Tuesday, November 1, 2011

"Can Al-Anon Help Me With Anxiety?"

I've added "anxiety" to the list of topics, and attached it to several posts, because anxiety seems to be a common denominator in Al-Anon. From today's reading in Courage to Change, page 306:

"Likewise, when my thoughts race out of control, I need to stop. I may do this by breathing deeply and looking at my surroundings. It can help to repleace the obsessive thoughts with something positive, such as an Al-Anon slogan, the Serenity Prayer, or another comforting topic that has nothing to do with my problem."

I learned how to head off panic attacks with the help of a kindly intern at a hospital, years before Al-Anon, but it wasn't until I got into program that I learned how to quiet the mental turmoil. A popular AA speaker in the States uses the phrase "ravaged by thought." An excellent description of what we do to ourselves. If I don't want to be ravaged by thought, I must be willing to let go of my worries, and not be chewing them over like a cow with its cud, all the while running like a madwoman on the gerbil wheel inside my head.

I need Awareness of what's going on in my internal dialogue, Acceptance of what it is that I can and cannot do, and then I must take Action by using the program tools I've been taught. It's up to me, in the end, because nobody can surrender or let go for me, I must be willing to do it myself.

5 comments:

  1. Sometimes I think we can go through the whole alphabet and find a common denominator... starting with anxiety for "A".

    What should "B" stand for?

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  2. Learning to detach and count my breath in meditation has tremendously helped me through anxiety attacks. Thanks for this post.

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  3. "ravaged by thought". yep. Far too often.

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  4. I also loved this post and could relate to learning how to slow down and get out of my own head. @Have Myelin? I like Balance for "B" :0)

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  5. Anxiety is something that propels all kinds of irrational actions. I went to therapy to dispel some of it but Al-Anon has helped me the most. Just letting go of outcomes for others is an enormous relief.

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