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Finally, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do this alone. Many professionals can help you through the process fear of being sober of becoming sober. These professionals can help you understand your fears and provide the tools you need to overcome them.
- But that’s how we grow and learn, and how we learn to cope better when the next challenge presents itself.
- Take a look at our state of the art treatment center.
- You are choosing to reclaim your life from drugs and alcohol.
- Or maybe, on some level, you don’t believe you’re worthy of success.
- We have been accredited by The Joint Commission since 1974 as a specialty hospital and are a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers.
- Take the time to work with us over the next few weeks.
Eventually, you will have to decide who to keep in your life and who to let go. That’s not going to be easy, but the alternative is to continue slowly destroying the one life you’re given. It’s not okay to be dishonest with yourself about where you’re headed. If you wish to contact a specific rehab facility then find a specific rehab facility using our treatment locator page or visit SAMHSA.gov. Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices.
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
They should think about what would happen if they didn’t try and what would happen if they did try (relapsing into drug or alcohol use and then trying to get sober again). They cover up all of that “stuff” that happened that you don’t want to deal with. But, being sober commonly causes people to fear that pain coming back. But you can deal with it and prevent it from hurting you any longer. For some, alcohol and drug use creates issues itself.
Any big life change naturally brings a sense of fear or unease. According to Merriam-Webster, being sober simply means abstaining from alcohol and drugs. Though some people are sober for their entire lives, others may have sober episodes of a few years, months, or even days. 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.
They Don’t Know Who They are Without Alcohol
Other definitions, however, often focus on the process of recovery and developing coping mechanisms and habits that support health and wellness over the long term. Total abstinence may be the goal, but the reality is that setbacks are common. Finding happiness in sobriety is a process that takes time but is totally achievable with the right daily supports, priorities, and commitments. Even after being in recovery for a while, you may not be delighted with the changes you have made.4 In fact you may realize you don’t like being sober.
Only those who are closest to you need to know about the reasons behind your decision to stop abusing substances. And the only people who will try to tell you otherwise are people who still require drugs or alcohol in order to have fun. 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. 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.
Take control of your life
Will you still be popular and able to make jokes? There are a lot of unknown answers and some people do not want to know themselves without this toxic substance. Life in sobriety will not be the same as life living with substance abuse – it will be so much better.
Think of the routine that you have gotten into, always going out and drinking or drugging with the same people, usually at the same location (or one of a few local hot spots). When you get sober, you free up time in your life to partake in and enjoy new sober activities that go much farther in the way of improving your quality of life. Did you know that alcohol use and anxiety go hand-in-hand? Alcohol actually changes serotonin levels and other transmitters in the brain, which can worsen anxiety. Additionally, once the alcohol wears off, you might even feel more anxious.
There are many ways to create new friendships without drugs and alcohol. This can include meeting people in support groups, adopting new hobbies, going to classes that interest you and pursuing a new career path. Alternatively, you may think following a healthy lifestyle will be too challenging. The prospect of changing your habits completely can, indeed, seem quite daunting.
- When you find yourself blocking your own path—reach out to someone in your support network.
- These groups can give you the support and encouragement needed to overcome your fears.
- 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.
But what you will also notice is that those people who are your friends – beyond just partying, drinking and taking drugs – will never leave. Admitting to having a problem can be a scary thought. The idea of being labelled an ‘addict’ or ‘alcoholic’ the rest of your life can often be even scarier. But what you need to remember is that you can choose who to share your journey with – and who to exclude.