Scared of Being Sober: Why Is Sobriety So Hard?

When you used drugs and alcohol, you probably worried that once you were clean and sober, you would not have any friends. You might also think that the people you meet will not want to be around you because you do not engage in the same activities they do. This fear is rooted in the insecurity and feelings of worthlessness that addiction causes an individual. Part of the treatment you will receive will be to help you discover what is good and loveable about yourself. That could be because they didn’t have normal sleep patterns to begin with. Daily drinking can cause disruptions in sleep as well, so quitting suddenly can be a shock to the system.

Know that it will get easier as you move through treatment and explore why you were using drugs or alcohol in the first place. Sobriety is a general term for staying away from mood and mind-altering substances. Find reasons to laugh and smile through gratitude each hour of your day.

Mild Symptoms

Choosing sobriety and sticking with it gives you the confidence to pursue anything. I’ve started three businesses, graduated with multiple degrees, ran marathons, and raised children. Relapse can and does happen, but it’s also preventable.

• Spending mental energy on things you cannot possibly know is useless.
• There are also resources such as 12-step groups and recovery groups.
• You won’t get drunk and make bad decisions now does not mean that your life is boring.
• These professionals can help you understand your fears and provide the tools you need to overcome them.

And you will have days when every minute feels like a struggle. Right now, you’re freaking out about some hypothetical future social life because sobriety is a big change, and that little liquor demon in your brain is trying to talk you out of it. If a booked social calendar is important to you, you’ll find ways to be proactive and realign what you do to fit https://ecosoberhouse.com/ your new lifestyle. For years, I worried about the impact of sobriety on my social life. I honestly did not know what people did for fun without being slightly or very drunk. If you’ve spent the last umpteen years being THAT girl or guy, partying hard, struggling through the days hungover, and doing it all again – sobriety means an entirely new identity.

Fear in Recovery Isn’t Insurmountable

Many times, social events and outings center around drinking alcohol. The recovering alcoholic may think that they won’t fit in or be able to partake in events without alcohol, or people will think they’re no fun anymore, when in fact, the complete opposite is true. The fog lifts, the poor behavior stops, and people generally become happier and easier to be around.

• Many individuals facing drug and alcohol addiction have developed a lifestyle around their addiction.
• I didn’t realize how deeply embedded it was until I got sober.
• If you’re asking this question, you’re not alone.
• You only fear that you will lose your sex appeal because you think that you will become inhibited and closed-off if you do not drink or do drugs.

Concentrate on learning new coping and communication skills. 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.

months Sober Bliss Program

A common misconception of rehab is that by following the rules and going along with the program, you will be abandoning yourself and turning into a mindless drone. You will change in rehab, but only for the better. Find a facility that emphasizes developing individualized plans that meet your particular needs rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment program. And don’t worry, your tastes and style are not actually tied to drugs. You’ll find your way, and you’ll be even more you without substances controlling your mind.

It wasn’t until well into my sobriety that I thought, “this is for me.” During my first year of sobriety it was just something I was doing, not drinking. I wasn’t sure where I was going with it, if I would stay sober forever, or even if I was an actual alcoholic. Sobriety is often tied to the extreme stereotype of addiction, the old homeless man that lives under the bridge, fear of being sober the heroin addict who shoots up in the bathroom. Sobriety is not considered for people who black out every once in awhile, or just booze at social events, but the reality is sobriety is possible for everyone. I feel like a lot of people fear they will like sobriety and then will have to deal with the repercussions of telling everyone in their life they no longer drink.

Overcoming the Fear of Sobriety

If you’re in recovery from a substance use disorder, you already know how much work it took to achieve sobriety, and you’ll want to do everything possible to avoid having a relapse. It may seem that relapse is the last thing that could happen to you, but the truth is they are very common for people new to recovery. It’s important to remember that addiction can be treated but is rarely truly cured.

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. They will help you to build self-confidence and allow you to realize the power you have to maintain sobriety. Remember, an untreated substance addiction will grow. So if you’ve hidden your addiction well up until now, that’s not going to last. Eventually, other people will know you have a problem.