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Video: How can a recovering behavioral addict handle fears?
http://www.addictioninfo.org/articles/2121/1/Video-How-can-a-recovering-behavioral-addict-handle-fears/Page1.html
Marc F. Kern
 
By Marc F. Kern
Published on 06/9/2007
 
Fear is very central to every behavioral addiction, that is not emphasized enough. Preparing for the fears is recognizing that it's normal, recognizing it's important that you face them, see the outcome, see that you don't fall apart.



      Transcript

Fear is very central to every behavioural addiction, that is not emphasized enough.

How do you handle fear?

Well, technique 1 is to face your fears and go ahead anyway.

If there is a central feature to addictions that postpone addicts from engaging in recovery, it is fear of the unknown.

Fear of being unable to handle things and fear you're going to go crazy. Fear of not knowing how to live life without the involvement of your addiction.

So, preparing for the fears is recognizing that it's normal, recognizing it's important that you face them, see the outcome, see that you don't fall apart, see that you don't make a fool of yourself and realizing it's a natural process (a necessary process) to continue to face your fears and go ahead with life anyway.

There is no shortcut to facing your fears and there is no shortcut to recovery and diminishing the need to face your fears. The faster and more often you can face your fears and continue on anyway, the faster your recovery is going to be.

This is an excerpt from the longer video Behavioral Addiction Recovery. http://www.videojug.com/interview/behavioral-addiction-recovery