My counselor recently shared with me three core tenets of AA: honesty, openness, and willingness to change (HOW). These are essential building blocks for overcoming anxiety disorders:
- We must be honest with ourselves and admit that we have a mental illness.
- We must be open to trying new behaviors, techniques, therapies, medications, and support groups.
- And we must be willing to do hard work, challenging ourselves to confront and overcome our longstanding fears.
I was not always in a HOW state of mind. For too long I just suffered and
clinged to any moment of serenity I could come by. But now I'm ready to have the "courage to make mistakes" and ready to abandon my "passion for self-distrust"(1) in order to achieve recovery and a more mentally healthy life.
Reference1. Low AA. Mental Health Through Will-Training.
Glencoe, Ill.:
Willett Publishing Co.; 1997;145-9.
