You also may fear that you will lose family and friends, or that you will become a different person. Additionally, you may fear relapsing after all the hard work you put in during treatment. Fear is a powerful emotion that can significantly affect your life–but you can learn to overcome it if you stop and take a deeper look. You may have started using substances because you feared being left out or not fitting in with a social group. You may also have started using drugs because you feared anxiety or depression caused by unresolved trauma.

Fear in Recovery Isn’t Insurmountable

A fear of success can be hard for many on the outside of addiction to understand. Therapy and support groups can help individuals in recovery work through self-doubt and pain. Getting sober is when someone stops using an intoxicating substance. fear of being sober They can help motivate a person to remain sober to reach the next milestone. Developing a structured routine can help a person stick to their sobriety goals, make healthy decisions, and reduce the likelihood of triggers and relapse.

  • And since fear is always about something that might or could happen but hasn’t happened yet, it is a reaction to an imagined, rather than a real, event.
  • While some people fear the physical pain of getting sober, others are more concerned about having to face emotions they’ve long avoided.
  • If you’re worried about what other people will think if you become sober, then it’s likely that you’re scared of becoming sober.
  • It just means that you have to get up and try again.
  • During your individual counseling and group sessions, your emotions may feel overwhelming.
  • You probably abuse substances now because you are bored.

“My Emotions Will Overwhelm Me”

Facing my fear: when I gave up drinking to save my sanity – The Guardian

Facing my fear: when I gave up drinking to save my sanity.

Posted: Fri, 01 Apr 2016 07:00:00 GMT [source]

You may be able to fix some of what’s lost and damaged. It’s a disease that needs ongoing treatment to keep it at bay. At the same time, come to grips with the fact that this is the reality you are living with and there’s no way to turn back the clock. With https://ecosoberhouse.com/ that understood, you can begin to move forward with working towards recovery again. Worried that they may be abandoned by the people they love or judged by others, some people refuse to admit that they have a drug problem or reach out to others for support.

How To Create An Addiction Recovery Plan (+ Why You Need One)

With friends, if they aren’t on board with your sobriety, you’ll have some tough choices ahead. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about it until you’ve got some solid, sober days under your belt. Overcoming fears in any situation is difficult, but when it involves a life change, it can be especially challenging. Face your fears of recovery, and talk about them with your loved ones. Then be prepared to work hard and to have setbacks.

  • That meant that no matter what, no matter what I was going through, how bored I was, or how I was feeling, I had to completely abstain.
  • Even after being in recovery for a while, you may not be delighted with the changes you have made.4 In fact you may realize you don’t like being sober.
  • If you’ve spent the last umpteen years being THAT girl or guy, partying hard, struggling through the days hungover, and doing it all again – sobriety means an entirely new identity.
  • There is often initial fear in addiction recovery.
  • At this point, you can either conclude that you dont deserve it or have what it takes, or you can try again.

Take the time to work with us over the next few weeks. The Ranch at Dove Tree offers the resources you need no matter what your current fears and concerns are. You’re ready to take that step towards recovery.

fear of being sober

“I Am Afraid I Will Lose My Courage”

It’s disheartening to realize what you’ve lost. With all of this chaos surrounding you at that moment, you’re just starting to acknowledge what’s happening to you. The thought of pulling your life back together or improving it can seem impossible. In those early days, it’s always possible to find yourself experiencing emotions you don’t know how to deal with well.

This emotional cleansing is a necessary part of healing, just as detox is a physical elimination of toxic substances. Once you are in treatment and then in recovery, you will learn how to effectively deal with your emotions, no matter what circumstances arise. You should embrace the possibility of again being able to feel strong emotions like love, joy, pride in yourself, hope for the future, and belief in your inner goodness. It has probably been such a long time since you did that you are afraid you are not capable of it. In fact, one of the many benefits of being clean and sober in recovery is that you are able to both feel and express your emotions.

fear of being sober

“I Am Afraid of What It Will Be like to Be Sober”

  • You don’t have to produce some hidden, superhuman strength to be successful at sobriety.
  • I remember when I first got sober, I was concerned about giving up drugs and alcohol forever.
  • They’ll have to feel emotions again without numbing them with drink or drug and maneuver their way through tricky family and relationship dynamics.
  • The first step is to understand what is causing your fear.

While Jyoti’s parents didn’t understand her addiction, they remained supportive and over time came to understand her story. Yet a lack of knowledge can stand in the way of support. Vasavi, whose mother was physically abusive towards her, spoke of living with shame.

What are the Stats On Rehab and Recovery?