Triggers for using drugs and alcohol typically are people, places, and things that remind you of your addictive behavior or encourage the use of substances you’re avoiding. If these emotions become excessive, they can hold you back from recovery. If you are trying to maintain a sober lifestyle, those feelings can become toxic and contribute to relapse if you don’t deal with them properly. Now that you are sober, you may have discovered that some of your past relationships were not only unhealthy but downright toxic. It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life.
Sobriety Fear #3: You’re going to fail.
In fact, this fear personally led to a dozen failures in my own sobriety journey. Many of us drink because we need something to turn down the volume of the toxic shame parade running through our brains. Besides, once you get to the point where you can attend boozy social functions sober, you’ll see that many people think they’re being charming when in reality, they’re kind of a mess. It sounds like a weird thing to be afraid of, but it’s very real. However, others striving for or in sobriety may find themselves asking “Why is sobriety so hard? ” Lifestyle modifications can be uncomfortable and perhaps even generate anger and resentment.
If this is the case for you, you may want to dig deeper. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Sober Recovery’s “Terms of Use”, “Privacy Policy”, “Cookie Policy”, and “Health Disclaimer”. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. Again, any fear you may tharros house have about sobriety rooted in self-loathing will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Mental Health Treatment
For example, severe alcohol withdrawal can be deadly without medical treatment. But even if it’s not medically necessary, it can make a difference on getting you through the detox successfully. In a medical detox, a specialized drug team will be with you all of the way. They will provide you with round-the-clock care and supervision, ensuring that your physical and mental health is in good shape.
What are the first steps to take if I’m afraid to become sober?
Even people for whom alcohol is not a problem experience this. If you’ve typically required a little social lubricant fetal alcohol syndrome celebrities to lighten up at parties (as many of us have), navigating social scenes without liquid courage can be scary. This is particularly true for the introverted among us. You have to do what is best for you, and you can’t let your anxiety about a sober future prevent you from doing what you need to do. Navigating your existing relationships in sobriety is a huge challenge. The good thing is that you don’t have to worry about that in the beginning.
The first step in addressing a fear of sobriety is acknowledging the fear itself. Once you recognize and accept that you’re afraid, you can begin to address the underlying causes with specific strategies. Educating yourself about the benefits of sobriety and the recovery process can demystify what sobriety entails and help alleviate some of the fear. Another common fear in recovery is rejection from friends and family. You may think that your loved ones will think less of you or not want to be around you. The truth is they probably already know you have a problem.
Worrying about it constantly will only strengthen your fears and lessen your resolve to do anything. It’s a convenient cop-out we’re all guilty of using. You will have strong days when you feel like you can take on the world. And you will have days when every minute feels like a struggle. Being at a party or trying to find the perfect romantic partner without alcohol is the stuff of nightmares for many people.
- It’s not okay to be dishonest with yourself about where you’re headed.
- There are times when youll doubt yourself and get pushed outside of your comfort zone.
- Early sobriety may come with feelings of fatigue and the stress of dealing with challenges (people, places, and things that stimulate the urge to use).
- For many people who want to get sober, managing coexisting anxiety can be a crucial and complex part of recovery.
It’s the whole, “You mean I can never drink ever again?! ” Let your brain marinate on words like forever, and you’ll set yourself right up for failure. It takes patience, commitment, and a willingness to seek help.
This could include friends who understand your journey, family members who encourage your choices, or support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery. A strong support network can provide encouragement and reduce feelings of isolation. Addicts will have to face their relationships with people again, with their families, friends, and co-workers. They may have wronged some of these people, or they might be embarrassed about how they once acted.
Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises can help you manage stress and the anxiety that may come with sobriety. These mesclun psychedelic practices encourage focusing on the present moment, which helps alleviate worries about the future. Many people like to drink occasionally as a way to relax or socialize, but for others, the habit is rooted in anxiety and fear.