Brene Brown has said, “Based on my research, shame and fear are the greatest obstacles to authenticity, love and belonging, and a resilient spirit…over time, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in pretending and perfection”. I believe the same is true in recovery.
In chemical dependency, addiction and other compulsive behaviors, we often are pursuing behaviors that allow us to numb, avoid, repress or transcend our painful, negative feelings—including those in the fear spectrum.
Since managing our fear and anxiety is such an important task in recovery, I have developed a talk to address that topic. A portion of the discussion is informational and education, but time is also devoted to processing and applying the insights into our lives.
Recently, I was in Roseburg, Oregon at the Serenity Lane outpatient treatment center presenting that talk. The group was very interactive and real. They engaged with the material and each other. They appreciated the information but really wanted to apply the tools, skills and concepts to their lives. They asked me for handouts! I also appreciated the expertise one of the counselors offered regarding breathing. It was very helpful.
I would love to come and offer this or some other training to your group. Let me know!