Last month we examined the power of denial in our lives and discovered how it causes us to reject the reality of a painful event, feeling or thought. Denial is a natural, primitive defence mechanism, that left unchecked can lead to numerous problems in our lives. Often, the journey to recovery begins at a center for addiction treatment. The major reason we remain in denial is the particularly potent emotion, fear.
Facing Our Fears is a Process
It is the result of intentionally and consciously confronting the things that scare us. The result of facing a fear always leads to growth and expands the possibilities that surround our life. How could facing the fear of a terminal illness do this you may ask? Whilst we are not able to rid the illness, we can choose how we are going to react to the feelings we experience. Finding a center for addiction treatment that understands this emotional landscape is vital.
Often, people mistake feelings and thoughts as being the same thing but they are vastly different. Thoughts determine our feelings and feelings can determine our thoughts. Think about the last time you were afraid. What did you feel… and then think? Fear manifests as a feeling first which then influences our thoughts. Feelings typically result in our actions and bring thoughts to life. The key to overcoming fear is to be acutely aware of our thoughts and how they influence our feelings. This awareness is a primary goal for anyone entering a center for addiction treatment.
Imagine how powerful the thoughts of a mother need to be to overcome her feelings of rage and pain when she replaces those feelings with forgiveness and compassion for the murderer of her child? Using this illustration, we see the ability to create our own thoughts. Left unchecked they automatically react to our feelings. The heartwarming stories of how people overcome immense adversity all exhibit exceptional change in thought.
As the holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl states, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” This philosophy is often shared at a center for addiction treatment like Ocean Bay Recovery to empower those in recovery.
Becoming aware of our fears and acknowledging that we are not our fears is the first step. Once we achieve this we are able to pinpoint the irrational thoughts that give rise to the fear, we realise that our thoughts/imagination are perpetuating the fear. If fear and denial is still overwhelming, seek help at a center for addiction treatment.
“To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another.” – Katherine Paterson.
How a Center for Addiction Treatment Can Help
If you are struggling to manage these overwhelming emotions, Ocean Bay Recovery is here to help you navigate the path forward. Choosing the right Center for addiction treatment is the first step toward reclaiming your freedom.
Are you ready to face your fears and move past denial? Reach out to Ocean Bay Recovery today to speak with someone who can help.