Fairy Stories Make Me Anxious

LorraineRoach · Newbie User Joined: Dec 08, 2006 Posts: 10

I am sure you have all heard the story of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.

Even in this story the writer brings anxiety to the character.

One of the concerns Ali Baba has is hoping the door to his cave will open in time and his treasure and hiding place will go undiscovered.

This may seem like a silly story to an adult but if you really look at it and listen to the words as you read you will hear all the references to escape, villains, stealing ,and fast chases.

I think this could cause anxiety for most of us in the real world.

If we pay attention to the written word in all its forms there are many stories we have heard over the years that were innocent in nature but very violent as well.

I was talking to my husband tonight and he pointed this out to me.

I asked myself why I had not noticed these anxiety causing scenarios.

We take for granted the fact that stories are to be enjoyed but at what price?

We read them to our children and then some of them have nightmares.

Is it any wonder that the underlying messages in the stories can stay with us for life?

This got me thinking of all the cartoons, nursery rhymes, children’s stories and fairy tales we read.

Look at the story lines in these little gems.

What we fill our minds with is a delicate matter and there are certainly consequences to everything we do.

You are probably like me and went through life just accepting tales and stories as entertainment.

What I am saying is , in the adult world we have the same thing going on.

The programs we watch, books we read, newspapers we look at as well as magazines and movies can add to the panic ,stress and anxiety of everyday life.

With the bombarding of negative stimuli, we need to start tuning in to some positive uplifting information.

I encourage everyone to remember stories like Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood, and Jack and the Bean Stock to name a few.

Do you see the anxiety causing stories here?

I am not saying we should stop reading fairy tales to our children.

Just watch for all the places anxiety can enter your world and have a plan in place when the anxiety becomes too much.

Here is one that will get you thinking…

Aladdin and the Magic Lamp.

Do you think he experienced anxiety?

I think his biggest worry was what to wish for.