Facing Our Fears

Cue the scary lullaby. On this episode, we’re taking on the things that freak us out. There’s biology behind the spooky feeling you get when a horror movie soundtrack plays. Psychologists say fear can be a useful emotion — a warning system — and what prompts us to push past our limits. In healthcare, there’s a controversial treatment that asks patients to confront the exact things that cause them fear and pain — and to do those things over and over. Nerve-wracking. Sickening. Facing your fears can be all of that — and sometimes a little thrilling too.