Many people who struggle with addiction also struggle with fear, anxiety, and depression.

As a person who has dealt with fear, anxiety, and stress for over 20 years, the number one thing I learned was to not take my mental health issues for granted and to get help. I would also recommend this advice for anyone who is struggling with alcohol and drugs. 

Hopefully, my experiences with fear and anxiety can apply to those who are struggling with alcohol and drugs.

When I Realized I Had A Problem

When I first started dealing with my fear and anxieties, I thought that it was just a phase and that it would go away. I was wrong.

My fears and anxieties would come and go on a semi-regular basis and it started to be a major factor in my life. I had a difficult time getting through each day and I became agitated and dealt with many panic attacks.

In a way, I was addicted to “worrying”.

Do Not Make The Mistake Of Doing Nothing

I knew of people who had similar issues of fear, anxiety, and addiction who didn’t get help for their mental health issues and their fears made their life a living hell.

Some people I knew cried a lot, couldn’t hold a job and became very distant and unresponsive. Many people had their marriages and careers ruined, and their families destroyed. Many of them ended their lives because the pain was so unbearable.

I decided I was going to find a way to get better and get my life back on track.

You Need To Do Something To Manage Your Fears And Addictions

I was determined to get help and educate myself on how to deal with my fears and anxieties. This helped a lot but I still struggled.

The worst part of dealing with fear is waking up every day and having to go through your mental health issues every waking moment. Your fears and anxiety are with you every single minute of every single day.

A person can only sleep so much, however, the fear is so overpowering that a person just becomes a total wreck and can’t function at all. This also applies to anyone who is struggling with drugs and alcohol.

Your fears and addictions can overpower you. 

Do Not Give Up

There were times I felt like giving up, but I knew in my heart that the answers to my fears were out there and I had to make the effort to find them. Nobody was going to do it for me.

I realized that denying I had a problem or using drugs and alcohol to take away my fears and anxieties would only make things worse in the long run. I had to make a choice. I was determined to find those techniques that would help manage my fears.

Get Some Professional Advice From A Counselor

I took advantage of the professional help that was available, I read many books, and I learned what worked, what didn’t work, and what I needed to do to improve my issues.

I made it a habit to learn from each stressful situation that I encountered and I would write down what I learned in my notebook so I wouldn’t forget what I learned. I refused to give up and realized that the more I learned the better off I would be in the long run.

I had to help myself and nobody could do it for me. This was my life and I had to make a choice. This also applies to people who suffer from some kind of addiction.

Do Not Wait Until It Is Too Late

To this day, I still know of people who ended their lives because they didn’t get the help they needed or were too afraid to get help.

I saw the grief of family members who lost loved ones and I saw people who were caught up in the vicious cycle of fear, anxiety, addiction. I know this pain all too well as someone who has dealt with these issues on a personal level.

Do not make excuses and don’t let fear stop you from getting better. Most importantly, do not wait until it’s too late to get help.

In Conclusion

Your situation is not hopeless.

Your loved ones, friends, relatives, mental health counsellors, and others are all good sources of help. They are all willing to help you and they can make a difference, but you must be willing to take make the choice to overcome your fears and addictions.  

Regardless of your situation, take advantage of the help that is around you.

Remember: Every problem has a solution. You just have to make a real effort to find it.

About the Author:

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non-Resistant Methods” – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to http://www.managingfear.com/