Choosing addictive behavior is an abandonment of self, an unloving way of dealing with painful feelings. This self-abandonment is a major cause of fear, anxiety and depression. In this article, discover the six steps to moving beyond fear and addiction.
There is a wonderful acronym for fear:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Much of the fear in our lives is based on false evidence.
Our bodies are designed to respond with the fight or flight mechanism to real and present danger -- such as being physically attacked. In the face of real and present danger, the adrenaline flows and the blood drains out of our organs and brain and into our limbs to prepare us for fight or flight.
Yet many people spend much of their time in the anxiety and stress of fight or flight when there is no real and present danger. This is because the body responds the same way to imagined danger as it does to real danger. The body thinks that the false evidence coming from our thoughts is real.
This constant state of fear and anxiety often leads to various addictions in the hope of numbing out the difficult feelings. Food, alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling, sex, TV, shopping, approval, attention, work, anger, rage, violence to self and others -- all can be used in attempts to block out painful feelings.
Yet, the addictions themselves are an abandonment of self, in that they are not a healthy and loving way of managing painful feelings. And it is self-abandonment that causes the most fear, anxiety and depression.
Thus, many people are caught in a very negative circle based on self-abandonment:
- Thinking negative thoughts about the future -- about rejection, failure, loss of others, loss of self, loss of money -- creates fear in the body and is an abandonment of self.
We are abandoning ourselves when we allow ourselves to make up thoughts about the future that scare us. This would be like saying to a child, "You are going to end up alone. No one will ever love you. You will be out on the streets with no food and no help." Saying this to a child would be considered child abuse, yet many people tell these same things to themselves over and over when there is no objective truth to these statements.
- Once we have created fear with our negative thinking, we try to avoid the fear with our various addictions.
- Addictive behavior perpetuates the original fears -- an endless vicious circle of self-abandonment.
Moving Beyond Fear and Addiction
There really is a way out of this! While the Inner Bonding process for moving beyond fear and addiction is simple, it is not easy. It takes deep commitment and devotion to your peace and joy.
- Choose the willingness to feel your painful feelings and take responsibility for creating them, rather than continue avoiding them with your various addictions. It is only when you are willing to be with your feelings rather than avoid them that you can learn about how you are creating your own pain.
This is the Inner Bonding process. Practicing it will move you beyond fear, addictions and self-abandonment.
Start learning to love yourself with our free Inner Bonding eCourse at http://www.innerbonding.com/welcome.
Join Dr. Margaret Paul for her 30-Day at-home Course: "Love Yourself: An Inner Bonding Experience to Heal Anxiety, Depression, Shame, Addictions and Relationships."
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