“It’s about communicating openly and listening actively to what they say is working for them.” If you were a drinking buddy to your friend or loved one, Russell suggests having an open and honest conversation about how they feel about interacting with you now. If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction, The Recovery Village can help.
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. First, it is normal to be afraid when you first get sober. However, if you don’t learn to manage those fears and put them into perspective, they will drive you right back to the bottle. The fear of getting sober is more common than we may think.
Your Fear Is Natural
Of course, on the surface, asking if there is such a thing as a fear of being sober might seem like a rhetorical question. Non-addicts may proclaim, “Of course addicts should want to get sober—why wouldn’t they? ” But the problem runs deeper than just simply being able to quit and stay sober. But I PROMISE you, if you keep moving forward, things in your brain will start to click. And one day, it will occur to you that you’re actually happy and enjoying your life. By removing the alcohol and making those necessary lifestyle changes, we increase the chances of becoming people who can enjoy the simple pleasure of life once again.
- These mechanisms will pave the way for overcoming hardship without relying on a substance.
- You can expect certain alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as sleep disruption to occur, though some people can experience seizures and other severe symptoms.
- If you find it difficult to make new, sober friends, try joining a support group.
But I’m going to explore solutions for people who sit at various points along the “sobriety is so boring” spectrum. Take fear of being sober what applies to you and leave whatever doesn’t. Getting drunk did not magically change the dynamics of that situation.
Be Aware of Relapse Signs
So here’s a deep dive into the many reasons people struggle on their unique paths to sobriety as well as insights on how to overcome the fears and challenges they’ll likely meet along the way. You’ll have some tough days, but they are temporary. You will eventually reach a point when sobriety https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/who-sober-alcoholics-are-and-what-it-means-to-be-sober/ is easy, when you can’t remember the last time you had a serious hankering for a drink. Besides, judging someone for not drinking alcohol is stupid, and you don’t need to be cool with that person anyway. In fact, this fear personally led to a dozen failures in my own sobriety journey.