We like to think we’re unique and, in most cases, we are; but, when it comes to daily fears and scary thoughts, we are actually quite similar. Years of conditioning have shaped our innate fears based perceived levels of danger and risk. Oftentimes, the scary thoughts that stem from our fears have a way of keeping us safe. For instance, waking in the middle of the night after dreaming of falling from a ledge comes from a fear of heights. Thus, there is little to no chance you would put yourself in the position to fall from something tall. When scary thoughts translate into cautious behavior, they are helping to keep you safe; but, when scary thoughts turn into obsessions, they produce excessive, irrational reactions that negatively affect daily routines and relationships.

Finding the happy medium between taking your thoughts seriously but not too seriously is the key to controlling fears and staying stable. If you find that your life has been crippled by your fears, seek professional help.

For those manageable anxieties, here is a list of the 10 most common fears and how to manage them: