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Afraid: Understanding the Purpose of Fear and Harnessing the Power of Anxiety
Provides a broad and entertaining overview of fear from evolution, to modern day challenges, and how clinicians treat trauma, anxiety, and PTSD today.
About a third of the world population suffers from an anxiety disorder, and half of Americans have had at least one traumatic experience like rape, assault, shooting, or natural disasters. The news is full of stories about our dying planet, civil unrest, political fighting, and other anxiety-inducing subjects. On social media, digital tribes have lined up against each other and people worry they may get “canceled” for any number of perceived offenses. Fear and anxiety are with us everywhere we go.
Fear is one of the most deeply rooted biological mechanisms that has evolved over hundreds of millions of years in the brains and bodies of animals and humans with one key to increase our chance of survival. Fear is deeply woven into our biology, culture, politics, and day to day life. We sometimes don’t even know what we are afraid of. What we know for sure is that we are afraid too often.
But why are we so scared? How does fear work in our brains? Why does our body react the way it does when we are scared? What is the evolutionary purpose of fear? Why do we enjoy watching horror movies? How does the brain of a brave person work differently than others? How do we learn to be afraid, and how can we unlearn? Is fear good or bad for creativity? Can we use fear to our advantage? How is fear used to manipulate us?
In this book, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist answers these questions. It is a comprehensive review of fear and anxiety in most tangible aspects of the modern life. Arash Javanbakht explores how our childhood experiences define the role fear plays in us as adults, how fear may or may not affect our genes, what excessive fear and anxiety can do to our brains and bodies, and the role of fear in the wake of trauma. Readers will come away with a better understanding of fear and how we can tamp its negative effects, how we can treat it medically if necessary, and how we can protect ourselves from fear’s most negative consequences.
About a third of the world population suffers from an anxiety disorder, and half of Americans have had at least one traumatic experience like rape, assault, shooting, or natural disasters. The news is full of stories about our dying planet, civil unrest, political fighting, and other anxiety-inducing subjects. On social media, digital tribes have lined up against each other and people worry they may get “canceled” for any number of perceived offenses. Fear and anxiety are with us everywhere we go.
Fear is one of the most deeply rooted biological mechanisms that has evolved over hundreds of millions of years in the brains and bodies of animals and humans with one key to increase our chance of survival. Fear is deeply woven into our biology, culture, politics, and day to day life. We sometimes don’t even know what we are afraid of. What we know for sure is that we are afraid too often.
But why are we so scared? How does fear work in our brains? Why does our body react the way it does when we are scared? What is the evolutionary purpose of fear? Why do we enjoy watching horror movies? How does the brain of a brave person work differently than others? How do we learn to be afraid, and how can we unlearn? Is fear good or bad for creativity? Can we use fear to our advantage? How is fear used to manipulate us?
In this book, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist answers these questions. It is a comprehensive review of fear and anxiety in most tangible aspects of the modern life. Arash Javanbakht explores how our childhood experiences define the role fear plays in us as adults, how fear may or may not affect our genes, what excessive fear and anxiety can do to our brains and bodies, and the role of fear in the wake of trauma. Readers will come away with a better understanding of fear and how we can tamp its negative effects, how we can treat it medically if necessary, and how we can protect ourselves from fear’s most negative consequences.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2023
36 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 3, 2023
In 'Afraid' by Arash Javanbakht, the truth about fear is unveiled, drawing readers closer by dissecting societal norms and distinguishing between overwhelming anxiety and natural responses. With insightful chapters on overcoming fears and transforming them into sources of strength, this book serves as a valuable guide, especially for those battling anxiety or feeling passive. It emphasizes that recognizing, understanding, and instigating change are pivotal in conquering weaknesses. Dive into the book to uncover further insights!
January 27, 2025
Read this book for fascinating science written for regular people that makes meaningful connections to everyday life. Learning how fear is triggered in our brain and processed in our body can help us embrace fear as a natural and powerful force and make better decisions when it grips us.
Dr. Arash Javanbakht explains how fear and anger are ancient primal emotions developed as our earliest ancestors survived in the wild. While civilization has evolved relatively quickly, our brain hasn’t kept pace. Threats we encounter such as our boss yelling at us or someone cutting us off in traffic can fire off signals from the part of the brain we share with reptiles, the amygdala, as if we are prehistoric cave people making a split-second decisions between flight, flight or freeze. Stimuli triggering fear and or anger can cause us to react before the signal reaches the cognitive area of our brain. Yeah, that’s why we fly off the handle and say things we regret later when we calm down.
Dr. Javanbakht also explains the difference between fear and anxiety, when both can become debilitating, how we can use them to our advantage and how politics and business both use fear to influence behavior.
One of the most interesting aspects to me, is Dr. Javanbakht’s original research working with veterans and others who experience PTSD. In the lab, he uses augmented reality technology to treat phobias and PTSD. Our brains learn fear, and they can unlearn fear.
Neuroscience like this is an exciting modern frontier!
Dr. Arash Javanbakht explains how fear and anger are ancient primal emotions developed as our earliest ancestors survived in the wild. While civilization has evolved relatively quickly, our brain hasn’t kept pace. Threats we encounter such as our boss yelling at us or someone cutting us off in traffic can fire off signals from the part of the brain we share with reptiles, the amygdala, as if we are prehistoric cave people making a split-second decisions between flight, flight or freeze. Stimuli triggering fear and or anger can cause us to react before the signal reaches the cognitive area of our brain. Yeah, that’s why we fly off the handle and say things we regret later when we calm down.
Dr. Javanbakht also explains the difference between fear and anxiety, when both can become debilitating, how we can use them to our advantage and how politics and business both use fear to influence behavior.
One of the most interesting aspects to me, is Dr. Javanbakht’s original research working with veterans and others who experience PTSD. In the lab, he uses augmented reality technology to treat phobias and PTSD. Our brains learn fear, and they can unlearn fear.
Neuroscience like this is an exciting modern frontier!
September 18, 2023
Imagine, for a long time, you kept seeing the same person in the coffee shop where you used to come and work, but you never talked to that person. And when you finally decide to talk, after years have passed, you realize that this person is so interesting, deep, and talented. You regret that you didn't talk to him or her before for so long. This is how I feel after reading AFRAID. It's like you were introduced to your own brain and learned about it for real. I not only understood how the brain works and how roles and tasks are distributed among its "fear and anxiety departments," and how evolution made its impact on it, but I've also found answers to some of my daily questions.
This book explains in a straightforward manner why we behave the way we do in stressful situations, from the compulsive avoidance of the scene of a car accident to the consequences that stress has on the body and how to address this negative impact, to the love for horror movies.
When you realize something and understand the mechanics behind a particular action, you gain the ability to change it. Especially when it comes to fears that stop us. This book is a talented, informative, and entertaining guide about the main processor that rules everything. AFRAID is a great find!
This book explains in a straightforward manner why we behave the way we do in stressful situations, from the compulsive avoidance of the scene of a car accident to the consequences that stress has on the body and how to address this negative impact, to the love for horror movies.
When you realize something and understand the mechanics behind a particular action, you gain the ability to change it. Especially when it comes to fears that stop us. This book is a talented, informative, and entertaining guide about the main processor that rules everything. AFRAID is a great find!
October 14, 2023
I watched my wife suffer anxiety out of the stratosphere because of all of the medical problems she had. This book helped me to understand how her anxiety caused some of the issues she had. Regular tests and many doctor visits could not identify what was going on but there was an endless cycle of anxiety, medical problems, more anxiety, more problems, …
The author made many references to movies most of which I had never seen so the connection there was lost on me. The writing style sometimes had me rereading a passage more than once. It is not a thick book but does go through how fear and anxiety have a good purpose but can also lead to issues.
The first half, or so, of the book describes a lot of the science of fear and anxiety and why we have them. It explains how our brains were wired a certain way for the situations that existed long ago but how the brain is still trying to react similarly to modern fears. Facebook vs. lions, for example. The latter part of the book goes into how politics, the media, advertisers, etc. try to exploit fear and anxiety and how we might cope with those.
Unfortunately, my wife passed away so there is no way to deal with her anxieties now. Hopefully, other people can understand what is going on and get help.
The author made many references to movies most of which I had never seen so the connection there was lost on me. The writing style sometimes had me rereading a passage more than once. It is not a thick book but does go through how fear and anxiety have a good purpose but can also lead to issues.
The first half, or so, of the book describes a lot of the science of fear and anxiety and why we have them. It explains how our brains were wired a certain way for the situations that existed long ago but how the brain is still trying to react similarly to modern fears. Facebook vs. lions, for example. The latter part of the book goes into how politics, the media, advertisers, etc. try to exploit fear and anxiety and how we might cope with those.
Unfortunately, my wife passed away so there is no way to deal with her anxieties now. Hopefully, other people can understand what is going on and get help.
May 10, 2024
It is like a good encyclopedia of anxiety. Most of the subjects were known to me, I consider them just basic. It is for someone who wants to learn about anxiety basics, like a anxiety class with, at times, some ranting. Maybe you can learn about the purpose of fear in a way, but harnessing the power of anxiety is nowhere in the book- the book is not practical, in any way.
May 3, 2024
I found this book to be such a fascinating and engaging read. I also really like Arash and his perspective. It definitely was different than many anxiety books that I have read and I found the deviation to be refreshing and informative.
October 14, 2024
Found this really ready to read and pretty balanced. It’s son hard to help people with anxiety to realize that the way to get rid of it is to introduce the things that make you anxious more often in your life.
July 22, 2024
A fascinating look into the origins and purpose of fear and anxiety and how to harness and manage them to our advantage.
March 10, 2025
3.5⭐️
July 22, 2025
It really made me think about my life and choices I've made or making as a parent. I highly recommend this book, it opens your horizons.
July 29, 2025
هذا الكتاب مفيد جدًا لفهم السلوك البشري المرتبط بالخوف والذي في معظم الحالات هو آليات دفاعية وراثية واجتماعية ويشرح تأثير الخوف في الدماغ البشري وهرمونات الدماغ.
October 6, 2024
I am the author of this book (more about me below).
AFRAID is an encyclopedia of fear and anxiety, covering evolution, brain and body, why we love to be scared, fear and bravery, meaning, creativity, diseases of fear and trauma and their cutting-edge treatments, and politics of fear and media. This book offers a uniquely comprehensive overview of fear and anxiety in so many areas of the modern life. I have made sure that while the book stands on solid scientific ground, it is also engaging for the public reader, and filled with real life and clinical examples and stories, and practical suggestions.
The book has a different approach compared to other available books, that not only it presents solid science in an understandable manner, but also has a more positive and practical approach to fear and anxiety as a friend that is trying to protect us. The book covers areas such as bravery, positive and useful aspects of anxiety, and how we can use our own anxiety to our advantage.
This book has been endorsed by Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Dr Martin Paulus, director of the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Dr Sheila Rauch, Board of Directors, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and Dr Michelle Riba, former president of the American Psychiatric Association, and Dr Ken Duckworth, Chief Medical Officer of National Alliance for Mental Illness among others. This book has been already featured on media outlet like the NPR, PBS, CBC, and podcasts like the Hidden Brain.
Now about me:
I am a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, founder and director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic (STARC), a renowned research clinic at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
I research neurobiology of stress, anxiety, and PTSD in Syrian and Ukrainian refugees, and first responders, as well as emerging treatment methods, including highly innovative augmented reality technologies. My research has been continuously funded by institutions like the NIH, and has led to more than a hundred scientific publications and many invited speeches. In the clinic, I work with patients with all sorts of anxieties, survivors of torture and human trafficking, refugees, and first responders.
I am also involved in public education, and my public scholarly work is frequently featured on the NPR, CNN, BBC, Aljazeera, Scientific American, Washington Post, Smithsonian, PBS, Science, Lancet, American Psychiatric Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and other outlets.
AFRAID is an encyclopedia of fear and anxiety, covering evolution, brain and body, why we love to be scared, fear and bravery, meaning, creativity, diseases of fear and trauma and their cutting-edge treatments, and politics of fear and media. This book offers a uniquely comprehensive overview of fear and anxiety in so many areas of the modern life. I have made sure that while the book stands on solid scientific ground, it is also engaging for the public reader, and filled with real life and clinical examples and stories, and practical suggestions.
The book has a different approach compared to other available books, that not only it presents solid science in an understandable manner, but also has a more positive and practical approach to fear and anxiety as a friend that is trying to protect us. The book covers areas such as bravery, positive and useful aspects of anxiety, and how we can use our own anxiety to our advantage.
This book has been endorsed by Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Dr Martin Paulus, director of the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Dr Sheila Rauch, Board of Directors, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and Dr Michelle Riba, former president of the American Psychiatric Association, and Dr Ken Duckworth, Chief Medical Officer of National Alliance for Mental Illness among others. This book has been already featured on media outlet like the NPR, PBS, CBC, and podcasts like the Hidden Brain.
Now about me:
I am a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, founder and director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic (STARC), a renowned research clinic at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
I research neurobiology of stress, anxiety, and PTSD in Syrian and Ukrainian refugees, and first responders, as well as emerging treatment methods, including highly innovative augmented reality technologies. My research has been continuously funded by institutions like the NIH, and has led to more than a hundred scientific publications and many invited speeches. In the clinic, I work with patients with all sorts of anxieties, survivors of torture and human trafficking, refugees, and first responders.
I am also involved in public education, and my public scholarly work is frequently featured on the NPR, CNN, BBC, Aljazeera, Scientific American, Washington Post, Smithsonian, PBS, Science, Lancet, American Psychiatric Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and other outlets.
January 1, 2024
يمكن القول أن الخوف قديم قدم الحياة. إنه إحدى الآليات البيولوجية الأكثر أصالة وعمقًا والتي يمكن إرجاعها إلى أقدم أشكال الحياة. لقد تطورت آلية الخوف على مدى مئات الملايين من السنين لمهمة رئيسية واحدة: حماية الكائنات الحية من الإبادة وزيادة فرصتها في البقاء.
يمكن أن يكون الخوف بدائيًا مثل ارتعاش قرن الحلزون عند لمسه، ومعقدًا ومجردًا مثل المخاوف الوجودية لدى البشر. إنه أحد تجاربنا العاطفية الأساسية والأكثر حميمية، والمتجذرة بعمق في كياننا النفسي والبيولوجي.
نحن نختبر الخوف بكل عقولنا وأجسادنا. باستثناء أولئك الذين يعانون من تلف في مناطق معينة من الدماغ، نحن جميعًا على دراية بتجربة القلق غير السارة، وتركيز الاهتمام على الخطر المتصوّر والإلهاء عن كل شيء آخر، وجفاف الفم، وتعرق اليدين، وسرعة ضربات القلب، والضيق في الصدر ، والاحساس الغريب في المعدة الذي يصاحب هذه العاطفة. يتشابك الخوف بعمق مع حياة الإنسان ويلون أدبنا وثقافتنا وسياستنا وفننا وفولكلورنا.
الخوف هو أحد المشاعر التي لا يمكن السيطرة عليها وغالبًا ما يصعب قمعها أو إخفائها. عندما نكون خائفين، فإن كل كياننا يتحدث وتُسمع لغة الخوف.
يُعرف الخوف بأنه شعور مزعج، ويترتب على ذلك ردود فعل عقلية وفسيولوجية واعية وغير واعية لإدراك التهديد. وقد يكون هذا التهديد حقيقيا أو وهميا أو داخليا أو خارجيا. قد نخاف من اقتراب حيوان مفترس، أو من الوحوش والشياطين التي سمعنا عنها في الأساطير أو شاهدناها في الأفلام، أو أفكارنا الوسواسية بأن أحبائنا قد يقعون فريسة لمرض ما، أو أخبار سمعناها عن وباءٍ مميتٍ ينتشر.
كبشر، نحن أيضًا قادرون على الخوف من المفاهيم المجردة، أو الأشياء، أو الأشخاص الذين لم نواجههم أبدًا في حياتنا. يمكن أن يكون الخوف منتجًا، ويؤدي إلى نتائج عكسية، وغالبًا ما يكون مضللاً ويُساء استخدامه. يمكن للخوف أن ينقذ حياتنا من خلال إثارة ردود أفعال سريعة تبعدنا عن سيارة تقترب بسرعة، أو أن يؤذينا ويؤذي الآخرين من خلال التسبب في كراهية أشخاص من عرق ما أو جنسية ما أو دين ما لأنه قيل لنا إنهم خطرون. يمكن أن نخاف من شيء ما في محيطنا الفيزيائي والزمني المباشر، أو من شيء بعيد جدًا في المستقبل أو حتى من الماضي.
في كل هذه الحالات، تكون وظيفة عاطفة الخوف والسلوكيات التي تثيرها هي حمايتنا مما يُعتقد أنه خطير، سواء كان حقيقيًا أو خيالياً من صنعنا أو من صنع الآخرين.
.
Arash Javanbakht
Afraid
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
يمكن أن يكون الخوف بدائيًا مثل ارتعاش قرن الحلزون عند لمسه، ومعقدًا ومجردًا مثل المخاوف الوجودية لدى البشر. إنه أحد تجاربنا العاطفية الأساسية والأكثر حميمية، والمتجذرة بعمق في كياننا النفسي والبيولوجي.
نحن نختبر الخوف بكل عقولنا وأجسادنا. باستثناء أولئك الذين يعانون من تلف في مناطق معينة من الدماغ، نحن جميعًا على دراية بتجربة القلق غير السارة، وتركيز الاهتمام على الخطر المتصوّر والإلهاء عن كل شيء آخر، وجفاف الفم، وتعرق اليدين، وسرعة ضربات القلب، والضيق في الصدر ، والاحساس الغريب في المعدة الذي يصاحب هذه العاطفة. يتشابك الخوف بعمق مع حياة الإنسان ويلون أدبنا وثقافتنا وسياستنا وفننا وفولكلورنا.
الخوف هو أحد المشاعر التي لا يمكن السيطرة عليها وغالبًا ما يصعب قمعها أو إخفائها. عندما نكون خائفين، فإن كل كياننا يتحدث وتُسمع لغة الخوف.
يُعرف الخوف بأنه شعور مزعج، ويترتب على ذلك ردود فعل عقلية وفسيولوجية واعية وغير واعية لإدراك التهديد. وقد يكون هذا التهديد حقيقيا أو وهميا أو داخليا أو خارجيا. قد نخاف من اقتراب حيوان مفترس، أو من الوحوش والشياطين التي سمعنا عنها في الأساطير أو شاهدناها في الأفلام، أو أفكارنا الوسواسية بأن أحبائنا قد يقعون فريسة لمرض ما، أو أخبار سمعناها عن وباءٍ مميتٍ ينتشر.
كبشر، نحن أيضًا قادرون على الخوف من المفاهيم المجردة، أو الأشياء، أو الأشخاص الذين لم نواجههم أبدًا في حياتنا. يمكن أن يكون الخوف منتجًا، ويؤدي إلى نتائج عكسية، وغالبًا ما يكون مضللاً ويُساء استخدامه. يمكن للخوف أن ينقذ حياتنا من خلال إثارة ردود أفعال سريعة تبعدنا عن سيارة تقترب بسرعة، أو أن يؤذينا ويؤذي الآخرين من خلال التسبب في كراهية أشخاص من عرق ما أو جنسية ما أو دين ما لأنه قيل لنا إنهم خطرون. يمكن أن نخاف من شيء ما في محيطنا الفيزيائي والزمني المباشر، أو من شيء بعيد جدًا في المستقبل أو حتى من الماضي.
في كل هذه الحالات، تكون وظيفة عاطفة الخوف والسلوكيات التي تثيرها هي حمايتنا مما يُعتقد أنه خطير، سواء كان حقيقيًا أو خيالياً من صنعنا أو من صنع الآخرين.
.
Arash Javanbakht
Afraid
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
May 5, 2025
Informative and very clearly written. Read as audiobook and felt like an enjoyable podcast. The author was honest, reliable, and an expert on this topic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews