Fear in the Big Book

Sometimes I stole from my wife’s slender purse when the morning terror and madness were on me.

Then came the night when the physical and mental torture was so hellish I feared I would burst through my window, sash and all.

People feared for my sanity.

Fear sobered me for a bit.

He soon indicated he was anxious to see us.

Even in the present century, American newspapers were afraid to print an account of the Wright brothers’ first successful flight at Kitty Hawk.

We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn’t control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn’t make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy, we couldn’t seem to be of real help to other people— was not a basic solution of these bedevilments more important than whether we should see newsreels of lunar flight?

Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate.

As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter.

Self-esteem (fear) Told my wife of my Sex relations. mistress.

Self-esteem (fear) Brown may get my Security. job at the office.

Self-esteem (fear) She’s a nut—she Personal relationsnubbed me.

Self-esteem committed her hus(fear) band for drinking.

Unreasonable—Unjust Self-esteem (fear) — Overbearing — Security.

Likes Brown. sex relations— Wants house put in Security (fear) her name.

Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking and frightened?

Notice that the word “fear’’ is bracketed alongside the difficulties with Mr. Brown, Mrs. Jones, the employer, and the wife.

we think fear ought to be classed with stealing.

We reviewed our fears thoroughly.

Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn’t fully solve the fear problem, or any other.

We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be.

At once, we commence to outgrow fear.

They only thought they had lost their egoism and fear; they only thought they had humbled themselves.

He is under constant fear and tension—that makes for more drinking.

We say this because we are very anxious that we talk to the right person.

Our fears fall from us.

Nor are we afraid of disclosing our alcoholism on the theory it may cause financial harm.

We must lose our fear of creditors no matter how far we have to go, for we are liable to drink if we are afraid to face them.

If he opened that old affair, he was afraid it would destroy the reputation of his partner, disgrace his family and take away his means of livelihood.

Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.

Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear.

We are neither cocky nor are we afraid.

Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid?

running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day “Thy will be done.’’ We are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish decisions.

Sometimes a new man is anxious to proceed at once, and you may be tempted to let him do so.

If you answer these questions satisfactorily, you need have no apprehension.

But for every man who drinks others are involved— the wife who trembles in fear of the next debauch; the mother and father who see their son wasting away.

We have had long rendezvous with hurt pride, frustration, self-pity, misunderstanding and fear.

We have been terror stricken.

There is another paralyzing fear.

You may be afraid your husband will lose his position; you are thinking of the disgrace and hard times which will befall you and the children.

When we do that, we find it solves our problems too; the ensuing lack of fear, worry and hurt feelings is a wonderful

The slightest sign of fear or intolerance may lessen your husband’s chance of recovery.

That is why we are anxious that you understand, and that you avoid these unnecessary difficulties.* So to you out there who may soon be with us—we say “Good luck and God bless you!”

As soon as his sobriety begins to be taken as a matter of course, the family may look at their strange new dad with apprehension, then with irritation.

The greatest enemies of us alcoholics are resentment, jealousy, envy, frustration, and fear.

Momentarily we did—then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen—Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair.

Fear gripped him.

One morning he took the bull by the horns and set out to tell those he feared what his trouble had been.

I’m afraid to go out the door.

The doctor proved to be able and exceedingly anxious to adopt any workable method of handling the situation.