Coping with fear of failure

Fear of failure can produce emotional and behavioural symptoms. some of the common signs of this fear include:

• Anxiety
• Avoidance
• Feeling a loss of control
• Helplessness
• Powerlessness

In some cases, the fear of failure may cause people to avoid trying altogether.

• Because they are so afraid that they will try and not succeed, they simply decide not to try at all in order to prevent potential pain, embarrassment, or disappointment.

Treatment for the fear of failure depends on a variety of factors including how you experience this fear and the impact that it has on your life.

If your fear of failure is impeding your ability to function normally, it is important to talk to a professional. Treatm...

While visualization is often touted as a tool for success, research actually shows that this motivational strategy can backfire with people who have a high fear of failure.

• One study found that people with a strong fear of failing experienced strong negative moods...

The fear of failure may affect people in a variety of ways, which means that it's not always easy to identify:

• Believing that you don't have the skills or knowledge to achieve something
• Feeling like you won't be able to achieve your goals
...

Critical upbringing: People who grow up in households that are highly critical or unsupportive may be more likely to experience a fear of failure.

Definitions of failure: People often have different definitions of what failure means. For some people, it mea...

• Low self-esteem: People who fear failure may also engage in negative self-talk or have low self-confidence that makes it difficult to pursue goals.
• Poor motivation: When people fear failure, they may also experience a lack of motivation that makes it...