What is the Role of Fear in Addiction and Long-Term Recovery? Mental Health
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. Even those successfully living a sober life and overcoming drug or alcohol dependence can still be met with new struggles. For example, why are some people afraid of scary movies or roller coasters?
- You are encouraged to report negative side effects of drugs to the FDA.
- The Ranch at Dove Tree offers the resources you need no matter what your current fears and concerns are.
- Sobriety is stressful, with struggles that must be addressed and overcome.
- In fact, here’s a little secret – anyone who is charming drunk can be charming sober.
- What you once thought of as fun will pale in comparison to a life rich in reality, one that is completely drug and alcohol-free.
What Do I Say to Someone Celebrating Sobriety?
That is because you may need to cleanse and purge yourself https://manwb.ru/news2/1257/ of years of piled-up negative emotions, memories, and past bad behavior. 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. 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.
Practical tips to get past your fear of sobriety
- Many people simply do not know if it will work.
- If you have friends or family members who are sober, they can be a great source of support and information.
- You may be afraid to stop using because you have no idea what life will be like after you do.
- You might also think that the people you meet will not want to be around you because you do not engage in the same activities they do.
Besides, allowing the fear of failure to completely influence big decisions like this is a cop-out. It’s a dysfunctional version of “playing it safe.” You deserve better than that. Don’t let difficult decisions and conversations with loved ones be the excuse you use to keep drinking http://walkalone.ru/flash/2-2-8.html alcohol.
- The three pillars of sobriety include education, support, and treatment.
- Let yourself feel that fear, and you are already on the path to getting comfortable with your uncomfortable emotions.
- Fear is an almost universal factor experienced by those struggling with an addiction.
- While this point of view is understandable, it’s also thankfully often misleading and entirely possible to overcome, as a member of FHE Health’s Alumni Program recently shared….
Sobriety Fear #9: You won’t be able to handle your feelings without alcohol.
You might also think that the people you meet will not want to be around you because you do not engage in the same activities they do. This fear is rooted in the insecurity and feelings of worthlessness that addiction causes an individual. Part of the treatment you will receive will be to help you discover what is good and loveable about yourself.
Fear of change
I seemed to have a neon sign above my head that invited other people to shout, “Oh my god! ”Yet the minute I stopped judging myself for not drinking, I started getting fewer questions about it. When I stopped acting as if it was a big deal, so did everyone else. The bottom line is, we get to set the tone around this stuff. Letting other people down http://ua-vet.com/addtmc.php?info=10377 is a common fear even if you don’t have close bonds with others. You may feel that way about an employer, for example.
But many people use the excuse that they are cowards just so they can keep on using the substances. If you truly want to live a clean and sober life, you are already ahead of the game. Intention and commitment are crucial to having a successful recovery.
Many people can take Xanax and other benzos safely as prescribed, but I, personally, can’t. For me, I knew that to keep using it would be no different than drinking. If you are afraid of being sober, the first step in overcoming that fear is stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing something that you don’t necessarily want to do. If you are ready to begin your sobriety journey, Evoke Wellness is available to help.