Most people will need ongoing support groups for some time after detox. This is a very good time to speak to your counseling team about these fears and the emotional struggles you are having. They can help you work through them and explain more about how you can recover more fully. Look what I’ve done to my life.” This is a very common thought process. After detox, your brain begins to piece together the problems you now have with relationships, work, school or other important aspects of your life.
Be proactive in seeking help to reduce fears of relapsing
The key here is not just to know that fear is common, but to know what to look for so you can take steps to avoid a relapse spurred by fear. If you’ve developed an identity tied closely to the drug scene, you might fear losing yourself outside that world. Losing your personal identity is a common fear in recovery.
What to Expect in Early Sobriety
- It can be scary to confront ourselves and our dreams, and putting them off or procrastinating on them is a way to avoid putting the work in or fear of failure.
- Sobriety with MAT is about using these medications responsibly as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
- The fear of being sober is a very common fear in recovery.
- Yet without taking these steps, there can be no recovery.
- Success often brings significant changes—new responsibilities, altered routines and different expectations.
- Some people may want nothing to do with you, no matter how much you change.
Yet, at the same time, it may feel better just to give in and use because that’s what they expect from you. If you try to stop using and fail, you’re disappointing them all over again. Even though you know the health complications drug use has brought to you, it’s not uncommon to fear life without it. In some situations, people are scared sober, meaning they suffer life-threatening consequences to overdosing or using. You may be afraid to stop using because you have no idea what life will be like after you do. As you work through the detox process, you can start to feel the overwhelming frustration and anxiety build around being sober.
Practice Healthy Living
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. Some people may find that wearable devices and smartphone apps can support their recovery from alcohol use disorder. Biosensors monitor physical changes, detect alcohol use, and identify relapse risk. Studies https://sober-house.org/alcohol-withdrawal-can-be-deadly-heres-why/ suggest digital health options can improve access to care for some of the 15 million people experiencing alcohol use disorder each year. A person who is getting sober may be getting sober from one substance or all substances. Their process of getting sober will depend on numerous factors, including the severity of drug or alcohol use disorder and long-term goals of sobriety.
What is Sobriety?
Maybe you’re ready—you’re practically desperate—to get sober and to change your life. The idea of getting sober in rehab only to relapse on the outside is a frightening thought. What you should know is that almost all addicts seeking help have relapses.
For example, why are some people afraid of scary movies or roller coasters? In the mind, there is a negative, high-risk situation here. Scary movies often involve gore and death – both topics most people fear. There’s always the fear of a ride malfunction on a roller coaster. Your brain knows this, and, as a result, it becomes afraid.
I’ve mentioned this in a previous post, but in case you missed it, did you know the average person spends TWO YEARS of their life hungover? There are also the added costs of paying for takeout food because you’re too drunk or hungover to function properly. If I do something that requires an apology these days, it comes from a place of genuine misunderstanding.
Or hey, I’ve been feeling low-energy and bummed out lately. Now, I can deal with them the same way you would deal with any chronic disease. I LOVE not having to feel bad about something stupid or mean I said when drunk.
When you take that away, even when you know it is for the best, you are opening the door to all types of risks. And, to be frank, many times that reality is downright hard to swallow. Feeling scared is normal does alcohol thin your blood effects and impact when you’re making such a significant life change. However, it’s important to remember that sobriety is not something to be afraid of. Sobriety is an opportunity to improve your life in many different ways.
You might even think that addiction rehab is all about shaming addicts with their addiction and trying to force them to quit. Yet, this is far from the way that drug rehab centers actually operate nowadays. Your addiction rehab team will always endeavor to treat you with animal-assisted therapy respect and without judgment. The most effective addiction treatment requires compassion, warmth and empathy. And this is the approach that your rehab team will take. Drug addiction specialists will always try to instill your recovery process with optimism and hope.
You may again seek out the people and situations that support your alcohol use. Some people who move from a controlled and protective setting find themselves awash in the environmental cues that lead to their drinking. Sobriety can be a fixed-term goal like staying sober for a set period (such as Dry January), or a lifelong goal of staying sober from all substances. Many people who misuse alcohol or drugs have trouble dealing with anger.
