of negative things. but this time i have to think of good things to enjoy my flight and our tour! excited now! @natnickeep (2336)
• United States
9 Feb 11
I am glad I taught someone something new. I was very interested to learn this too. I can't quit reading and watching about genetics now. They control so much. They are starting to be able to cure diseases with genetic therapy.
Anyhow, I also have that natural fear of heights. But being in a plane is much different than looking at the window of a sky scrapper or down from a high mountain.
Not to worry, if you don't look at the window you won't even feel like you are high. And once you are in the air it's a totally different feeling. The fear or heights wont get you. As long as you aren't afraid of the plane crashing you should be good.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
11 Feb 11
As far as specific things that I am scared of, the only one that I can think of is that I am extremely afraid of spiders. I've been afraid of spiders for as long as I can remember. However, the biggest fear that I have at this point in time in my life is not a fear that I've always had because it used to be a fear that I had no need to have. That fear is that I am afraid that something will happen to one or both of my children and that I won't be able to do anything to save them.
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
13 Feb 11
Ya I think that fear is just good ole motherly instinct. But spiders is a big thing too. I am somewhat afraid of them.
@hlgmdt (300)
• Philippines
9 Feb 11
I agree with you that genetics is a factor for some of our fears. Psychology claims that it is possible that certain fears are biologically pre-programmed, such as the color of our eyes or hair.
Regarding my fear, I don't really have a phobia. However, I have this fear of our house burning. I didn't have it before. I just developed it because of an incident related to fire or burning. From then on, each time I smell something which smells like fire or smoke, I become very vigilant and I really find out the source of that smell just to be sure that it isn't fire.
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
9 Feb 11
Yea just like anything else I think experience and environmental factors play a big part in our fears also. But they are still figuring out so much about genetics. Who knows how much they really have to do with it.
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
9 Feb 11
I believe I am really different when it comes to fear.. I have a fear of losing my teeth. Whenever I dream of my teeth falling out, I often wake up crying or touching my teeth that very moment. To conclude, I think I dont like the thought of wearing dentures. Haha!
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
9 Feb 11
I think this specific of a fear may of came from a traumatizing childhood experience or something. Maybe saw grandmas dentures at to young of an age I dunno. But I also have dreams like this when I am stressed. Dreams can hold very different fears or distort them into something else totally.
@ANIME123 (2466)
• United States
9 Feb 11
My biggest fear of all are heights because when I get some where high up all I think about is that I am going to fall and it's better not to look down especially when I do because it makes my head spin. I really don't like heights because I feel out of place and I always want to get back to the ground when I climb up stairs I always make sure to watch my step so that I won't miss a step by accident. It's really annoying that i have this fear everybody has fears though like bugs I can't stand those little creatures they scare me a lot because the way they move and just the way they are creeps me out so when I see on I will most likely scream my head off.
One day I hope that I can get over these fears, but chances are that will probably never happen and I will probably have to live with my fears just like everybody else does. Life goes on and I will be strong to face it every single day.
One day I hope that I can get over these fears, but chances are that will probably never happen and I will probably have to live with my fears just like everybody else does. Life goes on and I will be strong to face it every single day.@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
9 Feb 11
But these fears were put in place to save our lives. If we didn't fear heights as little kids we would probably have a lot more toddler deaths. kids jumping off things or walking off things they shouldn't. I think fear is a wonderful thing. Once you become an adult if a fear is holding you back from doing things then you may want to over come it. But it's natural and okay to have them.
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
9 Feb 11
It really is interesting how it all works out. But you are afraid of these things because your ancestors had to avoid them. check this out it's the article explaining.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/25/AR2010102503433.html?wprss=rss_nation
@DYAMIGA (64)
• Philippines
9 Feb 11
i would say its true but science thus explain it differently though, they say its more about the experience we were having in our childhood days.
the greatest fear i had would be left alone or being alone in this world. fear of darkness and solitude. i need not explain but i do fear this thought
