On the other side is the road that leads to recovery and it is often filled with hard work, determination, and dedication to wanting a better life. Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises can help you manage stress and the anxiety that may come with sobriety. Those who are overly pessimistic and say, “I’m going to be miserable forever,” will inevitably fail. You’ll get significantly better at identifying the kind of people you genuinely enjoy being around, which is much harder to do when everyone is vibing off overpriced cocktails in dimly lit bars.
- Addiction can damage relationships, cause money issues and affect your work, studies and other aspects of your life.
- When we aren’t sober, we can use that as an excuse to avoid those problems.
- A healthcare professional may prescribe medications such as clonazepam and tranylcypromine to help treat the symptoms of nomophobia, such as anxiety.
- If you have nagging or overwhelming fears, make sure to tell your AA group or counselor about them so rational plans of action can be implemented.
tips to help you overcome the fear of being sober
If you attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and work through the 12 steps, you’re taking highly rational action. You’re there to process what happened in the past and think about what must happen going forward. 💙 Explore our Meaningful Practice for Meaningful Friendship series on the importance of close connections and building community. 💙 Awaken your potential by exploring the world around you and developing interests outside of substances by Saying Yes to Life.
Recovering from substance use disorder takes courage and determination, and it’s important not to underestimate that as you move through the process. AA’s sister program Narcotics Anonymous (NA) follows the same framework, but is designed for those recovering from other substance use disorders. The first step is for a person to admit that they are powerless over alcohol, and that alcohol use has made their life unmanageable. Building a sober community can start with attending local support groups or online forums. Engaging in hobbies that interest you can introduce you to like-minded individuals. Encourage honest communication about fears and goals, establishing accountability and mutual support to foster resilience in recovery.
Handling fear of relapse
If you experience a setback, take the time to analyze what led to the relapse and discuss it with your support network or therapist to understand the triggers involved. Strengthening your coping strategies and possibly adjusting your recovery plan can help prevent future setbacks. Most importantly, maintain a compassionate attitude toward yourself and recognize that recovery is a journey with ups and downs. Rehab Clinics Group can provide expert mental health support alongside addiction treatment, giving you the best possible chance of making a full and lasting recovery. If you’re wondering how to overcome nifaliophobia and address any underlying substance misuse issues, it all starts with a phone call or message. All the people you share experiences with at AA meetings or a Solana Beach sober living home are there to process fears.
Develop new hobbies to find joy and fulfillment without the need for substances
It may also encompass concerns about how to cope with stress and social situations soberly if one does not feel they have the proper emotional tools to regulate the nervous system. It is perfectly natural for people with a substance misuse issue to feel apprehensive or anxious about tackling their drinking or drug use. Getting sober can involve significant lifestyle changes, and there may be strong cravings and withdrawal symptoms to get through. You may feel as though you don’t belong in a place of employment because you screwed up so badly. We provide you with the resources and support you need for a successful recovery that helps you now and throughout your entire life. 💙 Start this simple 30-day program on Mindfulness for Beginners to build this supportive habit into your daily life.
Family therapy sessions can also be beneficial, helping to improve communication and resolve any underlying issues that may impact your sobriety. A therapist specializing in addiction recovery can offer personalized advice and coping strategies. Participating in regular sessions can help you maintain focus on recovery and address any emerging issues before they become significant obstacles.
I enjoyed my trip so much more by not numbing out with alcohol
You’re likely also to start feeling the stress build, perhaps the same stress that leads you down the fear of being sober path to using. Even after being in recovery for a while, you may not be delighted with the changes you have made.4 In fact you may realize you don’t like being sober. Embracing sobriety is a challenging but rewarding journey, requiring both the acknowledgment of fears and proactive strategies to manage them. By redefining fears as opportunities for personal growth and utilizing support systems, individuals can navigate the path to sobriety more confidently. With patience, perseverance, and the right resources, achieving a fulfilling, sober life is not just a possibility but an attainable reality.
- Following detox, it’s recommended to stay in a residential inpatient program, which significantly aids in preventing relapse.
- Rather than thinking, “How could someone fear going without drugs when their lives are in danger?
- This is effective in helping people to change negative thought patterns and ultimately their behaviours.
- That may be the case but it’s important to remember that judging yourself or others only further contributes to the negative.
Educate yourself about sobriety to demystify your fears
Develop a daily or weekly routine that includes check-ins with your support network, attendance at support group meetings, and dedicated time for self-care practices. This can help you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed by fears and cravings. Read books, listen to podcasts, and follow blogs that focus on recovery and sober living. This knowledge of benefits and challenges can empower you and reduce anxiety and alleviating fear by framing sobriety as a positive lifestyle change. They may have wronged some of these people, or they might be embarrassed about how they once acted. They’ll have to feel emotions again without numbing them with drink or drug and maneuver their way through tricky family and relationship dynamics.
Individuals experiencing this fear often struggle with intense anxiety regarding the prospect of living a life without alcohol or drugs. Symptoms can include feelings of isolation, worries about emotional struggles, and anxiety about losing social connections that may have revolved around substance use. Nifaliophobia, or the fear of being sober, manifests as a significant and persistent fear related to the absence of alcohol or drugs from your life. There’s the chance that they might not make it through it, they could fail, and then there’s the pressure to succeed. There’s a fear of a life without the ability to ever drink or take drugs again.
By focusing on these supportive elements, a long-term foundation for sobriety can be established, paving the way for a fulfilling life free from substances. In my mind, sobriety meant Friday nights alone on my couch, watching Netflix and hiding from the rest of the world who was definitely out drinking. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life. A healthcare professional may prescribe nifaliophobia medications such as clonazepam and tranylcypromine to help treat the symptoms of nomophobia, such as anxiety. In the case of nomophobia, the therapies could help address a person’s fear of losing their phone, not being connected, and the implications of not having access to their phone. Additionally, the intoxicated individual rarely remembers what they did, or what they will remember is untrue.
The first step in addressing a fear of sobriety is acknowledging the fear itself. Once you recognize and accept that you’re afraid, you can begin to address the underlying causes with specific strategies. Educating yourself about the benefits of sobriety and the recovery process can demystify what sobriety entails and help alleviate some of the fear.
The Prospect of Addiction Recovery without Fear
Additionally, mindfulness practices such as meditation can help develop coping mechanisms that reduce anxiety while promoting emotional well-being. Thus, acknowledging and addressing fears is a crucial part of the recovery process, helping individuals navigate sobering realities while laying foundations for a healthier, more fulfilling life. Reaching out for support — whether to friends, family, or professionals like therapists or support groups — can provide the encouragement and guidance needed to take further steps toward sobriety. This may include worries about losing social connections or coping with life’s stresses unaided.
Avoidant behaviours can also reinforce the phobia over time, leading to a vicious cycle of increasing anxiety and substance misuse. It is not officially recognized, but more researchers are petitioning for its inclusion as a type of psychological disorder. A doctor can provide a referral to a psychologist or other specialist to help diagnose and treat nomophobia. This therapy involves a combination of breathing techniques, exercises, and meditation techniques to help a person cope with not having a phone or other phobias. With this in mind, the prospect of recovering without anxieties isn’t as unlikely as many people think.
The hardest stage of sobriety is often considered to be the first 90 days, referred to as the “danger zone” or “intensive care” phase. This period begins with medical detox to manage withdrawal symptoms, a phase that many experience as the most challenging part of their recovery journey. Following detox, it’s recommended to stay in a residential inpatient program, which significantly aids in preventing relapse. Incorporating motivational strategies like mantras can help reinforce a sober mindset. Phrases such as “One step at a time” or “I am stronger than my fears” can be repeated during moments of doubt. These techniques can help center your thoughts and redirect focus away from fear, allowing for a more empowered approach to navigating recovery challenges.
The problem with reducing the quantity and quality of sleep is a lower capacity for regeneration at the cellular level. This can affect everything from nerve function to scarring, muscle tissue healing, and serotonin production. Reversal of this issue starts at the detoxification stage, and it can return to normal in just a few days. 💙 Those with addiction may benefit from our session on Working with Addiction from the Daily Calm. 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.