I often mention the word Empowerment in my posts, and for good reason.  Empowerment is the foundation for which recovery is built upon.  It is the feeling of insecurity and helplessness that allows the anxiety disorder to continue to exist and to grow.

The common denominator at the beginning of anxiety disorder is a feeling of being helpless.  There was some event that occurred that basically said: “you cannot take care of yourself”.  Even though these words are incorrect, we believed them.  And then we live our lives according to them.  Anxiety leaves us feeling helpless and hopeless.

Once we engage in recovery and we start to implement the program in our lives, we begin to gain control of our lives again.  We reestablish our own importance in the world.  As we do this, we grow empowered.  We learn that we can take care of ourselves.  And we remember how important we are in our own lives.  This creates a huge shift in our perception from being a “victim” to becoming “empowered”.

One of the most effective ways to build empowerment is to Employ (see the previous post on Employ) the tools.  The tools actually give us an opportunity to meet our fear head on and off us something we can combat them with.

Until we use tools when anxiety levels increase we essentially at the mercy of the anxiety.  We cannot stop it from coming.  We cannot suppress the anxiety in any way.  So when the anxiety levels rise, we are essentially a victim to the anxiety.  And all we can do is cater to the fear until it subsides.

Once we start to use the tools now we do not have to be a victim to the anxiety.  We are no longer helpless when it arises.  There is actually something we can do to engage it, stand up to it, and ultimately “chase it away”.

Our tools & techniques are very similar to that of an auto mechanic, in the sense that it takes practice and experience to be able to quickly respond with the right tool, for the right situation and know how to efficiently use it.

Therefore, practice your tools.  Keep them handy.  These tools are your key to recovery!  The key to empowerment!

In addition, self-care can also be very effective in creating empowerment in your life.  Self-care instills a sense of the importance of self in your own life.  And you are in control of taking care of yourself, and that is empowering.

Practice the tools.  Practice self-care.  Take back your life.  Create the change you seek.