Pathos In Secret Fear

1176 Words3 Pages

Anxiety is a concept that most people experience daily, but severe anxiety is associated with panic attacks and other disorders can debilitate a person’s life. In the 1997 documentary, Secret Fear directed by Sarah Barton, real-life people express their stories and experiences with anxiety. The film uses the stories of people who have recovered and / or continue to cope with their disorder. Furthermore, different types of therapy, medications, and coping methods are described for the viewer to understand the ways in which people are able to overcome anxiety. Since anxiety is not limited solely to panic attacks, the film uses people who have experienced Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), hoarding, depression, or social phobias. The film …show more content…

Pathos is the use of anecdote, for the viewer to feel sympathetic towards the stories within the film. Bronwyn Fox, who is a part of the Panic Anxiety Disorder Association describes her experiences with panic attacks. Fox’s symptoms include feeling an electric shock, shaking, heart racing, heart pumping, and trouble breathing. Due to the severity of her condition, Fox became unable to leave her house, even walk from room to room alone. Each daily activity was linked to an anxious feeling; therefore, anxiety overtook control of Fox’s life leaving her house-bound for several years (Barton, 1997, Motion Picture). Without doubt, the viewer of the film understands the struggle and hardship that Fox faced during her period of severe …show more content…

Some people do not understand the effects of anxiety and cannot recognize the harmful effects of the disorder. Most likely, people who feel this way believe those who suffer from anxiety create their situations within their head. In other words, individuals who are not empathetic may consider people with anxiety crazy. With that in mind, these individuals do not see anxiety suffers as normal and will also dislike the documentary for the attempt to be persuaded oppositely. Overall, someone who is empathetic and understand would pity the persons featured within the

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