Fear

[nandm]

From Stools and Bottles; The little green book

Fear is a painful emotion marked by alarm, terror, and anxiety. Its forces are well known to both the alcoholic and his family.

The family fears for the welfare of the alcoholic and for its own security. The alcoholic fears his own inadequacy to live normally because of his compulsive drinking.

Fear is a destructive energy which we have long used against ourselves. It belongs in our inventories as its use has been mostly negative. We find that our fears are closely associated with conscious guilt which undoubtedly stems from compulsive drinking.

Fear has survival values when used correctly. The Little Red Book pages 69 to 75, covers fear in more detail.

A great way to picture fear is to think of a bottle with a picture or a skull and crossbones on it and a label that says

A.A. DRY DRUNK

FEAR
(A.A. Jitters)

180 Proof---Effective---Quick Acting---Alarming---Frustrating---Terrifying---Paralyzing---Deadly.

Fear induces the energy to flee or duck reality. Drunk on this mental poison we placed distorted faith in ideas of harm to our health---lives---families---reputation---social standing---finance---anonymity---and sobriety.

Fear is contrary to our 12 Step philosophy. Its antidote is faith. Faith in the A.A. program to help us recover our health. Faith in God's power to perform the miracle of contented sobriety in our lives.

I know for me fear can be quite paralzying at times. It is a struggle some days to avoid it. And those days that I am unable to avoid it can be a struggle trying to counter act it with faith. Although I do consider myself as someone with a lot of faith, I still experience fear. I am not sure if this is because I still don't have enough faith or what. Even when I am in fear I do know that it will be okay, that whatever happens will happen, that God will see me through, and I will survive. Maybe those things are not true faith? I hate fear and do see it as the Big Book describes it "Sometimes we think fear ought to be classed with stealing. It seems to cause more trouble." I am hoping that as my life goes on I make more progress in this area. I will keep putting one foot in front of the other, clean house, and trust in my Higher Power.

[SaTiT]

Courage is not without fear.

After all I'm clean and sober and I'm going feel alot of feelings.
Having or feeling fears is not a lack of faith.

it's moving forward in spite of my fears that is an act of courage.
It's steping forward when I'm scared sheitless and when my ass
is falling off.

big, big different then before, hell i was never fearful of getting into
a bar fight becuase i was numb out of my freaken mind.
I was never fearful of pedel to the metal becuase I felt nothing.
it's fualt courage...or numbness.

There's something i found out about fears after all these years.
Embrace fear, welcome fear into your life.
Fear will run away, becuase fear is full of fears.

those slogens starts making sense after a while, nothing to fear
accept fear itself.

I still experince fears today after a decade of recovery.
why ???...I'm still clean and sober ..lol I have feelings.