Visualize spidery fingers on a detached hand creeping down a dark, gruesome hallway on their own. Now imagine hot, metallic blood gushing from a butchered body, revolting bugs crawling into your open mouth as you sleep, spirits from the other side hiding in the inky shadows, watching a loved one die in your arms, leaving you alone, helpless, fragile, broken. These are only some of the fears that individuals possess. However, many more phobias are continuously cultivated from the student population through dreadful experiences, misfortunate events or disgustingly illusory dreams. Regardless of how fearsome these phobias may be, we all pull through, living our lives beyond a toxic whirlpool of distress that we have created for ourselves.

“I’m really afraid of birds, especially the ones that get really testy when you’re around them: pigeons,” senior Allie Schmidt said.

While at a leadership camp in Chicago, Schmidt was able to go out and explore the city. As she stopped to eat at Navy Pier, a gust of wind scuffled around her and she felt a tap on her scalp.

“All of a sudden, a bird comes out of nowhere and lands on my head and it was the scariest thing,” Schmidt said. “I wouldn’t have guessed that it was a bird.”

Although Schmidt’s fear may be external, others experience internal fears, triggered by emotions and nonspecific events. Seniors Nik Akula and Adolfo Lopez-Arroyo both experience different internal fears. Akula specifically possesses a subconscious fear. He is afraid of losing self-awareness in different situations. His fear, like many others, is cultivated from his own thought process and identity.

“When you’re having too much fun, you’re not exactly aware about whether you’re making good or bad decisions,” Akula said. “You might put yourself in danger. When there is a lot of stuff going on, you don’t think things through and make the wrong choices.”

However, fear can also possess different internal levels as in the case of Lopez-Arroyo. He fears losing himself on the path to fulfilling his responsibilities.

“I don’t like when emotions start getting in the way and not being 100 percent committed to who I am,” Lopez-Arroyo said. “When I am doing something and get halfway through it and put in my best effort, I am afraid that it is not going to be enough.”

Although individuals may cringe at the simple thought of their phobias, letting shivers trickle up and down our spines, they do not let the tremors keep them from living their lives to the fullest.

“Once you know that something could happen, you automatically become more attentive and aware about the things around you,” Schmidt said. “It’s important for you to differentiate yourself from your fear.”

Aside from differentiating between identity and fear, individuals engage in several different activities to keep their minds off of their internal struggles.

“I normally meditate or work out or go for a jog,” Lopez-Arroyo said.

Phobias can be difficult to live with, however, they are not meant to be barriers built to keep individuals from succeeding. The shivers may come, the nightmares may keep you awake, but a fear does not define you. Fears create awareness in a world ready to offer several experiences.

“You might be afraid of what could happen but you should not let it stop you from doing what you want to do,” Schmidt said