All of us experience fear now and then. And all of us know the effects fear can have on us.

Fear can hold us back from pursuing our dreams, whether those dreams are about starting a business or starting a relationship. It can keep us stuck where we are.

If fear is keeping you from being who you want to be or what you want to accomplish, start by understanding what your particular fear means.

Here are five common fear-driven scenarios and how you can handle them.