Sobriety seems like a lot of hard work, boring, and downright miserable—not to mention impossible. On my very worst day in recovery, I still feel a million times better than I ever did when I was drinking. I thought that when I put down the beer or the whiskey, my life would be over.
Finding an addiction treatment center with aftercare planning services can help you overcome your fears of long-term sobriety. If you’ve developed an identity tied closely to the drug scene, you might fear losing yourself outside that world. 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.
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Healthy relationships, a regular practice of gratitude, finding your purpose, and living in the moment are some of the components of recovery that enrich the good feelings of sobriety. Look what I’ve done to my life.” This is a very common thought process. After detox, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ your brain begins to piece together the problems you now have with relationships, work, school or other important aspects of your life. Since there are different reasons for using drugs and alcohol, there are also varying reasons why someone wants to get sober.
These new relationships can help you in your sobriety. For example, your friends can say they support your sober living journey and avoid offering substances to you. However, if they’re still opening and actively consuming substances in your presence, you may still need to separate yourself. They don’t have to be direct triggers, like someone offering you the substance. However, you may not realize that the more you drink, the more stressful things become. Life goes on as before, just as stressful and just as hectic.
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It can be even more treacherous when you think about being called an “addict” or “alcoholic” for the rest of your life. But it would be best if you remembered that you could choose who you share your journey with and who you don’t. Only people who are close to you need to know why you decided to stop taking drugs or other substances. The only way to really work through your fear is to sit with the feelings, let them come and notice what happens to your thoughts and the physical sensations in your body. This is probably the most difficult thing to do and it does take time and practice. But it does get easier the more you do it and the stronger you will become.
- While life in recovery can be challenging, it is infinitely better than staying stuck in the alternative.
- You look at treatment as this big, mysterious black hole that you will fall into and never come out of.
- All of which are just some of the many reasons why being sober far outweighs being addicted to drugs or alcohol.
- This emotional cleansing is a necessary part of healing, just as detox is a physical elimination of toxic substances.
- Some people manage to get there faster than others, but it’s not a competition.
- Feeling pain is not ideal for those of us who are in active addiction and part of sobriety is feeling everything, even the pain.
When the individual starts this journey to live a life of recovery, they often come to a crossroad in their life. On one side of the road are all the temptations, urges, and cravings that had led them to the path of destruction. On the other side is the road that leads to recovery and it is often filled with hard work, determination, and dedication to wanting a better life.
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To overcome this, you can practice acceptance and turn your worries over to your higher power or the collective wisdom of a higher counsel such as your sponsor or an AA or NA group. Whatever your fears may be, they’re valid, and can be addressed and managed in healthy ways. Second, it’s essential to reach out to a support system. If you have friends or family members who are sober, they can be a great source of support and information. Additionally, there are many different sober support groups that you can join. These groups can give you the support and encouragement needed to overcome your fears.
- I thought that if I were not around the individuals with who I drank, then I would have been ok.
- The influencer was worried she would struggle to avoid booze but is actually feeling “totally fine”.
- Fear is the biggest barrier to change, even if that change is for the better and will improve our lives.
- Sobriety is a general term for staying away from mood and mind-altering substances.
- However, if you don’t learn to manage those fears and put them into perspective, they will drive you right back to the bottle.
For years, I worried about the impact of sobriety on my social life. I honestly did not know what people did for fun without being slightly or very drunk. It sounds like a weird thing to be afraid of, but it’s very real. Don’t let difficult decisions and conversations with loved ones be the excuse you use to keep drinking alcohol.
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You probably abuse substances now because you are bored. Your true friends may have to take a short break from you if they are too addicted to drugs or alcohol. But remember that anyone fear of being sober who truly cares about you will always come back. When you’re sober, you’ll be able to form more meaningful, long-term friendships that aren’t based on alcohol-based interactions.
Start writing down ideas of what you can do instead, broaden your horizons and think about what you want to do instead of drinking. This blog post on things to do instead of drinking will give you some ideas. When you find yourself blocking your own path—reach out to someone in your support network. Talk through the things you are facing or the worries you have with someone who has experience or can provide you with insight. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Sober Recovery’s “Terms of Use”,
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Remember your reasons
Part of the treatment you will receive will be to help you discover what is good and loveable about yourself. It is common for people to have a fear of sobriety, especially if they have been struggling with addiction for a long time. If you haven’t felt what sobriety feels like, you can.
