Do Something About Your Fear

The anxiety disorders listed in psychiatry’s Diagnostic & Statistical Manual can be summed up as each one being a “fear of (________).” Fill in the blank, you've got the diagnosis. One element they have in common is: avoidance. In one way or another, they avoid their fear...desperately. Because of this, they never experience the fact that panic naturally comes to an end. The result is that their fear controls them and limits their potential.

“Normal” people do this, too. Every day. All the time. Fear is supposed to keep us safe. But, when does “safe” become a problem? The truth is, to make a change in your life, if you want to make a difference, fear is the price of admission. It’s not just a question of facing your fear. You must *do* something about it...step forward and pass through it. Own your fear. Otherwise, it will own you. When you do this, though, typically someone will rise up to stop you. I mean really rise up and make "death threats." It might be another person or a group, or it might be you. Who knows what will happen if you do that? Don't be an idiot! Well, who does know? But, if you don’t do it, nothing will change in your life. You won’t change. No difference will be made. All that will be left is you and your fear, which you will desperately avoid.

Once again, we see that "normal" people and psychiatric patients really aren't all that different, after all. Stop fooling yourself on that point. And *do* something about your fear. It's entirely your choice.

— Jon Jackson, M.D.