The human mind is complex and can find meaning in the unexplainable, especially during times of fear and uncertainty. Anxiety, a universal and personally experienced emotion by all individuals, can also change the way we perceive the world. Sometimes anxiety in moderate amounts can bring better outcomes in life, whereas heightened levels lead to belief in paranormal forces like ghosts, spirits, etc. This phenomenon where fear becomes the fertile ground for paranormal beliefs is both intriguing and illuminating.
Anxiety shaping perception
Anxiety is more than just a feeling of fear; it’s a biological response to threats that we perceive. When anxiety levels are higher, the brain becomes hypervigilant and begins scanning the environment for potential dangers. This heightened sensitivity makes them see patterns and make connections with the random events that take place.
For example, the creaking of objects like floorboards during the night might be perceived as harmless during normal situations, but when we are in an anxious state, it would be considered a ghostly presence. During anxious states, we generally turn the ambiguous stimuli to paranormal explanations.
Fear becoming a catalyst for paranormal beliefs
We generally tend to seek control in chaos; these beliefs provide a framework for understanding the unexplainable, which helps to gain a sense of control.
The stories that we hear during our childhood about haunted objects or spirits are embedded within our culture. Parents usually tell haunted stories to their kids when they don't listen to them. This way the child begins to develop fear and links any of the unknown to paranormal beliefs.
Anxious minds are more susceptible to attributing ordinary occurrences, such as the flickering of lights, to supernatural causes.
Research stated that it is the human tendency to perceive patterns, especially during stress or fear. Individuals are more prone to patternicity, leading to paranormal explanations. As your thoughts run uncontrollably, your pulse begins to race, and you breathe heavily. Unease turns into terror, then panic, literally out of nowhere. The next minute you are suffocated and overburdened. The following is true: distortions in subjective time, sensing that another sentient consciousness is nearby, out-of-body experiences and even reveries on religious themes have been reported during spontaneous seizures.
To find a balance between fear and their beliefs is to understand the connection between anxiety and their beliefs. People with anxiety can benefit from learning that their fear-influencing perceptions are causing them to perceive things paranormal. Seeking support through therapy and mindfulness practices can help them to think more clearly.
References:
Shermer, M. (2012). The believing brain: from spiritual faiths to political convictions–how we construct beliefs and reinforce them as truths. Hachette UK.
Persinger, M. A. (2001). The Neuropsychiatry of Paranormal Experiences. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 13(4), 515–524. https://doi.org/10.1176/jnp.13.4.515
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