Fear

You may be scared to stop using or drinking. We hold on to our fears because they make us feel safe. Fear is a big part of what drives addictive behavior, and it’s also one of the biggest obstacles in recovery. Whether you’re considering a recovery program or are already enrolled in one, fear is a normal part of addiction and life. 

Being fearless sounds ideal but is unachievable. Humans fear. Identifying our fears, working through them and learning from them can help us achieve success in our journey to recovery. Typical fears of those with a substance use disorder include (but are not limited to):

• Fear of rejection: A common concern of alcoholics in early recovery is that the people they love will abandon them or that they’ll be judged. 
• Fear of loss: Giving up your addiction can sometimes feel like losing a close friend or family member. Your addiction has been there with you through thick and thin.  Fear of losing friends is common because it’s uncertain who will be at your side once you’re sober. 
• Fear of  failure: Recovery is a process that sometimes involves      falling and getting up again. There will be times when you may doubt yourself or get pushed outside of your comfort zone. 
• Fear of change: You may fear the unknown or fear losing your identity. 
• Fear of success: Some people have a deeply held belief that they don’t      deserve to succeed, which causes them to self-sabotage or not put forth      their best effort. 
• Fear of ongoing misery: You may worry that you won’t be able to feel happy without substances. 
• Fear of feeling: Spending time in recovery and feeling your emotions can be overwhelming. This is completely normal.

Dealing With Fear in Addiction Recovery

Learning to cope with common fears in recovery is one of the most important skills. It’s the period after treatment that poses the most challenges for a person facing drug and alcohol addiction and substance abuse. 

Techniques to deal with fear and anxiety in early recovery include:

• Rely on your support network: Stay in touch with friends and family that support your recovery. Rely on ongoing support from health care providers who are there for you. 
• Face your fears: Adopting a positive view of fear and verbalizing your concerns has been proven to expedite the recovery process. Putting your worries into words can tap into the parts of the brain responsible for emotional regulation and logic. 
• Revisit the goals you made while in treatment or early recovery: Sometimes,  all you need is to be reminded of why you decided to start recovery in the first place. Knowing the “why” can help you stay on track.
• Enroll in an aftercare program:  If you are in a treatment facility, Aftercare is crucial to recovery.  An aftercare program will allow you to work on your recovery when you are getting out of rehab. Aftercare can include a 12 step or smart recovery program.  Do Something!
• Surround yourself with positive influences: Positive,  sober and pleasant people and environments play a huge role in keeping you on track. Try to avoid triggers that will prompt impulses for you to use. 
• Use relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques can prevent fear from turning into panic. 
• Ease withdrawal symptoms with a medically supervised detox: Medical detox       programs can provide you with close monitoring, support and, when needed,       medical intervention. 
• Create a vision board: Create a list of goals for the future. Viewing these every day will help you remember why you went to rehab or stopped using and what you have to look forward to. 
• Feel your feelings: Breathe deeply while thinking through your fears without resistance. After some time, you’ll notice that your worries begin to dissipate. Practice being mindful in the present rather  than pondering the past and “what-ifs.” 

Courage is the ability to be afraid and move through it anyway, Be courageous in your journey through recovery. 

F.E.A.R. Meaning we have two choices when actively working on sobriety: “Forget Everything And Run” “Face Everything And Recover”