Fear can be a good thing when it protects us from dangerous situations. Fear can become a problem when it becomes a debilitating factor in our lives. When fear is unrealistic and affects our daily living it is time to take action.

There are several things you can do to overcome unrealistic fears. You need to figure out, first of all what it is that you are afraid of. You need to be very specific in answering this question. When you are specific you will be able to find out exactly what it is that you fear and you will also be able to focus on the entire problem and not just part of it.

Use positive self-talk strategies. We often tell ourselves that things are worse than they are. We scare ourselves into being stressed and that only adds to our anxiety.

Go ahead and over exaggerate the bad consequences that make you afraid. You will start to realize that your fears are being exaggerated and that things are not as bad as you had feared. This may help you to recognize that the outcome may be better than you had thought.

See yourself being fearful but in charge. Imagine the situation you fear and visualize yourself handling it in a satisfactory way. Try a relaxing exercise before you start your visualization. When you are relaxed it may be easier to focus on this positive visualizing.

Start slowly and expose yourself to the situation you fear. Work your way to doing things that will bring you closer to what you fear.

It may also be helpful to find someone to talk to about your fears. Find someone you trust and share the thing you fear.

Source: http://www.counsel.ufl.edu/