Getting sober can be scary. It’s a huge change that affects almost all aspects of your life—not to mention that addiction changes your brain so you come to rely on the substance to get through life.
Below are some common fears about recovery that I, at eight years sober, have found to be false:
I Won’t Have Fun Anymore When I’m Sober
Drinking and using can make any activity feel like a heightened experience; this can cause people to worry that life will be boring without them.
However, active addiction tends to cause a lot of problems in your life, which, in my experience, is far from fun. In recovery, you are able to be much more present to experience true joy and playfulness.
I Will Lose Friends
People tend to worry that friends with whom they drank or used drugs won’t want to hang out with them. This is true for some people and not for others—but if someone only wants to be around you when you’re using substances, that’s not real friendship. That doesn’t mean losing that connection won’t be hard, but in recovery, you can work on the skills to process that grief. Recovery opens the space to both deepen your existing connections and make lasting new ones.
I Won’t Be Able to Sleep
Whether you used drugs or alcohol to sleep, you weren’t getting proper sleep. Alcohol—and pretty much any drug you use addictively—has a detrimental effect on the sleep cycle. It may take some time to get used to going to bed sober, but once you do, your sleep will be much more generative.
I Can’t Face My Emotions or Get Through Stress
This is a common and understandable fear; people in active addiction often use substances to cope with painful feelings or challenges. It can be very scary to imagine not having that chemical buffer. However, in recovery, you learn healthier ways to cope with emotions, which ultimately makes them much more manageable.
I recently celebrated eight years sober, and after experiencing many traumatic events in a row the last few years, my biggest reflection was the emotional resilience I’ve built in recovery. I feel so grateful that I’ve been able to stay sober through so many challenges–and grow from them.
This is a big part of recovery: learning what you are capable of and how much strength you have. After making it through the early parts of recovery and the first big challenges–a time when it’s important to lean on as much support as you can–your emotions often feel a lot less scary.
If you are struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder, there is hope. TruHealing Centers offers high-quality treatment for addiction and mental health disorders in facilities across the country. Our staff—many of whom are in recovery themselves—will help move past your fears of getting sober and build peace in recovery. Call an admissions specialist at 410-593-0005.
