Anyone else have anxiety about doing the steps? I’m going to be starting the steps soon, I can’t help but feel scared because I want to make sure I do it the right way. With honesty and humility. How can I assure myself that I’m able to do this? I’m already willing and have done them before. But there’s a lot of things I just don’t know if I can face while doing the work. How have any of you done the steps with out feeling shame or guilt for the things you have done while in active addiction? How do I get over the fear and anxieties from doing the steps?
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I suggest that you live where your feet are, right here right now. The first three are Honesty,
Open-mindedness, Willingness.
Do them with a sponsor and ask your HP to give you the strength and humility to move forward if it is His will.
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Thank you 
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Page 25 of the Big Book. Second paragraph. “There is a solution….
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Once you start you will not want to stop enjoy your journey
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I am working through them for the first time and have so much anxiety! But I think that’s part of it. I’m learning to deal with my emotions and all the things that come up but doing it soberly rather than pushing the feelings away and not dealing with them. It’s definitely a lot and to do them honestly and thoroughly takes the willingness that you’re talking about. I always want to do things perfectly but that could maybe be a part of my character defects haha I’m just trying to go through as best I can and giving myself grace along the way. As long as you’re doing it honestly and trying you’re doing them and we’ll just have to keep going through them so whatever you don’t get this time you can get another time around. But overall, yes, I feel you haha but it sounds like you’re on the right track!
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Accept the fact you've already done the things you are going to look at, so once you've done that there shouldn't be fear, shame, embarrassing things sure. I just had to remember that while looking at those things I'm not that person anymore and I'm trying to better myself and there's no shame in that
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You will be fine 100 present.remember a higher power.aa. 
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Amen
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Recovery is one second, one minute, one hour, one day at a time. It is hard hard work. Shame is what keeps us sick. You can’t change the past. You have already done one of the hardest steps. Move forward, get a sponsor. You have got this!
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Thank you so much Heidi 
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First three steps.Are all about your higher power. A power greater than ourselves. Do the steps in order ,and get a down sponsor to help you through them .
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This is my first time going through the steps. I have had lots of anxiety about them. I read the big book just to get an idea of the steps and now I'm going back, rereading with my sponsor 1 step at a time.
In terms of the guilt and the shame... it was shared with me that you have to accept that the person you were when drinking is not the person you are now. And looking at it that way helps you to look at it as being 2 different people. Supposedly, it is supposed to help with that guilt and shame.
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Dylan, anxiety is living in the future. Depression is living in the past. To live in the now is to write out a fourth step and then do a fifth step.
I had anxiety doing my steps as well. In fact I became very miserable 18 months sober and only steps 1-3… three Sponsors later. My third sponsor gave me the push unneeded and I couldn’t sit in those emotions anymore. I was either going to go back out or death. Three weeks later I did my fifth step. The weight lifted off my shoulders was just what I needed…
What helped me was asking God to give the strength, courage and wisdom to write down all of the things that bothered me.
You got this brother! This is the way to freedom. To live without guilt, shame, remorse or fear. Repair your past by writing it down, sharing it with a trusted friend/sponsor and then sit for one hour afterwards and reflect on what you just experienced. The reflecting part is between you and your higher power.
You will walk taller! You will be able to smile at everyone you see on your new path. That’s what this program has given me. Freedom to be human again drug and alcohol free. Heck even nicotine and caffeine free!
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Thank you so much Kevin! Wise wise words! I needed to read this today 
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You’re welcome Brother Dylan! I’m glad to be of service. God is good.
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I feel a little better every time I complete a step.
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The book says something about how most of us are not excited to do the work. I don’t remember the exact wording but it’s in chapter 2
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Reach out anytime brother. I’m here often..
you can check out my profile to see some of my older posts. I’ve been sharing my sober journey on here.
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Im about to start step 4 and I am anxious as heck… I pray that I am able to do go through it honestly and thoroughly as well. Wish you all the best.
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