By building this network, you’ll feel more confident in your ability to handle the ups and downs of recovery. However, the relationship between alcohol and anxiety is much more intertwined. Once addiction takes hold, it becomes a new normal. We forget what it felt like to wake up without NEEDING a drink or a drug before our feet hit the floor. We are used to the grind of spending endless hours working out ways and means to keep ourselves fueled with whatever substance has enslaved us. As our pre-addiction days move farther into the distance, no other reality is imaginable.

Define Your Fear to Overcome It

Educating yourself about the benefits of sobriety and the recovery process can demystify what sobriety entails and help alleviate some of the fear. 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. Sobriety isn’t just about quitting alcohol; it’s about gaining control of your life and rediscovering what it truly means to live fully. Each day brings new opportunities for growth, healing, and happiness.

Scared of Being Sober: Why Is Sobriety So Hard?

More importantly, getting help could mean the difference between life and death, and your life is far more important than what others think of you. Do not allow COVID-19 to stop you from seeking the care you need. We are here to answer your questions and alleviate any concerns. I could always make people laugh, and doing it at other people’s expense made me feel good about myself. I was never serious, and this was the ultimate form of defense.

Kickstart Your Recovery With Help From The Berman Center

Regular mindfulness and meditation practices can improve your emotional regulation and stress management, making the prospect of sobriety less daunting and more manageable. A therapist who specializes in addiction and recovery can offer invaluable support. This might include providing strategies to manage fears related to sobriety and sensitively addressing underlying issues.

• The process can be uncomfortable, particularly for someone who is afraid of feeling in general.
• Alcohol can intensify emotions, often leading to erratic mood swings, anxiety, or even depression.
• Eventually, you will have to decide who to keep in your life and who to let go.
• While sobriety is well worth the effort required to achieve it, choosing sobriety is a significant endeavor that requires courage, difficult conversations, and significant life changes.

Sobriety Fear #4: You’ll actually succeed.

There are going to be highs and lows on this journey. You could feel completely stable for days or weeks and then get hit with an emotional tsunami threatening to throw you completely off your game. Seeing a therapist or counselor regularly can help you confront these emotions in a healthy way when you’re ready to do so. Obviously, you cannot recreate scenes from Flashdance in your living room to distract yourself from emotions forever. Because you can’t use distraction forever, there will come a time when you do have to confront your emotions and learn how to handle them in a healthy way.

Sobriety fatigue can last for a few weeks to a few months, and in rare cases of post-acute withdrawal, it can even extend up to two years. We’ve covered the contemplation stage, and we’ve discussed the fear of being sober. Now let’s talk about walking through that fear and why it’s worth the work to do it. Anger is a normal and natural emotion, but how you deal with it will make a difference in maintaining your recovery.

• Waking up refreshed becomes the new normal, and that alone can drastically improve your quality of life.
• 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.
• Even the smallest stressor or setback make us feel like we’re absolutely bound to relapse or need further treatment.
• If you have friends or family members who are sober, they can be a great source of support and information.
• However, exciting opportunities await when rebuilding one’s life after active addiction, such as rebuilding relationships, finding employment, and managing cravings.

What is the hardest thing about sobriety?

Everyone is born with the ability to decipher between right and wrong, but in my case, I was a maestro in always picking wrong. In my view, nobody liked the good kid and the bad kid got all of the attention. Withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable, but they are not always dangerous. With the help of a medical professional, you can safely detox from drugs and alcohol without worrying about withdrawal symptoms.

Attending meetings can be a great way to stay on track and get support. Seeking help is essential in staying sober as it provides individuals with access to experts and resources in their local area. When we first really come into sobriety and we’re in a somewhat delicate state, we’re often overcome with anxiety and fear. Even the smallest stressor or setback make us feel like we’re absolutely bound to relapse or need further treatment.

Psychological dependence involves the emotional and mental processes related to developing and recovering from a substance use disorder or process addiction. It can be difficult to manage, as intense cravings and emotional distress can lead to relapse if not handled properly. 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. If you are ready to begin your sobriety journey, Evoke Wellness is available to help.

Different Approaches to Emotional Regulation in Recovery

But are you willing to keep letting your fear of sobriety, your fear of the unknown and what your life could look like, keep you stuck? Some serious questions to ponder and practical and powerful techniques to help you move past your fear as you embrace the unknown wonder that is sobriety feeling exhilarated fear of being sober and excited. Yet when it comes to quitting drinking, or doing anything new or different in our lives, we allow fear to hold us back instead of propelling us forward like we do on Halloween. Poor sleep can lead to so many physical, emotional and spiritual issues which can manifest in our waking hours.