What began as a drink here or there after work soon wound up being much more than that, to the point where you could not wait to get home and get drunk. Maybe you even tossed back a few at work, in the car on the way home, or in the morning to get you going. By Michelle Pugle
Michelle Pugle, MA, MHFA is a freelance health https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/why-we-have-a-fear-of-being-sober-5-fears-about-it/ writer as seen in Healthline, Health, Everyday Health, Psych Central, and Verywell. If there are any concerns about content we have published, please reach out to us at I failed more times than I can count before I finally got it right, and I assure you there is nothing special about me that you can’t find within yourself.
- This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.
- Sobriety will build your self-esteem, confidence, and communication skills.
- It’s a dysfunctional version of “playing it safe.” You deserve better than that.
- Living a sober life is different than using one.
- Simply the anticipation of a potentially unpleasant or stressful circumstance causes the brain to go into flight or fight mode.
People are afraid of failing more than anything else. People who are afraid of failing can think about what would happen if they didn’t try and what would happen if they did try. They should think about what would happen if they didn’t try and what would happen if they did try (relapsing into drug or alcohol use and then trying to get sober again). Once you have identified your fears and the source of your anxiety, you can begin to develop coping mechanisms to deal with it. This may include talking to a therapist or attending support groups.
People
If you do not think you can handle responsibility, you may have used drinking as an excuse. As human beings, everyone has the capability to handle responsibility. While you are in treatment, you will learn about accepting responsibility, and you will learn ways to ensure that you follow through on your commitments.
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However, another fear is the worry of not belonging anywhere. You may feel as though you don’t belong in a place of employment because you screwed up fear of being sober so badly. These are personal feelings, not necessarily those within the organization. You may be scared to stop drinking or go to a rehab center.
Fear of Facing Your Damage
By entering addiction treatment, you are liberating yourself from the shackles of alcohol and drugs. However, this is only possible if you genuinely want to be clean and sober and commit to the process. The professional staff at your rehab center will minimize whatever pain you may feel during detox or the cravings you will experience during treatment. Some pain in the process will be necessary in order to overcome and understand the reason for your addiction. You cannot get better if you do not recognize and learn to overcome the reasons that have kept you from being the self-actualized person you are meant to be. This is one of the most common fears of sobriety.
Living a sober life is different than using one. It will be much better, and it won’t even be close. Getting sober is by far the thing I would identify as the hardest thing I’ve done, and once I did it, I knew I could do anything. 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. Anna Torres, Mr. Volz’s ex-wife, said he was recovering from addiction and had just moved into a new apartment.
More meanings of sober
People in recovery generally agree that abstinence is necessary but remains just a starting point for a new, sober life. Letting other people down is a common fear even if you don’t have close bonds with others. You may feel that way about an employer, for example. In these situations, recognize what it means to you, personally, to recover. While it’s easy to focus on what other people think, it’s more important to recognize the opportunities that are presented to you when you improve your dependency. Fear in recovery isn’t something you can avoid, but it is something you can overcome and work through every day in your journey towards recovery.
