MSI Press Blog

  Anxiety isn’t usually the first thing people associate with 12‑step programs, but many people discover that the structure and community of the steps ease the emotional load that fuels their worry. They’re not a clinical treatment for anxiety — but they can create conditions that make anxiety more manageable. What 12‑Step Programs Offer for Anxiety 1. Predictable structure Anxiety thrives in uncertainty. The steps offer a steady rhythm: meetings, inventories, calls, amends, service. That predictability can feel like a handrail when the mind is spinning. 2. A community that interrupts isolation Anxious people often feel alone with their thoughts. Hearing others name their fears — financial, relational, existential — breaks the illusion that anxiety is a personal failing. Shared experience reduces internal pressure. 3. A framework for surrendering control Anxiety is often a form of over-responsibility: If I don’t hold everything together, something will go wrong. The “...

  When people think of 12-step programs, they often picture addiction recovery — AA meetings, coffee in styrofoam cups, and the language of sobriety. But the 12-step model has quietly expanded into other emotional terrains, including depression. And while it’s not a substitute for therapy or medication, it can offer something many people with depression crave: structure, connection, and a sense of meaning. What 12-Step Programs Offer Structure : Depression often makes life feel chaotic or meaningless. The steps offer a clear, repeatable path — something to hold onto when everything else feels slippery. Community : Meetings provide a space where people speak honestly about emotional pain. That shared experience can reduce isolation, which is one of depression’s sharpest edges. Anonymity : You don’t have to explain your whole life. You can show up as you are, without pressure to perform or disclose more than you’re ready to. Spiritual Framework : The idea of a “higher power” ca...

  Recently released: audiobook edition of   Anxiety Anonymous   by Dr. Dennis Ortma\. Book description: Break Free from the Grip of Anxiety with a Proven 12-Step Program Do you feel overwhelmed by anxiety, worry, or fear? Does your need for control interfere with your daily life? If anxiety leaves you feeling powerless, out of control, or hopeless, you're not alone—and there is a way out. In  Anxiety Anonymous , psychologist and former priest  Dennis Ortman, Ph.D. , offers a groundbreaking approach to healing: treating chronic anxiety as an emotional and behavioral addiction. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the trusted  Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous , Dr. Ortman provides a practical roadmap for recovery from anxiety, panic, and obsessive worry. This powerful guide will help you: Recognize anxiety as an addictive pattern Understand how anxiety hijacks your thoughts, emotions, and behavior Work through each of the 12 Steps to transform an...

  Recently released: audiobook edition of   Anxiety Anonymous   by Dr. Dennis Ortma\. Book description: Break Free from the Grip of Anxiety with a Proven 12-Step Program Do you feel overwhelmed by anxiety, worry, or fear? Does your need for control interfere with your daily life? If anxiety leaves you feeling powerless, out of control, or hopeless, you're not alone—and there is a way out. In  Anxiety Anonymous , psychologist and former priest  Dennis Ortman, Ph.D. , offers a groundbreaking approach to healing: treating chronic anxiety as an emotional and behavioral addiction. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the trusted  Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous , Dr. Ortman provides a practical roadmap for recovery from anxiety, panic, and obsessive worry. This powerful guide will help you: Recognize anxiety as an addictive pattern Understand how anxiety hijacks your thoughts, emotions, and behavior Work through each of the 12 Steps to transform an...