I remember when I first got sober, I was concerned about giving up drugs and alcohol forever. That meant that no matter what, no matter what I was going through, how bored I was, or how I was feeling, I had to completely abstain. I was afraid of sobriety because I was afraid that I was going to be boring and dull – that no one would like me anymore.

Anxiety festers and thrives when we try to push it down and act like it’s not there. Especially when you throw sobriety into the mix, it’s important to talk to someone when you’re feeling anxious. Even when you think it’s a silly thing to be anxious about, it will help to talk it out. Talking about what’s making you anxious will bring it into the light. It will give voice to it, it will make it more manageable and you might receive advice that will help it too. Yoga can calm anxiety with chants, stretching, and other soothing techniques that are included in its practice.

Fear of a New Life

There is even Yoga for 12-Step Recovery, which intertwines a regular yoga practice with the 12 steps and recovery themes. Moving your body in a healthy way is a great anxiety reliever. Making this a part of your recovery program can help in more ways than one.

There are times when youll doubt yourself and get pushed outside of your comfort zone. There are times when you will fall short fear of being sober of a goal. At this point, you can either conclude that you dont deserve it or have what it takes, or you can try again.

Common Fears about Getting Sober

Living a sober life is often thought to be the best thing they’ve ever done. You’ve battled this far through detox and made the decision to get help. They worry about the process and pain of detox. They struggle with the thought that they need to open up about their past scars.

• What you should know is that almost all addicts seeking help have relapses.
• Most people will need ongoing support groups for some time after detox.
• Yet without taking these steps, there can be no recovery.
• Some people might believe it’s so simple it can’t help, while others understand how deep the practice can become.

Finding an addiction treatment center with aftercare planning services can help you overcome your fears of long-term sobriety. Another great way to deal with anxiety is to engage in a healthy distraction. If you’ve been using alcohol and drugs to do this over the years, you’ll have to learn new ways to distract yourself during your anxiety. Exercise is a healthy way to distract yourself and create healthy endorphins. Writing, reading, listening to podcasts, or creating other art is another option. Cooking, seeing a show or theater production, or any other way that will keep your heart and mind occupied, until anxiety passes is acceptable.

Understanding Nifaliophobia: The Fear of Being Sober

With proper counseling and/or a good recovery program, you’ll learn important tools for navigating these relationships. If your friends don’t want to hang out with you unless you’re drinking, then you know where you stand with each other. For years, I worried about the impact of sobriety on my social life. I honestly did not know what people did for fun without being slightly or very drunk. If all of your friends abuse alcohol and/or your spouse abuses alcohol, it makes a lot of sense to fear what will happen next. I don’t think it’s change that you’re so afraid of.

You won’t get drunk and make bad decisions now does not mean that your life is boring. It’s important to remember that addiction can be treated but is rarely truly cured. You can expect to sometimes feel afraid, worried, unable to move forward, and downright unwilling to face what’s coming. After detox, it’s easy to come to the realization that there are people who are still standing by your side that probably should not be. You recognize what you’ve put them through, you’re ashamed of it and you wish you could take it back. Yet, at the same time, it may feel better just to give in and use because that’s what they expect from you.

You’ll know you will be taught the tools to prevent a relapse and to deal with one if you do relapse. Another common reason people may be afraid to get sober is that they think life might become “boring” once they’ve quit all their vices. 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.

• The money you save by not buying drugs or alcohol can quickly add up to fund a travel adventure or make a down payment on a house.
• Everything they do – day in and day out – focuses on that next hit, drink, or high.
• Most people who make their way into recovery have left a lot of pain and suffering in their wake.
• This is because you’re afraid of not having drugs or alcohol to help you escape from reality.
• 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.