Fear reinforces itself.
The more we avoid something the worse it gets.
The trick is to face the unpleasant thing, but do it in small doses. If small isn't small enough go smaller.
When it's easy to cope, increase the intensity or duration in manageable amounts.
With emotions, it helps to regard them as like waves or weather - whether pleasant or not, they are always temporary, always arising and passing away.
One of the best things is exercise. It teaches the system to handle stress extremely well, including emotional and intellectual stress.
