Thanks for bringing up the fear and shame angle, fear, shame, and guilt kept me drunk for may a year, I am not going to say I am totally fear free, but fear no longer paralyzes me, shame & guilt for me are a thing of the past, I have AA to thank for all of this.
In looking at my past, when I was drinking I was a DRUNK, I had a fear of everyone knowing I was a DRUNK, I was ashamed of being a DRUNK, I was full of guilt over what I did as a DRUNK!!!!
I am no longer a DRUNK, I am today a recovering alcoholic, a useful part of society as a whole, I have no fear of anyone knowing I am a recovering alcoholic, I have no guilt or shame in being a recovering alcoholic. All of this I gained thanks to the fellowship and program of AA.