Our houses are equipped with battery-operated smoke detectors. They signal us should they identify trouble. The sensors in these inexpensive units sometimes fail in functionality and emit a false alarm. Most are reliable and hypersensitive, causing alerts at the first sign of concern—either way, the sound should set us on high alert and send us into immediate action.
At our day job, the fire alarm is much more complicated. The hard-wired system isolates areas and directs us to the point of danger. Processor-enhanced, these systems spit out the zone and symptom that caused the trigger. This data helps us move to the appropriate place and address the root of the heat. Even with advanced technology, false signals are expected. Better to respond than to ignore.
We humans, too, have a built-in, hard-wired scheme for identifying danger in or around us. We feel vulnerability and trouble at the same level technology delivers to the world. Alarms sound when our emotions or behaviors are not where they should be. This plays out as unmanaged fear, anxiety, depression, panic, obsessive disorder, and an assortment of phobias.
So, what should we do when the fire sirens or our internal alarm indicate endangerment? Should we ignore them prior to investigation, assuming a malfunction? Should we shut down the power, remove the battery, and go about our business? Should we assume the situation is on us to fix or call in professional firefighters? Should we advance the space of speculation empty-handed or grab an extinguisher on our way?
Like our indicator panel at work, knowing where pain is coming from is the first and most crucial action to take once the alarm is triggered. Trust in the alert is essential for survival. Getting to the source of the problem as quickly as possible gives us the best chance of saving the whole structure.
An essential initial response step is to call for help early in the process, giving responders time to get to the scene. They will require the data we possess, addresses, and troubled zone readouts so they can be efficient in assisting. They need to know the specifics so that they can use their experience to get all involved to safety while saving the assembly.
Firefighters and those experienced in recovery take over control at the scene and do what they have been put on this earth to do—to use what they have been taught with care and urgency equal to the energy. Our job is to follow their lead and alert them to the hot spots.
The root is not the carbon dioxide, smoke, or flame, but the reason for the flame – the cigarette, faulty wiring, damaged furnace, bad space heater, etc. The point is to pin down what is fanning the fire. The point is to address the burn before it begins.
We are a product of events and relationships that can put us at risk of an all-out blaze. We can cure this potential by being aware and in tune with our internal alerts.
We spent years ignoring the cry of our hearts - pulling the batteries out or simply putting a pillow over our ears. This damaged our essence, but we have been able to rebuild and now know to pay attention to the signals.
We are grateful to those who understand the schematic inside and are willing to pull the switch when we are unaware of the smoke. We are thankful for the awareness we gained through working the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Today, we heal through help – we recover through relationships. We fight our fires with faith. We go toward the hot spot, as deep as we can, to snuff the smolder. We listen to the alarm within and respond accordingly.
Thoughts and ideas for this blog post were taken and built upon from a sober.coffee bonus podcast #69 titled "Exploring Anxiety with Tommy Carreras" The podcast dropped on 7/20/2022. Click here to hear the podcast.
Photo by iSawRed on Unsplash
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Alcoholics Anonymous and AA are registered trademarks of Alcoholics World Service. Inc. References to AA, the 12 steps, and 12 traditions does not mean that AA has reviewed or approved the contents of this publication nor that AA agrees with the views expressed herein. This publication is intended to support personal growth and should not be considered a substitute for healthcare professionals' advice. The author’s advice and viewpoints are their own.
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