Here are four key lessons I’ve learned from facing my deepest fear:
Turn the tide against fear. Even with every phobia in the book, I’ve learned, through treatment, how to turn fear into strength. And I’m not alone here. In fact, 75% of people with phobias overcome their fears through therapy.
Don’t drown my phobias. Reaching for a quick fix to life’s struggles has taught me that self-medicating with alcohol, drugs or food only makes my anxiety worse. For support in your area, call 1–800–662-HELP (4357).
Dive into the deep end. I always get to the bottom of my fears, meeting them, face to face, like any other anxiety disorder. I reach out to family, friends and my doctor to face the intense fears fueling my anxiety.
Swim one lap at a time. I always pace myself, taking the time I need to deal with life’s trials and tribulations. After all, I’m still a work in progress, so I choose to overcome life’s obstacles one step at a time, not all at once.