Tip 3: Face your fears

When I was addicted to booze, cigarettes and, yes, too many candy bars, too, I would tell myself that I was having fun. The more I drank, smoked or ate the more fun I was having. But what it really was all about was fear.

Every time something bad would happen – when my parents divorced, when my boyfriend left me – I would hide behind my addictions. Then I became afraid to quit. What would my life be like without the addictions that ruled all my thoughts and all my plans? Would it be worse?

Once I addressed my fears, I realized that my addictions were not making me less afraid. In fact, the scariest part of my life – looking back – was that time when I had so many dangerous addictions. Quitting didn’t stop those bad things that happen in everybody’s life. But now I can face my fears without turning to booze or cigarettes or eating too much food.

I have accepted that being afraid is being human, and that allows me to face my fears. What are you afraid of? Write your fears on a piece of paper. Then ask yourself, “How will my addiction fix this?” Guess what? It won’t! But recognizing that fear is what’s driving your addictions is the first step. Then, get a little faith.

Faith won’t keep bad times away, but faith will help you face your fears. I know, because faith helped me believe in myself. Faith is powerful.

Linda Joy Allan is the author of “I Quit! Cigarettes, Candy Bars and Booze.”