Talking and expressing personal feelings, thoughts and experiences is a necessary, yet sometimes difficult, practice for preventing and calming fear. Although the vulnerability involved often creates a bit of anxiety, finding emotionally safe ways to express and safe people to open up to will ease the experience.
Recovery groups are a generally a great place to begin the practice of honest, open communication. Of course, different rules apply for every group, so be sure to respect those which apply to communication within or directed to the group.
As with anything else, practice makes perfect. The more you communicate, the easier it gets. Writing letters (unsent or otherwise) is one way to start opening up without the fear of judgment. But, remember, the point is to grow and continue to gain new life skills, including but not limited to honest, open communication. As such, don’t get stuck in the safety zone of unsent letter-writing. Find your voice, and let it be heard.
Regardless of whether you’re an active addict considering change or an individual in recovery grappling with the reality of a sober life, these tips are important to keep in mind. Nothing gets better in active addiction. As such and with regard to that reality, it’s also vital to keep Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s words in mind; “the only thing you have to fear is fear, itself.” With regard to active recovery, just remember this; the unknown is certainly a better alternative to that which you’ve known, and what becomes of it is solely up to you.