You’ve battled this far through detox and made the decision to get help. They struggle with the thought that they need to open up about their past scars. They worry they will never get to the point of recovery.
- You are afraid that being sober will simply be too hard.
- Their own addictions may prevent them from being excited about your change of lifestyle.
- However, if they’re still opening and actively consuming substances in your presence, you may still need to separate yourself.
- You will have good days, hopeless days, and every other sort of in-between day on this journey.
The biggest fear we face when thinking about sobriety is the fear of the unknown. The fear of getting sober is more common than we may think. Of course, on the surface, asking if there is such a thing as a https://ecosoberhouse.com/ might seem like a rhetorical question. Non-addicts may proclaim, “Of course addicts should want to get sober—why wouldn’t they?
“I Will Not Be Able to Talk to People”
You may no longer be in some people’s lives because of your actions. However, another fear is the worry of not belonging anywhere. You may feel as though you don’t belong in a place of employment because you screwed up so badly. These are personal feelings, not necessarily those within the organization. When we aren’t sober, we can use that as an excuse to avoid those problems. Coping mechanisms are tough—they work temporarily, and allow us to avoid and put things aside for the time being.
Such symptoms are often related to mood and may include irritability, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and fatigue. It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way. Some people experience many setbacks before they find lasting recovery. Your intentions may be good, but it takes more than willpower to avoid having a relapse.
Better Blood Pressure, Fewer Cravings
The fear of being sober is a very common fear in recovery. To outsiders it might sound like a fear of success, but the fear of sobriety is more about your feelings without substance abuse. After all, it’s been a long time since you were sober, and maybe your last experiences of sobriety were traumatic. The truth is, you have been using drugs or alcohol to cope with your feelings and maybe even symptoms of mental illness. 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.
After detox, it’s easy to come to the realization that there are people who are still standing by your side that probably should not be. You recognize what you’ve put them through, you’re ashamed of it and you wish you could take it back. Yet, at the same time, it may feel better just to give in and use because that’s what they expect from you.
Sobriety Setbacks
If you’re scared of becoming sober, there are a few things that you can do to ease your fears. First, it’s important to educate yourself about sobriety. fear of being sober There are many myths about sobriety that can cause people to feel scared. However, the more you know about sobriety, the less scary it will seem.
‘Sometimes you need a reality check’: Cara Delevingne says she’s 4 months sober – CNN
‘Sometimes you need a reality check’: Cara Delevingne says she’s 4 months sober.
Posted: Thu, 09 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There is no denying that upon getting sober you will see some of your friends leave. But what you will also notice is that those people who are your friends – beyond just partying, drinking and taking drugs – will never leave. You probably abuse substances now because you are bored. At 10 days without alcohol, if you still have any physical withdrawal symptoms, as reported below, they’re possibly due to some other condition than alcohol withdrawal. “Now that most of the physical symptoms have gone away, time to work at staying sober. This is usually where I mess up and drink because I am feeling better and think I can handle it. I know I can’t.” If the withdrawal symptoms persist for five days, many give in and take a drink to get some relief.
Triggers for drug and alcohol use are typically defined as people, places, and things that remind you of your addictive behavior or encourage the use of substances you’re trying to avoid. They don’t have to be direct triggers, like someone offering you the substance. For many people with a substance use disorder, it’s simply a matter of never having learned the appropriate way to manage anger. Talk to your therapist, other healthcare provider, or sponsor about how to deal with your anger in ways that won’t cause you to harm yourself or others or turn to alcohol or drugs. But for most people, staying sober isn’t that straightforward. The more strategies you learn to identify triggers, cope with stress, and manage your new sober life, the easier it is to prevent relapse.
You will be making new friends in treatment and recovery, as well as through your support group meetings and new activities you will now start to enjoy. Acknowledging and celebrating the hard work of recovery is helpful for keeping you motivated and reminding you why you took this brave step toward sobriety in the first place. Just be sure that your rewards don’t involve drugs or alcohol. Instead, focus on things, experiences, and activities that will support your new, healthy lifestyle.