Fear of Knowing

Today's post is brought about by my reflections on the spiritual aspects of illness (see a few posts ago). One set of the spiritual aspects of illness are the fears. One specific fear that I'd ike to spend some time with today is the fear of knowing - not a mis-print, I did not mean the fear of the un-known. Let's explore this fear more and posit why it occurs.

It has been a common occurrence in my career dealing with critically ill and injured persons that the subject has not been to see a physician in many years. They knew things were "wrong", they knew what the MD was going to tell then (lose 20 pounds, get more exercise, etc). They weren't about to spend the money to be told what they already knew and weren't willing to do anything about. Finally, some set of problems became acute enough and they ended up in the Emergency Room (usually) and then the ICU (intensive care unit). They would often remark something to the extent of "see, I knew that if I saw a doctor they would find something wrong - that's all doctor's do!"

The fear of knowing is prevalent and persistent. We grapple with fear everyday - usually of the unknown. My son remarked over the weekend that people were buying potassium iodide tablets in case the radiation from Japan reached the United States. He asked me about this and I told him that the majority of the U.S. was going to receive far more radiation from over use of their cell phones, I-pads, etc, than they ever would from a possible radiation leak from the Japanese nuclear reactor. However, we also fear knowing - especially when it comes to disease. The most feared knowing has to do with the diagnosis of cancer.

Much of my professional life has been spent helping people understand the difference between possible and probable - most often it has been in understanding the side effects of medications. It often comes down to a little bit of knowledge being dangerous! When things are taken out of context, or there is not enough knowledge to interpret information, then fear mounts. People are torn between wanting to know and not wanting to know. There is a very real fear of the diagnosis - because then the unknown fear will be real and will require a new pattern of behavior in a new reality.

We fear changes in our view of reality. We fear needing to adjust our lives to the new worldview. The fear paralyzes us and we do nothing to change the situation. Denial becomes our friend and we live out our lives in "quiet desperation" not ever having truly lived. Most religious traditions promise something else, however. A different worldview that allows us to have the strength and support to face our realities together and move boldly forward into the known and the unknown. As individuals we can hide, as groups we confront and affirm. This is how we combat the fears that sap our abundant life and our health, wellness and wholeness.

This is what Possibilities Journey, Inc is doing in the world. (www.possjrny.org) We are beginning to build a new model of integrating faith communities into the health care system to help all people get the spiritual care they need. Join us in the journey into a new reality.

Peace,
Dan