Some of the most important recovery work involves figuring out the reasons for the intense emotional challenges we’re facing. A lot of times, we’re suffering without knowing why. We feel a great deal of fear, but we’re often unaware that it’s fear we’re experiencing. Fear can masquerade as anger, defensive, and a host of other symptoms, leaving us completely unaware of its root cause. We don’t know what our fears are or why we have them. Without this knowledge, it’s impossible to overcome our fear and address the ways we express it.
Recurring Thoughts
Acute levels of fear can act as subconscious drivers in our lives. Let’s look at our default thought patterns. These thoughts often pass through our heads without any examination at all, making them particularly dangerous. Try to pinpoint some of your recurring thoughts. What are the objects of your obsession or worry? When you think too much, what is the subject of your overthinking? What are your first thoughts in the morning when you wake up, and what do you ruminate about when you can’t sleep? What thoughts are you trying to avoid and escape when you use your drug of choice? The answers to these questions can tell us all we need to know about our hidden fears.
Fear Responses
Within our obsessive thoughts and the thoughts we try to suppress are clues to what we fear. The emotional information stored in our subconscious minds, especially when we’ve been traumatized, can tell us what our fears are, and where they started. Let’s start paying more attention to our inner voice, and our fear responses. Our instinctive emotional responses to fear are often intense anxiety, nervousness, panic, sadness, and anger. When we investigate these responses, and when they occur, we can learn a great deal about our fear.
Exploring Our Fears
Healing our fears requires becoming conscious of them. We can ask ourselves some helpful, exploratory questions to get started. “What recurring thought patterns do I have? What are my default emotional responses? What is most triggering for me? When am I triggered?” Many of us experience some very common fears: fear of abandonment, fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of being judged, fear of being rejected and betrayed. When we examine these thought processes, we develop more consciousness around our fears. From that point, we can begin to heal from them.
Fear is a powerful, driving force, but it doesn’t have to govern your life. At The Guest House Ocala, our experience with addiction and recovery makes us uniquely equipped to be able to understand the struggles you’re experiencing. We’re here to help. Call 855-483-7800 today for more information on our treatment programs.