Overcoming fear of meteorites

Edwin Selij
February 16, 2018

With the advent of the Internet, you are increasingly aware: the earth could just end because of the arrival of a giant meteorite. If you are now breaking out in a fearful sweat and feeling hot and cold at the same time, read on. For there is much you can do to counter this fear, so that you do not spend all day looking at the sky to spot omens "that it is coming"

Fear of meteorites

Fear of meteorites (or even planet Niburu) is something that is becoming increasingly common. With the fear of meteorites, you fear that a meteorite will hit the earth and could have far-reaching consequences or that you are just that unlucky person who gets hit by a small meteorite.

With news of meteorites, fear can shoot down your throat and you may literally lie awake fearing that one or the all-destroying meteorite is coming soon.

Origin of fear of meteorites

The fear of meteorites can arise for all sorts of reasons. Lately, meteorites have become more visible because videos of them are being shared online. The meteorite in Russia, for example, which shattered windows, is a well-known example and has fueled fear in many people.

The internet is a major source of anxiety in general. Especially when you’re just casually watching YouTube and come across a few videos about space and theories about threats to Earth, you can become completely paranoid —especially if you keep watching those videos every day or on a regular basis. (That’s also how you can develop a fear of aliens and time travelers.)

Recognizing Anxiety

Sometimes it is difficult to recognize the fear of meteorites. However, there are some symptoms that make you recognize it more quickly. For example, when you're outside, you scan the sky all the time or you don't even dare to go outside because you're afraid a meteor will fall on your head.

In addition, you can recognize anxiety by the following physical symptoms:

  • Tense muscles
  • Vibrate
  • Nausea
  • Surrender
  • Cramp
  • Dizzy
  • Feeling too hot or too cold
  • Sweat
  • Faster breathing

It’s important to recognize these physical symptoms, as they affect your emotions. If your body is tense, this can also cause you to feel mentally tense. For example, just before someone starts crying, they’re often tense or shaky.

Overcoming the fear of meteorites

Initially, it is important to know whether you have a fear of meteorites or not. You can reduce the immediate fear in a number of ways and then you can work with other techniques to eliminate it altogether or at least lower it enough that you dare to leave the house without a metal umbrella.

Physical techniques to overcome anxiety

Fear is intensified by the body’s physical response to anxiety. Being able to control your body (to some extent) therefore helps immensely in keeping fear in check. Calming techniques are therefore very useful.

Tip 1: Focus on your breathing

Your breathing can become much more irregular and rapid when you’re anxious. There’s also a good chance you’ll breathe more through your chest than through your abdomen (this also happens when you’re stressed).

By controlling your breathing and breathing into your abdomen, you ensure that your body maintains sufficient oxygen to function properly. This also allows you to think clearly, so you become less confused and are less likely to panic.

Tip 2: Focus on the soles of your feet

In addition to controlling your breathing, it is good to focus on the feel of your soles of your feet making contact with the ground. You are still stable and balanced. This also allows you to stay in the here and now with your thoughts which makes you fantasize less about what might happen if a meteorite falls.

Tip 3: Relax your muscles

Your muscles can become very tense when you are anxious; the result may even be cramping and having to go to the toilet. Therefore, relax your muscles when you notice that you are becoming anxious.

Your muscles may tense up again after you’ve relaxed them. If that happens, repeat the first two steps and relax them again. You can practice relaxing your muscles with the mindfulness body scan.

There are also other techniques you can use to instantly calm down if you find that you are suffering from stress due to anxiety.

Mental techniques to overcome anxiety

In addition to these physical techniques to weaken your fear response, there are also mental techniques to reduce your fear to the point that you are no longer bothered by anything, because tell me honestly: How real is this fear really?

Tip 4: Inform yourself about meteorites

Five meteorites have fallen in the Netherlands in the past 200 years. The largest was 7 kilograms and left a 1-meter crater. Even the ants nearby must have survived that impact.

In addition, the meteorites in the Netherlands are so small that the chances of one falling on your head are not great. By reading up on probabilities and how often a meteorite actually lands somewhere, you will soon find out that your fear may be a bit exaggerated.

Tip 5: Don't worry about what you can't control

A meteorite is about the best example of something you have no control over. They are barely predictable and you can't do anything with them at all. When a meteorite flies right past the earth it has no impact on your daily life.

So why be distracted by something you have no control over?

For that matter, the fear of being mugged or being poor is something you can do more to combat, such as taking self-defense classes or saving. However, the fear of a meteorite is something you cannot do anything at all against, so you might as well not care.

Tip 6: Change your beliefs about a meteorite

Beliefs are your conceptions of how the world works and fits together. These largely determine your reality and what you think is fact. If you are convinced that a meteorite is life threatening to you, it is important to change those beliefs.

After you've read up on metaphors, you can turn these into hypnotic suggestions that change your beliefs the more often you repeat them during self-hypnosis. A hypnotherapist can also help you with this. For example, the suggestions can be:

"It's safe for me to walk down the street."

"Only five small meteorites have fallen in the Netherlands in the last 200 years, with no one noticing."

"I accept that I have no control over meteorites."

If you find it difficult to do so, a hypnotherapist can help you with customized suggestions and self-hypnosis practice.

Tip 7: Find the cause of your anxiety

Can’t find a clear cause, such as watching too many YouTube videos that warn you about meteorites and aliens? Then it’s wise to see if you can find another cause. One way to find the cause in your subconscious is to undergo regression. This is a form of hypnosis that takes you back to the moment when your fear of meteorites first arose.

Going back to the moment with regression allows you to look at the event more rationally. This is because many beliefs are formed at a young age (think elementary school age).

For example, people with a fear of knots exist. In one case, it turned out that this had developed at a young age. She had previously had a doll with buttons as eyes. Apparently she thought that was a scary doll and since then she gets the fear reaction when she sees buttons. Then when you consider how often you encounter buttons on jackets and vests every day, life can be made quite impossible by this fear.

The regression allowed her to see that her fear was actually still that childish reaction and by going back to the moment, she was able to disconnect the fear better.

Tip 8: Stop watching anxiety-producing videos

Then the last tip, which may also make quite a bit of sense. Are you feeding your anxiety with those exciting videos on social media about meteorites? Then stop watching these videos regularly. By no longer feeding the fear, it may also go away. Out of sight, out of mind is a saying often used for a reason.

If this doesn’t work, hypnosis can help you overcome your fear very quickly.

Would you like to learn more about how hypnosis works? Then come to a workshop or take one of the courses offered by the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands.

Sources:

https://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/binnenland/2017/06/bijzondere-vondsten-de-6-meteorieten-van-nederland