But in the brief moments I was sober, my fears amplified by 1,000. As times got worse, so did my relationships (or lack thereof). I no longer cared for anyone or anything but myself and my needs. I thought these needs were simple, since the only thing I needed was any substance to make me escape from my own mind.
Be proactive in seeking help to reduce fears of relapsing
Another common fear is the fear of facing rejection from family or friends. Some people may be afraid of getting sober and having to deal with these relationship troubles and or with their overwhelming guilt over bad decisions. They may fear that they are unable to have a healthy relationship, so why try? Yet, recognizing that a fear of rejection is something to overcome and not run from can be empowering.
How to Cope with a Fear of Sobriety
Life in the absence of the self-medicating highs and euphoric escapes that drugs or alcohol once provided can suddenly appear very boring, uneventful, and empty. While this point of view is understandable, it’s also thankfully often misleading and entirely possible to overcome, as a member of FHE Health’s Alumni Program recently shared…. This can relate to picking up the pieces after detox, but it also has to do with what you know and feel comfortable with in your daily life. A life of drugs and alcohol feels normal because that’s what you’ve focused on for so long.
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Addiction can be a way to avoid the things we don’t want to deal with. If you believe that sobriety is going to be boring, then it’s likely fear of being sober that you’re scared of becoming sober. This is because you’re afraid of not having drugs or alcohol to help you escape from reality.
Understanding Nifaliophobia: The Fear of Being Sober
It’s the whole, “You mean I can never drink ever again?! ” Let your brain marinate on words like forever, and you’ll set yourself right up for failure. Here are some common fears in sobriety and what you can do to manage them. On the one hand, you hate what your life has become due to drinking.
- And worrying about what others may think if you return to use is outside of your control.
- 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.
- If you are afraid of being sober, the first step in overcoming that fear is stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing something that you don’t necessarily want to do.
Sobriety Fear #11 You’ll never be able to fix your mistakes.
Many times, social events and outings center around drinking alcohol. The fog lifts, the poor behavior stops, and people generally become happier and easier to be around. The mind clears, there is more peace, more clarity and a better ability to function.
Sobriety Fear #6: You’ll be bored.
Define Your Fear to Overcome It
- You may also doubt your ability to resist the urge to use again.
- While this point of view is understandable, it’s also thankfully often misleading and entirely possible to overcome, as a member of FHE Health’s Alumni Program recently shared….
- It is normal to fear sobriety or feel the fear of not being able to live a normal life.
- This could include friends who understand your journey, family members who encourage your choices, or support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery.