Insecurity

What is insecurity?

Insecurity is a fearful, anxious feeling also marked by a general lack of confidence and stability.

How can insecurity affect your recovery?

While we were drinking and using, alcohol and other drugs offered a reprieve from feeling inadequate and insecure. Using substances at parties suddenly made us feel okay: people liked us, we were popular and funny, and everything made sense. We could dance, talk, and enjoy being in our own skins.

But the substance-induced confidence was temporary. Addicts, like most people, are complex. We project wholeness when inside we are empty. We feel jealous and act arrogant when we feel insecure. We work hard to get other people to like us when we don’t like ourselves.

You started to combat insecurity when you worked Step One. You looked
at yourself honestly and accepted yourself and your disease. Continue working Step Four and Step Five, which will lead you to deeper discovery and acceptance of yourself. Once you learn to be honest with yourself, you’ll more easily accept yourself and others in day-to-day life. As you gain experience in recovery, work- ing Step Ten as a daily spot-check of your inventory will help you identify and snuff out insecurity before it inhibits your spiritual progress.

As you grow in your relationship with your Higher Power, you will learn to depend less on yourself. You may find a growing sense of security because you have the strength, wisdom, and support of a Power greater than yourself. Don’t focus on insecurity. Instead, focus on growing this relationship with your Higher Power and working the Steps: your insecurities will lessen and may fall away altogether.