Fear can make you crazy

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

So, I asked the Lord, how exactly does one give up fear? Fear is deeply ingrained in my nature--I relate to Much-Afraid more than any other literary character I've encountered. I used to think that maybe fearfulness was my "thorn in the flesh," a torment assigned to me by God to keep me closer to Him.
The verse in 2 Timothy seems to indicate that fear is never given or approved by God. It is the antithesis of love (agape), power (dunamis) and a sound mind--sanity. Fear is the opposite of faith, and without faith, we can never please God.
Just realizing that fear is from the enemy, not a part of me or a test from God, helps me push back from the table and refuse to partake of its poison. Just as I can choose to not to eat or drink certain things to the glory of God, so I can choose not to shrink back in fear and move forward in faith.
Anyway, I'm hoping and praying that's how it works. I'll keep you posted.