Are We Afraid Of The Silence?

 

Quiet has the power to make us nervous…

We’ve all experienced it. That uncomfortable pause in a conversation or presentation. There is a feeling akin to anxiety as the participants feel like they are under pressure to talk but are not sure what to say next.

I remember once walking with a friend and, while I really enjoyed her company, I secretly wanted her to stop being a chatter box. On the other hand she was just trying to be polite and pleasant by filling up each pause. We subconsciously wonder if we’ve somehow failed in our efforts to communicate or if we’re not important to the person next to us.

Quiet has the power to make us nervous.

Sedatephobia or ‘the fear of silence’ is becoming more common by the day and causing people to feel awkward in quiet places, like the library , or situations like pauses in conversation.

Experts say that this phobia has only surfaced within the last 50 years or so. This would suggest that we live in a much noisier world than the environment our parents and grandparents grew up in.

These days, it seems difficult to see young people walk from one place to another without having music in their ears. There’s no way to explain why so many of us rather go about our days with a constant sense of background noise. Experts are blaming the parents and grandparents who constantly left the TV on, even when no one was watching. This taught children to exist in those artificial worlds.

Silence allows us to be able to notice our thoughts. Often our thoughts are uncomfortable and uncontrollable and they occur when they are triggered by something else. Most of us prefer to not sit and notice their thoughts as they often cause stressful emotions to ensue. Sounds provide a relief.

Silence can be daunting, but there are ways to teach yourself to get comfortable with the quiet. You can face the fear head-on and practice mindfulness. Shut off the TV, mute the music, log out of social media and have a miniature hiatus in your day. When we become comfortable with our own thoughts, the quiet becomes more comfortable.

As we get older, we learn that keeping company does not mean talking endlessly. Silence at times is comforting while useless discussion can be awkward. Two or more people can enjoy being with the other without such formalities.

Try it for yourself. Quiet your mind to the silence, to nature, to the well of wisdom that is already present within you.