You may find yourself discouraged and comparing your journey to others. Or setting unrealistic goals, leaving you more frustrated. In these moments, it’s important to think about what you want out of yourself. – Recovering from addiction requires a holistic approach, addressing physical, psychological, and social aspects of life. Many people like to drink occasionally as a way to relax or socialize, but for others, the habit is rooted in anxiety and fear.
- Over time, our ability to cope and come up with solutions that work for us becomes easier and easier.
- Encouragement and accountability can be found within support networks such as friends, family, and support groups.
- For most addicts, this will be one of the most valid fears of getting sober, because the pain inside can be scary.
- If you let fear cripple your progress, you will not be able to grow into your new life.
- Celebrating these achievements can boost your morale and reinforce the value of your efforts toward sobriety.
Cravings and How to Manage Them
- In this blog post, we’ll explore the complexities of substance use disorder, the role of mental health in sobriety, and why is it so hard to stay sober.
- Yet, as scary as addiction can be, one of the most common fears in recovery is the fear of recovery.
The same is true when starting out on the road to recovery. Your recovery is planned out in “baby steps” so that you can make gradual changes as you learn how to live a sober life. The reason many people with substance abuse problems have a fear of rehab is they must admit they have a substance abuse problem. They must also realize, in many cases, their family, friends, employer, coworkers, and others could find out they have an addiction problem. Mind-body relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness and meditation, can help individuals manage stress, cravings, and negative emotions.
Managing Fear in Recovery
Any big life change naturally brings a sense of fear or unease. It is an emotion that makes us feel threatened or that we may be harmed. We tend to run from the things that scare us or make us fearful. When in recovery, we have overcome so many obstacles that when we are hit with these new fears, we don’t necessarily understand where they came from and why.
Question About Treatment
You might have these common fears about getting sober, but the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. It’s not surprising that many people are afraid of failure. I believe it’s part of the human condition to fear failing at anything. But the truth is, making mistakes is part of the human condition as well. We are all flawed and it’s not realistic to think we will be perfect, even at sobriety. You can’t fail at sobriety, you can only keep trying and keep growing.
Knowing that people you love may not be able to help you in your recovery is hard to process. Sometimes, they don’t have the means to help us through our struggles, even fear of being sober if they really want to be involved. If you have loved ones who are sober, they may have to distance themselves from you to avoid triggers and maintain a boundary.
Define Your Fear to Overcome It
I had myself convinced that my drinking was just like everyone else’s and therefore I didn’t have a problem. I surrounded myself with people that drank and used just like I did. I truly thought I was just the fun party girl who only socialized and drank alcohol. I thought just because I didn’t drink in the morning and at times would go a few days without booze, that alcohol was a non-issue for me.
Support groups also offer an opportunity to build a strong support network of individuals who understand the challenges of maintaining sobriety. These connections can provide ongoing support beyond group meetings. To better understand the significance of breaking sobriety, it is crucial to comprehend the concept of sobriety itself. Being sober refers to a state of abstaining from the use of harmful substances, such as alcohol or drugs, and living a substance-free lifestyle. Sobriety is not just about abstaining from substance use but also encompasses physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Yet without taking these steps, there can be no recovery. If you are seeking drug and alcohol related addiction rehab for yourself or a loved one, the SoberNation.com hotline is a confidential and convenient solution. It is very normal in the early days to feel like you’ve resigned yourself to a life of misery by quitting alcohol. Those early days of sobriety may leave you feeling hopeless. With friends, if they aren’t on board with your sobriety, you’ll have some tough choices ahead.