As an author of a managing fear book, I struggled with fear, anxiety, and stress for over 20 years.
There were many times I felt like giving up because my fears and anxieties were stronger than what I could handle. It was difficult getting through a normal day and there were times I thought I was not going to make it. During those times, I could have been tempted to turn to alcohol and drugs to take away my fears, but deep down inside of me I knew that was not the answer.
The main reason why I didn't use alcohol and drugs to solve my problems was that they did not really do anything to take away my fears in the long-term. I realized that alcohol and drugs would numb the pain for a few hours, but then my fears and anxieties would come back. I also knew that alcohol and drugs were addictive and can be very difficult to stop. I figured I had enough problems aside from trying to deal with the vicious cycle of addiction.
I learned that I couldn't run away from my fears and anxieties.
No matter what I did, my fears and anxieties would always come back and there was no way to escape my fears. Running away or avoiding my problems through alcohol and drugs was not the answer. With this in mind, I determined my best course of action was to learn how to deal with my fears and anxieties in an effective manner. I reasoned that If I could learn how to manage my fears then I would be better off in the long run.
So I talked to various mental health counselors and read many books. I made it a habit to try to learn from my experiences. Every time I experienced a fearful situation I would try various techniques. Whenever the fears went away, I wrote down what worked for me and what didn't work in terms of managing my fears. Instead of running away from my fears, I used each situation as a learning experience so I would be better able to deal with my fears in the future.
I also asked God for help in managing my fears on a regular basis. Using the help of God is way more effective than using alcohol and drugs to take away a person's fears. I also made it a point to surround myself with supportive people who gave me helpful advice and encouragement.
It was not easy, however I continued to seek help and I didn't give up. In my opinion, getting the help you need and learning how to deal with your situation in an effective manner are the best ways in getting better. Using Drugs and alcohol to take away your fears and anxieties will only make things worse.
