Whats the Fear of Being Sober Called?

Posted by

” Lifestyle modifications can be uncomfortable nifaliophobia and perhaps even generate anger and resentment. 💙 Awaken your potential by exploring the world around you and developing interests outside of substances by Saying Yes to Life. 💙 Take your goal-setting one step further by getting clear on The ‘Why’ Behind Your Goals, which not only helps you gain clarity but also helps you stay committed to your aspirations.

Understanding Nifaliophobia: The Fear of Sobriety & Its Role in Addiction Recovery

As you delve deeper into the program, you’ll begin to understand the root causes of your fears so you can assuage them. All the people you share experiences with at AA meetings or a Solana Beach sober living home are there to process fears. Without substance abuse, there would be no nifaliophobia to discuss.

The first thing is that sobriety can be a really hard thing to face for a lot of addicts. There’s the chance that they might not make it through it, they could fail, and then there’s the pressure to succeed. There’s a fear of a life without the ability to ever drink or take drugs again. Staying sober means staying clean, and that alone can be a scary thought for many addicts and alcoholics. In my mind, sobriety meant Friday nights alone on my couch, watching Netflix and hiding from the rest of the world who was definitely out drinking. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life.

  • The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.
  • This may include worries about losing social connections or coping with life’s stresses unaided.
  • A strong support network can provide encouragement and reduce feelings of isolation.
  • Feeling like you need to rely on alcohol or drugs for enjoyment can be scary.
  • With your support network, mark milestones in your sobriety, whether they’re days, weeks, months, or years.

tips to help you overcome the fear of being sober

They can help you work through them and explain more about how you can recover more fully. When you are facing these challenges and downright fear of recovery, just focus on what is happening right now. Coping mechanisms nifaliophobia are tough—they work temporarily, and allow us to avoid and put things aside for the time being. It’s normal to feel anxious and apprehensive during recovery. You can call it fear if you want, but it’s actually a sign of progress.

How Does Getting Sober Affect Your Body?

The first step in addressing a fear of sobriety is acknowledging the fear itself. Once you recognize and accept that you’re afraid, you can begin to address the underlying causes with specific strategies. Educating yourself about the benefits of sobriety and the recovery process can demystify what sobriety entails and help alleviate some of the fear. Nifaliophobia is an anxiety disorder focused on sobriety and the fears related to facing a life without alcohol or drugs. This may include worries about losing social connections or coping with life’s stresses unaided. Recognizing that family and friends can’t help you maintain sobriety is a painful feeling, but know that the road doesn’t end here.

We may have to face all kinds of adversities and personal challenges while we come clean. Read books, listen to podcasts, and follow blogs that focus on recovery and sober living. This knowledge of benefits and challenges can empower you and reduce anxiety and alleviating fear by framing sobriety as a positive lifestyle change.

For example, alcoholics are at greater risk for developing cirrhosis of the liver after years of daily drinking. Even though the harmful effects of substance abuse and addiction can differ substantially from one person to another, many changes are reversible and can start being felt soon after detoxification. As the journey to recovery continues, recovery patients are likely to experience the following. Another common fear in recovery is rejection from friends and family.

  • To alleviate your fears about admissions, treatment, insurance coverage, and more, connect with an AAC admissions navigator today.
  • Once you recognize and accept that you’re afraid, you can begin to address the underlying causes with specific strategies.
  • They’ll have to feel emotions again without numbing them with drink or drug and maneuver their way through tricky family and relationship dynamics.
  • But seeking a professional opinion on where to get started can help alleviate and address your particular fears.
  • Thankfully, there have only been a few times when someone at the table hasn’t pointed it out on my behalf and adjusted accordingly.

Why Do I Hate Being Sober, and What Can I Do About It?

Practice and plan your responses so that you feel confident and prepared in these environments. Thankfully, there have only been a few times when someone at the table hasn’t pointed it out on my behalf and adjusted accordingly. However, when it has happened, I have to speak up to point out that I didn’t drink and I’m not subsidizing their drinking. With this in mind, the prospect of recovering without anxieties isn’t as unlikely as many people think.

Once ethanol molecules have hijacked neuroreceptors to create a chemical dependency, AUD patients feel like they could die unless they drink, but this is neurochemical instead of irrational. The problem with reducing the quantity and quality of sleep is a lower capacity for regeneration at the cellular level. This can affect everything from nerve function to scarring, muscle tissue healing, and serotonin production.

In the case of alcohol use disorder (AUD), you would have to get drunk a few times before nifaliophobia sets in, but only if severe AUD develops. We can call it an irrational fear if you become overwhelmed by anxiety about the prospect of not being inebriated. This can certainly happen at the neurochemical and physiological levels, but then it wouldn’t be a phobia. But many people use the excuse that they are cowards just so they can keep on using the substances.

It’s important to choose people who are nonjudgmental and encouraging, rather than those who might inadvertently lead you back into old habits. It is not officially recognized, but more researchers are petitioning for its inclusion as a type of psychological disorder. A doctor can provide a referral to a psychologist or other specialist to help diagnose and treat nomophobia. A person may also benefit from learning relaxation techniques. This therapy involves a combination of breathing techniques, exercises, and meditation techniques to help a person cope with not having a phone or other phobias. 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.

To alleviate your fears about admissions, treatment, insurance coverage, and more, connect with an AAC admissions navigator today. For with changes comes adjustments, which can be challenging. So it may take some time before you truly feel content in your new life.

Dealing with setbacks or relapses is a common part of the recovery process. It’s important to view these events not as failures but as opportunities for learning and growth. If you experience a setback, take the time to analyze what led to the relapse and discuss it with your support network or therapist to understand the triggers involved. Strengthening your coping strategies and possibly adjusting your recovery plan can help prevent future setbacks.

You may think that your loved ones will think less of you or not want to be around you. 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. If you’re newly sober and you need help with avoiding relapse, call on the compassionate team at Casa Pacifica. Along with providing sober living housing for men in Solana Beach, we work with our individual residents to develop customized plans that integrate treatment, aftercare, and recovery support. Our services include sober companionship, coaching, and mentorship for those who are recovering from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises can help you manage stress and the anxiety that may come with sobriety. Passing out from intoxication is a defense mechanism the body uses when faced with extreme exhaustion, but it’s not meant to replace the good sleep the body needs to heal and regenerate. Interrupted sleep, the lack of dreams, inhibited rapid-eye movement, and scary nightmares are problematic side effects of substance abuse. Educate your family about your challenges and what you need from them so they know how to support you. Family therapy sessions can also be beneficial, helping to improve communication and resolve any underlying issues that may impact your sobriety. Knowing in advance how to decline alcoholic drinks or drug use in social situations can make it easier to stick to your sobriety.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *