Whenever you are feeling stress or an urge to use, usually it is triggered by either shame or fear. For example, when I began going to 12-step meetings, I was terrified of sharing or even reading one of the opening readings. My panic kept on showing up when I wrote in my step work or journaled for my stress. I found I had this social anxiety repeatedly. Usually I would just avoid reading or sharing, but sometimes I would get enough courage to speak to the group.
I had a hard time composing my thoughts or adequately verbalizing them when I did talk to the group. Then I would forget what I was planning on saying when I was speaking. I would feel embarrassed or ashamed after I finished sharing. I always had this negative self-talk in my head after I spoke. It would say things like “Nobody likes you or cares what you said.” Or “You’re such a loser – you couldn’t even remember the things you were going to tell them.”
Sound familiar?
My Lightbulb Moment around Social Anxiety
After I had done some stress journaling and step work I was able to identify this pattern, with the help of my Sponsor. I had also gotten interested in learning what was going on in my head with all the negative self-talk. I started researching about negative self-talk, not as an excuse for why I did it, but so I could learn to overcome it.
I watched a video from Leslie Householder about this diagram called the “stickman.” She explained all about how the conscious and subconscious mind worked. She said that the subconscious mind accepted everything as truth. The video helped me realize that all this negative self-talk was coming from my subconscious mind. It had accepted these negative ideas as truth about me early in my childhood.
Reprogramming Your Mind Helps Diminish Social Anxiety
After watching this video, I began this quest of learning how I could reprogram my subconscious mind. I tried creating my own subliminal tape with positive affirmations on it. I would listen to it every night when I went to bed. The tape would play for about an hour while I fell asleep. My research indicated that I needed to do this over and over for a long period of time for it to be effective. I believed this was the best I could do to get rid of this negative self-talk for quite a while. I tried various other methods of curbing my social anxiety but wasn’t exactly thrilled about any of them.
Discovering Another Recovery Breakthrough!
My research led me to understand that energy work could help reprogram my subconscious mind much quicker than subliminal tapes or other methods. Giving it a try sounded like a great idea to me. It was so easy I could never have imagined.
My energy mentor and I did some affirmations around my social anxiety, negative self-talk and fear of rejection. I noticed my anxiety over reading or speaking in meetings diminish over the next few days. I became more aware of the words in my head after I made a mistake. They started to become less negative and more forgiving. It was amazing for me to experience this transformation taking place so quickly! I had been searching for this solution for a long time.
Why Not Make Your Recovery Breakthrough?
This type of work seems simple — because it is — in the same way that the 12-step recovery process is. Yes, it is work. Yes, it requires effort. But I’ve found that it makes use of the talents, abilities and energy we all have. It lets us refocus our minds to things that are positive. Like so many things in life, getting into alignment with our “best recovery path” is so much easier with the help of others. Often, we just need a guide who has traveled that path before.
If I had not hired an energy worker to help me “reprogram” — understand and rearrange my subconscious mind — I would still be listening to that subliminal tape every night. I would still be chasing after effective “free” ways to get rid of the demons that told me I was such a terrible person. I would still be beating myself up for not being good enough … and using that as an excuse to run from fear and anxiety. I would still be chasing after perfection … and using that as excuse to run from my fear of rejection. I would still be isolating myself and avoiding awkward conversations that I didn’t know how to navigate.
Instead, I now believe in my abilities and myself. I have a large network of people in recovery who love and support me. I have courage to ask for help instead of attempting to do it myself to prove I have value. I have learned what Rich Sherman likes and dislikes. And I’m not ashamed to tell you all about it. I don’t have to burn bridges with friends, employers, or former mentors. I have the confidence to disagree, to say “no,” or to tell them unpleasant news, and still have decent relationships with them all.
Investing To Get Experienced Recovery Help
Can you can relate to any of these scenarios? If you’re honest with yourself, these situations probably sound very familiar. And I’m here to tell you, as the voice of experience, the change is worth it. Getting your life under control is worth it. And it is possible, IF you do something about it.
I urge you to take action. I spent years running from my fears, looking for free solutions to my problems instead of investing in experienced help. I’ll never get those years back. Don’t be like that fearful, shameful, pathetic version of me. Find a bit of courage to do something different and invest in yourself. When I was in my recovery journey, I found I had to take action in my recovery. Take action NOW! Click here to book a session with me and let’s get you moving towards a better life.
I look forward to hearing from you,
PS: It’s really simple to book a session with me. Just click here and it takes you right to my calendar.
