This may include worries about losing social connections or coping with life’s stresses unaided. Recognizing that family and friends can’t help you maintain sobriety is a painful feeling, but know that the road doesn’t end here. Another common reason people may be afraid to get sober is that they think life might become “boring” once they’ve quit all their vices. Many times, social events and outings center around drinking alcohol.
What are the Stats On Rehab and Recovery?
A journey can begin with community mutual-help groups, inpatient treatment, residential rehab, outpatient programs, and more. Depending on the severity of addiction and readiness to change, different options may be beneficial for different people. But seeking a professional opinion on where to get started can help alleviate and address your particular fears. So it may take some time before you truly feel content in your new life.
Sober Living Recovery Housing Addiction Alcoholic
Coping mechanisms are tough—they work temporarily, and allow us to avoid and put things aside for the time being. We use drugs to numb ourselves and our emotions and to push off thinking for another day. But when we no longer have those devices at our disposal, we’re left with only our minds, our willpower and our inner strength to carry us through the hard times. We’re forced to think and analyze our problems, to come up with solutions, and in doing so we may fail or make mistakes. 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.
- However, it is important to remember that sobriety is not something to be afraid of.
- Nifaliophobia is an anxiety disorder focused on sobriety and the fears related to facing a life without alcohol or drugs.
- Finding an addiction treatment center with aftercare planning services can help you overcome your fears of long-term sobriety.
- Whether it’s taking up a sport, diving into arts and crafts, or learning to play a musical instrument, new hobbies can provide a sense of achievement and distraction from cravings.
- This is a very good time to speak to your counseling team about these fears and the emotional struggles you are having.
- However, when it has happened, I have to speak up to point out that I didn’t drink and I’m not subsidizing their drinking.
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. Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises can help you manage stress and the anxiety that may come with sobriety. Develop a daily or weekly routine that includes check-ins with your support network, attendance at support group meetings, and dedicated time for self-care practices. This can help you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed by fears and cravings. Educate your family about your challenges and what you need from them so they know how to support you.
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The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful. In addition to being able to recognize them, it’s important to know when to seek help. Fear is the biggest barrier to change, even if that change is for the better and will improve our lives. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or other local sobriety support groups offer a community of people who are going through similar challenges. These groups provide a platform to share experiences, gain insights, and receive unconditional support.
Involve family in your recovery process to improve communication
- Most people will need ongoing support groups for some time after detox.
- Coping mechanisms are tough—they work temporarily, and allow us to avoid and put things aside for the time being.
- I know I have an addictive brain and that using any sort of substance means I am most certainly signing my own death warrant.
- Nifaliophobia, or the fear of being sober, manifests as a significant and persistent fear related to the absence of alcohol or drugs from your life.
- If you truly want to live a clean and sober life, you are already ahead of the game.
- Spending mental energy on things you cannot possibly know is useless.
One way to deal with this anxiety is to treat it like excitement, which, physiologically, is nearly identical. Instead of fearing the unknown, be curious about what will happen, and be excited to find out. It is not officially recognized, but more researchers are petitioning for its inclusion as a type of psychological disorder.
Involve family in your recovery process to improve communication
Being at a party or trying to find the perfect romantic partner without alcohol is the stuff of nightmares for many people. Even people for whom alcohol is not a problem experience this. Sober movements are redefining what it means to have fun and challenging alcohol’s role in our social lives.
A therapist who specializes in addiction and recovery can offer invaluable support. This might include providing strategies to manage fears related to sobriety and sensitively addressing underlying issues. For example, you may have developed a co-dependent relationship, or a family member, friend, or employer may have been enabling you without even knowing it. Shoving the letters from the bank down the back of the sofa while you drink away the worries won’t help you get back on track.
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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. Nifaliophobia is an anxiety disorder focused on sobriety and the fears related to facing a life without alcohol or drugs.
Of course, on the surface, asking if there is such a thing as a fear of being sober might seem like a rhetorical question. Non-addicts may proclaim, “Of course addicts should want to get sober—why wouldn’t they? ” But the problem runs deeper than just simply being able to quit and stay sober. Early in my sobriety, I had this fear that I still hold on to today, nearly seven years later. I know I have an addictive brain and that using any sort of substance means I am most certainly signing my own death warrant. As long as I hold on to it dearly, my life in sobriety will only continue to get better.
They can help you work through them and explain more about how you can recover more fully. When you are facing these challenges and downright fear of recovery, just focus on what is happening right now. Coping mechanisms nifaliophobia are tough—they work temporarily, and allow us to avoid and put things aside for the time being. Yes, meditation and mindfulness can be beneficial in managing the fear of being sober. These practices focus on bringing your attention to the present moment, which can help reduce worries about future sobriety and decrease your overall anxiety levels.
You may no longer be in some people’s lives because of your actions. You may feel as though you don’t belong in a place of employment because you screwed up so badly. We provide you with nifaliophobia the resources and support you need for a successful recovery that helps you now and throughout your entire life. 💙 Start this simple 30-day program on Mindfulness for Beginners to build this supportive habit into your daily life. Spending mental energy on things you cannot possibly know is useless. Or maybe, on some level, you don’t believe you’re worthy of success.