In those early days, it’s always possible to find yourself experiencing emotions you don’t know how to deal with well. Yet, with the help of your team of professionals, you can work through them and find yourself in a much better place. You probably abuse substances now because you are bored. Another benefit of doing these activities sober is that now they will be much more enjoyable. The experience will be much more vivid, and you will be able to remember them more fully. What you once thought of as fun will pale in comparison to a life rich in reality, one that is completely drug and alcohol-free.
As someone who drinks or takes drugs, it’s not hard to see why the idea of living a sober life is difficult. When you get sober, many people don’t know that there are many ways that your life will be a million times better. 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. Only those who are closest to you need to know about the reasons behind your decision to stop abusing substances.
Fear is the biggest barrier to change, even if that change is for the better and will improve our lives.
After all, if drinking has been such a huge part of your life, the thought of never drinking again, ever, can be terrifying and that’s okay. Fear in recovery isn’t something you can avoid, but it is something you can overcome and work through every day in your journey towards recovery. No matter who you are or what your biggest worries are, you can learn to recognize, seek help, and get through the obstacle of fear. In this series, we’ll talk about not just what fear is, but also how to overcome each type. Over the next few weeks, we’ll touch on some of the most profound causes of fear in people facing addiction.
- They cover up all of that “stuff” that happened that you don’t want to deal with.
- Drugs have a way of creating a false sense of confidence that can be addicting in and of itself.
- Living a sober life is different than using one.
- We may have to face all kinds of adversities and personal challenges while we come clean.
- Each person has sufficient bravery in their DNA to handle such a challenge.
But that’s how we grow and learn, and how we learn to cope better when the next challenge presents itself. Over time, our ability to cope and come up with solutions that work for us becomes easier and easier. For most addicts, this will be one of the most valid fears of getting sober, because the pain inside can be scary. However, with professional help, this too can be overcome much easier than most people realise. Learning healthy coping skills is key when it comes to dealing with the pain and struggles that life sometimes presents.
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Fear itself is a scientific, physical occurrence in the body. It’s not just a “mind game” or a sign of weakness. The best way to get back in charge of your life is to start now.
- Though some people are sober for their entire lives, others may have sober episodes of a few years, months, or even days.
- If all of your friends abuse alcohol and/or your spouse abuses alcohol, it makes a lot of sense to fear what will happen next.
Starting a new life can feel scary and overwhelming. Going from abusing drugs to living sober often involves major changes in your lifestyle. This can include moving in a new social circle, taking up new activities and leading a healthier lifestyle.
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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 will notice the difference between the fair-weather friends–the ones who have been there for the drugs or alcohol and the people who are your true friends. They will leave to keep taking drugs or alcohol (who will stay with you and support you through your decision to get sober).
When you are feeling those emotional and ups and downs, how do you pull together the pieces and stick to the path towards recovery? Everybody is a little scared when they first get sober. Your job is to recognize the fears for what they are – little lies we tell ourselves to keep from changing. Sometimes our fears are logical, but mostly they are not. Besides, judging someone for not drinking alcohol is stupid, and you don’t need to be cool with that person anyway.
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Recognizing that fear is present is the first step in moving beyond it. The fear of being sober is often about dealing with your loss of a coping mechanism for “real” life. You’re afraid you don’t have the tools and resources to help you to maintain your sobriety. You are afraid that being sober will simply be too hard.
Life in sobriety will not be the same as life living with substance abuse – it will be so much better. It’s a disease that needs ongoing treatment to keep it at bay. At the same time, come to grips with the fact that this is the fear of being sober reality you are living with and there’s no way to turn back the clock. With that understood, you can begin to move forward with working towards recovery again. Most alcoholics do feel like they have a silver tongue, and many do.