While removing substances from your routine can seem challenging, taking it step by step may help you regain control and even addiction group activities feel empowered. Many people like to drink occasionally as a way to relax or socialize, but for others, the habit is rooted in anxiety and fear. If this is the case for you, you may want to dig deeper. Depending on the severity of your drinking problem and resulting behavior, some bridges may be forever burned. Some people may want nothing to do with you, no matter how much you change.
We are biologically wired for companionship, so this is a very real and instinctual fear to have. If a booked social calendar is important to you, you’ll find ways to be proactive and realign what you do to fit your new lifestyle. After a while, you’ll be enjoying life on entirely different terms. The great thing about sobriety is that it enables you to find joy in things you previously took for granted, like eating a delicious meal or playing with your two-year-old daughter or niece.
Develop a routine to avoid becoming overwhelmed
Over time, our ability to cope and come up with solutions that work for us becomes easier and easier. As you work through the detox process, you can start to feel the overwhelming frustration and anxiety build around being sober. Post-detox, you may have a wide range of emotions flooding your mind. You’re likely also to start feeling the stress build, perhaps the same stress that leads you down the path to using. Sobriety can be a particularly challenging pursuit for someone with an addiction like alcohol use disorder.
One study found that 68% of people treated in a detox unit experienced moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. You can expect certain alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as sleep disruption to occur, though some people can experience seizures and other severe symptoms. But even if you’re less likely to feel like the odd person out these days when not drinking, figuring out how to talk about your sobriety can feel very challenging. A large body of research exists examining—and proving—the efficacy of AA for sobriety.
Practice Healthy Living
In addition to being able to recognize them, it’s important to know when to seek help. Depending on the type of dependency, PAWS can last from six months to two years after you stop using drugs or alcohol. 💙 Explore the importance of Embracing Fears and how accepting what you’re afraid of can help you make changes. Again, any fear you may have about sobriety rooted in self-loathing will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Some people manage to get there faster than others, but it’s not a competition. You will have strong days when you feel like addiction recovery activities you can take on the world. And you will have days when every minute feels like a struggle.
These practices focus on bringing your attention to the present moment, which can help reduce worries about future sobriety and decrease your overall anxiety levels. Regular mindfulness and meditation practices can improve your emotional regulation and stress management, making the prospect of sobriety less daunting and more manageable. Develop a daily or weekly routine that includes check-ins with your support network, attendance at support group meetings, and dedicated time for self-care practices. This can help you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed by fears and cravings. A therapist specializing in addiction recovery can offer personalized advice and coping strategies.
Avoid Old Routines and Habits
“The benefit of disclosing to loved ones is determined by the sober person and informed by their specific circumstances,” says Jackson. Beyond relief, you may also feel some mental suboxone mixed with alcohol clarity, emotional peace, and even a sense of pride for outwardly embracing your recovery, Stone adds. The answer was more negative consequences of drinking and more positive associations with God and/or spirituality. Interestingly, as of 2019, 73 percent of addiction treatment programs in the United States used a spiritual component,6 the majority referencing God or a Higher Power. If you’re involved in a 12-step program, you likely already know the importance of milestones.
Involve family in your recovery process to improve communication
On the other, you’re scared to death of what sobriety will do to your world. The flipside of the fear of failure is the fear of success. Most people dont consciously self-sabotage, but they have a deeply held belief that they dont deserve to succeed and, in so believing, never really put forth their best effort. Feeling doomed from the start, many allow self-doubt and fears of what others think to keep them from trying. Whether you have one day sober or 10 years, recovery presents challenges.
- You may again seek out the people and situations that support your alcohol use.
- If your fear of sobriety significantly impacts your ability to function or make decisions about your health and lifestyle, it may be helpful to consult a professional who can provide a proper assessment and support.
- For example, it’s likely more harmful than helpful to disclose your substance journey with a loved one who lashes out, belittles you, or shuts you down.
- People in recovery from a substance use disorder frequently have problems meeting work-related responsibilities, maintaining employment, and managing money.
- Everybody is a little scared when they first get sober.
The Experience Blog
This could include friends who understand your journey, family members who encourage your choices, or support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery. A strong support network can provide encouragement and reduce feelings of isolation. Substances like alcohol and drugs may mask stress, emotional pain, or traumatic experiences so for those who experience those feelings deeply, being without that protective shield, if you will, can be scary.
Remember to care for yourself, seek supportive relationships, and consider seeking help from a therapist. For many people with a substance use disorder, it’s simply a matter of never having learned the appropriate way to manage anger. Talk to your therapist, other healthcare provider, or sponsor about how to deal with your anger in ways that won’t cause you to harm yourself or others or turn to alcohol or drugs. Surround yourself with people who support your sobriety.
In these programs, it’s customary to receive plastic chips as you progress to the one-year mark, at which time you receive a bronze coin. Although these new activities are healthy and productive, they can be a stumbling block to lasting recovery if they become a transfer addiction to fill the void left by the original addiction. The symptoms involved in PAWS can be a barrier to recovery if you’re not careful.
There are many routes you can take in starting up the sobriety conversation with those closest to you. Below are a few tips for getting started from our mental health experts. If you’re eager to open up about your sobriety but aren’t sure where to start, read on to find some helpful tips from mental health professionals.
