Fear, Revisited
Managing the biological states associated with common fear-based hindrances is essential in the pursuit of sustainable high performance.
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One of the most common obstacles to sustainable high performance is fear. This can take many forms, such as impostor syndrome, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of missing out, and fear of the opinions of others. The latter has been recently described in detailed by Michael Gervais, PhD and considered, in his view, to be the biggest hindrance to high performance. The application of a polyvagal informed paradigm to better understand these manifestations of fear has been discussed in a past article. From the outset, it is important to emphasize that actual risks and threat to health or life are not considered in this perspective. Rather what is contemplated is the perceived fear we may encounter in the pursuit of our highest performance.
It is also important to acknowledge that from the perspective of our nervous system, there is little to no distinction between an actual threat to health or life and a perceived risk. One of the many functions of our nervous system is to protect ourselves from the risks and threats which we experience. From an evolutionary perspective, this once took the form that any cue of uncertainty or risk could readily become an actual threat to health or life. In modern times, while this may no longer be true, our nervous system is unable to make this distinction. For this reason, perceived threats, for example the fear of failing a task, can easily reach a level within our nervous system in which the response is similar in magnitude to a threat provided by a predator, such as a saber tooth tiger, in prehistoric times.
Fear can be a very powerful cue of uncertainty, risk, and threat which is neurocepted by our nervous system. As discussed above, in prehistoric and ancient times such experiences would be met with a shift in biological state towards sympathetic and/or dorsal vagal states. The purpose of this process is protection and survival. This mechanism remains in place and active in modern times within our nervous system. In ancient times, these cues often would represent actual threats to health and life. In modern times, these cues are typically social cues along the internal or relational pathways which do not, in reality, pose a threat to either health or life. Given the structure and function of our nervous system, however, the distinction of this modern evolution is not made. As a result, our neuroception can readily shift our biology into sympathetic or dorsal vagal states despite there not being an actual threat to health or life.
In the previous article, the discussion emphasized the management of sympathetic and dorsal vagal states. An important principle of the description was that once our biology shifts into one or other of these states, it will not be possible to shift into a ventral vagal stabilized state with thinking and mindset alone. As illustrated in the article, body-based skills are first necessary in order to increase ventral vagal activation to allow the mind-based skills to become effective.
This understanding is also essential in the contemplation of fear-based hindrances of performance. In response to manifestation of the fear-based hindrances, our biology can easily shift into sympathetic or dorsal vagal states. As such, in order to effectively manage these fear-based obstacles, it is important to implement body-based skills to increase ventral vagal activation prior to employing mind-based strategies.
The polyvagal informed paradigm for working with fear-based hindrances described above provides several benefits. Firstly, this perspective provides a biologically consistent and predictable framework with which to understand the fear-based obstacles and how best to manage them. The polyvagal informed perspective provides an approach that unifies our physiology and psychology to best address these hindrances when they arise. As a result, this paradigm also provides strategies which are most likely to be effective in the management of fear-based hindrances when they manifest.
As alluded to above, within the domain of sustainable high performance, the particular pathways along which fear-based hindrances most often occur are the internal and relational pathways. As we push the limits of our potential, there are numerous potential cues of uncertainty, risk, and threat along these two pathways which can arise. It is important to note that we do not continuously or consistently experience these fear-based obstacles to performance. This is a reflection of the dynamic nature of our biological state and the impact that these states can have on our mindset, perspective, and ability to perform to the limits of our potential.
Across the field of high performance, there are several fear-based hindrances which are discussed. Some of the examples are listed above, such as impostor syndrome, fear of failure, fear of success, fear or missing out, and the recently described fear of the opinions of others. Much of the discussion around these different types seems to suggest somewhat differing strategies for addressing each. The polyvagal informed paradigm, in contrast, provides the perspective that they can all be understood and managed utilizing the same principles and strategies. The rationale for this lies in the common pathway that, regardless of the particular type and origin of fear, they result in a similar shift in biological state towards sympathetic and dorsal vagal states.
In order to better illustrate these principles, a reflective practice is helpful. It is useful to consider instances in which these fear-based hindrances have manifested. At those times, what were the psychological and physiological experiences and how do they reflect the underlying biological state at the time? Typically these would indicate a sympathetic state. Common physiological sensations may be of increased muscle tone, gritting of teeth, increased heart rate, and changes in breathing pattern including chest breathing and prolonged inhalations. Psychological manifestations may include increased doubt, loss of optimism, difficulty with focus, and feelings of nervousness or worry. If these experiences persist, there may be a loss of muscle tone, decreased heart rate and breathing rate, feelings of overwhelm, and pessimism. These characteristics reflect, initially, a sympathetic state and, with persistence of the experience, a shift into a dorsal vagal state.
In contrast, it is also instructive to consider times in which, within the same performance domain, the fear-based hindrances did not manifest. In such circumstances, there is typically a more relaxed muscle tone, heart rate is more stable, breathing is through the diaphragm and with a prolonged exhalation. Psychological attributes may include increased confidence, optimism, attentional control, and feelings of hope. This reflects a ventral vagal stabilized state.
When the fear-based hindrances arise, as they inevitably will, it is important to implement a polyvagal informed paradigm to manage the resulting shift in biological state. The first step within this process is to acknowledge, with as little judgement as possible, the manifestation of the fear-based hindrance and the resulting biological state. To facilitate this process, it can be helpful to first develop an understanding of the individual specific features of each of the biological states and the particular physiological and psychological manifestations of the fear-based obstacles. Once this acknowledgement has occurred, the next step is to implement polyvagal informed skills and strategies to appropriately shift the biological state as needed towards a ventral vagal stabilized state. This process has been described in further detail in past articles.
The pursuit of sustainable high performance will inevitably be associated with the manifestation of fear-based obstacles. In order to most effectively manage these occurrences, the polyvagal informed perspective described in this article is highly effective. It is also important to recognize that through development of the skills and strategies of the polyvagal informed toolbox, there will be an increase in ventral vagal tone and improved efficiency of the vagal break. These factors will reduce the likelihood of manifestation of fear-based obstacles and resulting shifts into sympathetic and dorsal vagal states through strengthening of ventral vagal stabilization. To learn more, including about polyvagal informed coaching for healthcare professionals and others in high performance domains, visit www.darindavidson.com.
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REFERENCE
Allison, M. The Play Zone: A Neurophysiological Approach to our Highest Performance. https://theplayzone.com.
Gervais, M; Lake, K. The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing, 2024.