Regardless of our individual beliefs, many would agree there is comfort in believing we will be reunited with loved ones in an afterlife. Regardless of how much you accomplish in your life, you will experience the same fate as everyone else. No amount of fear of being sober achievement, power, status, or money will grant you immortality. The responsibility is yours to admit your mistrust is all about your ex’s cheating and to make some changes. Ask your partner for support, but don’t ask them to make it right for you.
What are the first steps to take if I’m afraid to become sober?
Make your bedroom a sanctuary, a place that you enjoy being in and make it as calm and soothing as possible. It’s no wonder that we never learn proper coping skills to deal with the root causes of our stress and anxiety when we’re drinking. Alcohol is the solution to the problem and also the cause of the problem. When we are still drinking, we turn to a glass or two to cope with these feelings, to squash them back down – in effect ending the withdrawal of alcohol, thus making us feel better.
Sobriety Fear #2: Everything will change.
Getting sober at a young age was difficult—she initially thought her social life would be over. It wasn’t until she found a packed meeting on a Friday night, with peers she’d typically be parting with, that she hoped she’d found her place. 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. The first step in addressing a fear of sobriety is acknowledging the fear itself.
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Even people who don’t struggle with addiction can feel anxious when it comes to their life and the fear of failure, but it can be especially crippling when you’ve battled substance abuse in the past. Triggers and cravings can be a constant concern in the early stages of sobriety, but be brave. Life is full of every kind of opportunity you could want if you’re courageous enough to take them.
- It can include a medically supervised detox, various forms of treatment including therapy and 12-step programs, and calling upon family, friends, and professionals for additional support.
- Anxiety disorders often involve a long-lasting and intense worry or fear that doesn’t always logically make sense.
- No matter how much or how little we drink our bodies need time to get rid of the toxins, to recover and to heal.
- These practices encourage focusing on the present moment, which helps alleviate worries about the future.
- But, I was more scared of staying stuck in the same old life, feeling guilt and shame, not doing anything and letting my dreams slip away with every drink I poured.
- Treatment is often a collaborative journey, and you should feel comfortable asking questions, communicating openly, and giving honest feedback on your progress.
- These benefits not only ease the discomfort of the detox process, but also help to prevent relapse during this stage of treatment.
There are common setbacks to getting and staying sober like withdrawal, craving, and pressure to use. Relapse rates for substance use addictions are around 40% to 60%. Setbacks don’t erase progress, though, and they don’t mean you’ve “failed” to stay sober.
As I matured, I never fully grew out of this class clown/funny guy phase. Instead, I started getting high and I thought that it was the answer to all of my problems. We sat in the middle of woods smoking out of a disgusting bong that one of the kids had made out of a water bottle. Even though I was https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-and-aging-does-alcohol-make-you-look-older/ probably only 13 years old, I felt like I was fully ready for this experience. It seemed like getting high was the single most amazing thing that had ever happened to me. For the first time in my life, I felt my peers truly accepted me, my mind was clear from all fears and I finally felt at ease.
