Irrational Fears, AKA Phobias, are debilitating and bring about panic attacks. They are a form of anxiety disorder, and the measures taken to avoid situations that result in exposure to the feared object or situation are often extreme. This is the DSM-IV (TR) Criteria for a Phobia: DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR SPecific PHOBIA A. Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood). B. Exposure to the phobic stimulus almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally predisposed Panic Attack. Note: In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging. C. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable. Note: In children, this feature may be absent. D. The phobic situation(s) is avoided or else is endured with intense anxiety or distress. E. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared situation(s) interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia. F. In individuals under age 18 years, the duration is at least 6 months. G. The anxiety, Panic Attacks, or phobic avoidance associated with the specific object or situation are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g., fear of dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (e.g., avoidance of stimuli associated with a severe stressor), Separation Anxiety Disorder (e.g., avoidance of school), Social Phobia (e.g., avoidance of social situations because of fear of embarrassment), Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, or Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder.

Well, here's an example. I am often afraid of relationships because I have been hurt in the past. Now, that is a rational fear because it makes sense to learn from the past. It can cross the line into irrational fear though, whenever I turn everyone down without giving them a chance out of fear. They do not speak for my past boyfriends and it isn't right to make that assumption. It requires a lot of discretion to determine whether a fear of yours is irrational or realistic.

"Our two minds .... One is an act of the emotional mind, the other of the rational mind. In a very real sense we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels" (Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence, Bloomsbury Publishing, London, 1996, page 8). This rational mind is also called the faculty of logic and reason. Persons in whom the ratinal mind workds dominantly rarely fear any thing. They will have the daringness to face any realistic situation. The emotional mind controls all fears, so they are called irrational. Meditation will help reducing the magnitude of fears.