Losing your personal identity is a common fear in recovery. And it’s a reason you may be resisting the idea of going to rehab. A common misconception of rehab is that by following the rules and going along with the program, you will be abandoning yourself and turning into a mindless drone. Find a facility that emphasizes developing individualized plans that meet your particular needs rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment program. And don’t worry, your tastes and style are not actually tied to drugs.
Sobriety Fear #6: You’ll be bored.
Sobriety is becoming an increasingly popular lifestyle choice. However, we live in a culture where alcohol is a common ingredient in all social gatherings, making it difficult to discern what is typical usage and what is indicative of a greater issue. If you are struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, don’t let the fear of being sober and reclaiming your life stop you. Instead, work with our skilled team to learn how to overcome this pain for good. There are many routes you can take in starting up the sobriety conversation with those closest to you. Below are a few tips for getting started from our mental health experts.
Fear is the biggest barrier to change, even if that change is for the better and will improve our lives.
Some will certainly remain, but even those aren’t necessarily long-game friendships. Sobriety is kind of like the fast-pass line at Disneyland, except the ride is growing up. While making the decision to be sober was the best thing I’ve ever done, it’s also one of the hardest. Not only because not drinking is hard, but also because we live in a society where most everyone around us drinks.
Related: RHOBH’s Dorit Kemsley and Husband PK’s Relationship Timeline
Recover from addiction at home with medication, community, and support—from the nonjudmental experts who really care. Ultimately, picking an ideal time and comfortable physical environment can help you feel relaxed enough to share. This could mean walking to a nearby park to chat, visiting your favorite café, or staying in the comfort of your home. Maybe you feel more comfortable having the chat in the morning, so you have the rest of the day to decompress, or at night after you’ve finished your work day. Beyond relief, you may also feel some mental clarity, emotional peace, and even a sense of pride for outwardly embracing your recovery, Stone adds.
Sobriety Fear #7: You’ll lose your friends.
So it may take some time before you truly feel content in your new life. But the following insights may ease your journey and improve your outlook. According to Merriam-Webster, being sober simply means abstaining from alcohol and drugs. Though fear of being sober some people are sober for their entire lives, others may have sober episodes of a few years, months, or even days. There are people for which sobriety is a deal-breaker. This might seem like a terrible thing; this is not a terrible thing.
- Sobriety is kind of like the fast-pass line at Disneyland, except the ride is growing up.
- Whether it is you suffering or someone you love, know hope is here and change is always possible.
- 💙 Take your goal-setting one step further by getting clear on The ‘Why’ Behind Your Goals, which not only helps you gain clarity but also helps you stay committed to your aspirations.
If you give substance abuse up, you’ll have to face those emotions and find a new way to cope. If you have been abusing substances to tamp down feelings, you are in for a boatload of overwhelming emotions as you come clean. Get over your fear of being sober by facing it head on. Let yourself feel that fear, and you are already on the path to getting comfortable with your uncomfortable emotions.
When the Fear of Being Sober Means Facing Emotion
Simply put, those with alcohol use disorder often obsess about when their next drink is, while those without it don’t drink more than they intend to nor anticipate their next drink. Fear is always about loss; it is present only when there is desire. Fear arises when there is a conflict between what you want, need https://ecosoberhouse.com/ or love and what might happen if that want, need, or love is not fulfilled. Addressing fears in recovery is important because, despite being mere flights of imagination, fears have the power to derail many of your recovery efforts. Now that you can recognize this fear, the question is, how do you get through it?
Practice Healthy Living
Yet, at the same time, it may feel better just to give in and use because that’s what they expect from you. If you try to stop using and fail, you’re disappointing them all over again. One study found that 68% of people treated in a detox unit experienced moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. You can expect certain alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as sleep disruption to occur, though some people can experience seizures and other severe symptoms. Sobriety can be a fixed-term goal like staying sober for a set period (such as Dry January), or a lifelong goal of staying sober from all substances.
