Thinking there is no consciousness after death brings me anguish. The notion that my loved ones will cease to exist in my mind is too hard to bear. Living forever would eliminate the need to take immediate https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/why-we-have-a-fear-of-being-sober-5-fears-about-it/ action because tomorrow would always be guaranteed. You could indefinitely delay the pursuit of personal goals if your future were always certain. It is your mortality that inspires you to take action.
How to Cope with a Fear of Sobriety
You may be unable to patron the same places you once spent time in to have “fun”, and your idea of “fun” and leisure time will completely change. Some studies find that this structure, along with a start date for sobriety and milestones, is important to some people in recovery. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Sober Recovery’s «Terms of Use», «Privacy Policy», «Cookie Policy», and «Health Disclaimer». The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. The flipside of the fear of failure is the fear of success. Most people dont consciously self-sabotage, but they have a deeply held belief that they dont deserve to succeed and, in so believing, never really put forth their best effort.
- First and foremost, find a treatment program that has a positive track record in terms of patients completing treatment and maintaining sobriety.
- For me and the way I used substances, that’s the way it would go.
- Most people dont consciously self-sabotage, but they have a deeply held belief that they dont deserve to succeed and, in so believing, never really put forth their best effort.
Getting Through Detox
But excessive alcohol use can quickly become alcohol dependence and make it challenging to function without drinking. As the dependence builds up, it makes it harder and hard to quit drinking, and the body can subconsciously become afraid of getting sober to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Not everyone comes from an encouraging and supportive home environment.
Obnoxious Things I Stopped Doing When I Quit Drinking
Some people manage to get there faster than others, but it’s not a competition. You’re not obligated to drink just to make others feel good about their drinking. So don’t allow anyone to make you feel that way. This is the hard part, but it’s also the most rewarding. When you do start to deal with your problems in healthier ways (and you will), you are going to feel completely transformed and unstoppable. Besides, once you get to the point where you can attend boozy social functions sober, you’ll see that many people think they’re being charming when in reality, they’re kind of a mess.
- Relapse is always a possibility, but it does not mean that recovery is not possible.
- He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of psychiatry at Northeast Ohio Medical University.
- What many are not prepared for is the difficulty of staying sober once treatment has been completed.
Fear of Unhappiness
Feeling doomed from the start, many allow self-doubt and fears of what others think to keep them from trying. Fear is always about loss; it is present only when there is desire. Fear arises when there is a conflict between what you want, fear of being sober need or love and what might happen if that want, need, or love is not fulfilled. Addressing fears in recovery is important because, despite being mere flights of imagination, fears have the power to derail many of your recovery efforts.
You will have good days, hopeless days, and every other sort of in-between day on this journey. Realizing that sobriety means you’ll have to find new ways to handle your “stuff” is frightening. The idea that you don’t get to chemically check out of reality now and then is horrifying, especially when you think that reality is pretty terrible. Fears about sobriety are common, even for people who desperately seek it. 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. Dimitrios Tsatiris, M.D., is a practicing board-certified psychiatrist specializing in the field of anxiety management.
Remember the resilience it took for you to get to this point, the hurdles you’ve overcome, and know that you have the ability to rewrite your story anew. Reach out to loved ones and friends when you need help, and they’ll be glad to assist you. If you or a loved one needs help with addiction recovery, call us today. Relapse is always a possibility, but it does not mean that recovery is not possible. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please reach out for help. There are many resources available to help you on your journey to recovery and for dealing with fear in recovery.
Overcome the Fear of Eternal Sobriety
It’s time now to find what makes you feel alive again, because that’s where your passions exist. This might be reading, painting, exercising, playing with your kids, or learning new things. You may have to try out a few new things before you find your “aha! Rediscovering your personality in sobriety can be scary—but it can equally be a beautiful and exciting thing. Utilize your journal as you try out new things to reflect on how the experiences made you feel.
