Fears That Can Sabotage Recovery and How to Manage Them

The truth is, you have no idea what success will look or feel like. Spending mental energy on things you cannot possibly know is useless. You will have good days, hopeless days, and every other sort of in-between day on this journey. Here’s the thing about the word “fail.” So long as you dust yourself off and keep trying, you haven’t failed at all. People go into these big personal transformations expecting a linear progression from start to goal. What you’re really afraid of is the unknown and that you may be unable to handle it.

• Outpatient rehabs are another type of comprehensive addiction recovery treatment program.
• Otherwise, it may be best to avoid the conversation altogether.
• Most importantly, maintain a compassionate attitude toward yourself and recognize that recovery is a journey with ups and downs.
• Many people who are successful in recovery have relapsed in their past and simply got back on the horse and worked their program of recovery.
• Patients should also have a high level of motivation to become sober.

Choosing The Right Kind of Therapist in Recovery

This could mean walking to a nearby park to chat, visiting your favorite café, or staying in the comfort of your home. Maybe you feel more comfortable having the chat in the morning, so you have the rest of the day to decompress, or at night after you’ve finished your work day. “Creating a safe emotional space often starts with creating a safe physical space,” says Elder.

Fear of the Future

Having healthy coping mechanisms can be incredibly beneficial as it can help us effectively manage our emotions and steer us away from potentially harmful behaviors, such as substance use. Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of community support and connection. Recovery programs can be excellent for helping you find like-minded folks who are also fear of being sober working to stay sober. She continued by explaining various resources like the 12-step program Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART recovery, recovery coaching groups, and therapeutic support groups. The level of care needed for your sobriety journey is unique to you. Seeking out an intensive outpatient program may be another step you take to find lasting recovery.

• ???? Awaken your potential by exploring the world around you and developing interests outside of substances by Saying Yes to Life.
• Here are some common fears in sobriety and what you can do to manage them.
• When you are actively using substances, you know deep down it’s wrong, but you fear what may happen if you stop.
• A therapist who specializes in addiction and recovery can offer invaluable support.
• Hope and healing are always possible when it comes to overcoming addiction.

Sobriety Fear #1: Never Drinking Again.

Embark on this transformative journey with us and discover how you can conquer the obstacles of staying sober, rebuild your life, and flourish in recovery. Abstaining from using illegal drugs was reported as being a challenge but also as a door-opener to a new life and new possibilities. The fact that personal recovery requires sobriety aligns with previous findings, indicating that sobriety is helpful in initiating mental health recovery processes (Green et al., 2014). Consistent with previous findings (Silverstein and Bellack, 2008), the present results point to more dynamic and processual aspects of sobriety rather than just regarding sobriety as being dichotomous in nature.

Reach out and talk to someone when you’re anxious, even if you think it’s something small or insignificant. Sharing your feelings and concerns with someone brings them into the open and makes them easier to handle. Giving a voice to your anxiety makes it more manageable, and you might even receive helpful advice or support that can make a difference. This short blog offers eight practical ways to help you navigate severe anxiety after getting sobriety. We also explore how alcohol can impact pre-existing anxiety disorders and shed light on why the body responds to sobriety. In your journey toward recovery, you’re going to experience a lot of ups and downs.

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At the same time, emotional response patterns grow rigid in the dogged pursuit and justification of substance use. By recognizing our triggers, we can develop strategies to manage them and stay on the path to recovery. Furthermore, it isn’t uncommon for those who binge drink to end up developing alcohol use disorder. This is a common condition, with a 2020 study stating about 14% https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-naturally-reduce-alcohol-cravings/ of U.S. adults suffer from alcohol use disorder. He continued by sharing that those suffering from alcohol use disorder think about alcohol differently than those who don’t suffer from the disorder. Simply put, those with alcohol use disorder often obsess about when their next drink is, while those without it don’t drink more than they intend to nor anticipate their next drink.

Recognize and accept emotions

He has experience in all aspects of the recovery world, from facilitating entry into treatment as an intervention specialist to counseling and case management at rehabilitation facilities. By engaging in yoga, you can calm anxiety through chants, deep breathing, gentle stretching, and other comforting techniques. Some yoga programs focus on recovery, combining traditional yoga movements with principles of 12-step programs and recovery. Through regular practice, individuals may develop a deeper understanding of their emotions and thought patterns, leading to increased emotional resilience and the ability to manage anxiety with healthy coping skills.

• Jose Hernandez, for over a decade, has been involved in alcohol and addiction recovery helping people succeed in overcoming substance abuse and regaining control of their lives.
• When people seek help for their addiction, they gain access to professional guidance and support tailored to their needs, including treatment plans that focus on treating substance use and enabling mental health disorders.
• If you love someone who seems to fear getting sober, we understand.
• Young adults are heavily impacted by social pressures and anxious feelings.
• And if you’re sharing with more than one person, conversations will likely vary in length, formality, content, and level of intimacy.