Being afraid of recovery is quite normal. There are a lot of me and women that stay sick in their addictions out of fear and the emotions it brings. Fear of withdrawal is probably one of the most common fears that keep people sick for too many years, but other things can also keep people in their addictions. Let’s first address the fear of withdrawal.
Fear of Drug or Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The fear of the physical symptoms of withdrawal can be debilitating and can keep an addict sick with addiction for far too long. Not all substances cause a physical withdrawal, but the ones that do can be extremely hard to get through. Take for example opiate addiction, which is very common nowadays. The withdrawal from opiates is terrible, however, with the number of people in this country that currently struggle with opioid addiction, there are now different options available to help people in recovery. It’s quite possible that an addict needs some form of medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, so medication-assisted treatment is an option now. This may not be for everyone, so there are other treatments also available to help minimize the discomfort from opioid withdrawal. Remember that each person’s recovery is going to be different. Taking an individualized approach is always the best way to move forward when getting treatment.
Fear of Change or New Occurrences
Fear of change is another big fear when facing recovery. When in addiction, addicts become so accustomed to turning to drugs and alcohol to cope. Addiction is comfortable. In recovery, you are forced to face many struggles and life. This is difficult for an addict, but change is part of life. Recovery helps you to evolve into a better version of yourself. If you ever want to get better and get through this addiction, you will have to face change at some point to get through this.
Fear of Facing the Reality of Lifelong Abstinence
Full-blown addiction causes people to damage relationships and make a lot of mistakes. This could even be criminal behavior. At some point, you have to face reality, whether it is by choice or not. It is better to make a conscious decision and face the fear by choice. At some point, you will have to deal with your mistakes. Continuing down the path of addiction will only cause things to get worse.
Fear of Failure or a Relapse
Fearing failure and relapsing is another common fear in recovery. Once an addict has committed to start treatment, a lot of times they don’t realize that relapse is possible. Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease, relapse happens. Being able, to be honest, and face a relapse head-on shows progression in your recovery. Sometimes several relapses may happen before long-term sobriety. Recovery is a process, it takes time.
Fear of Responsibilities and Success
Being in addiction is being in a life full of chaos. Once an addict decides to get clean, they have to face responsibilities. This is also part of the recovery process and change. Every person has responsibilities. You may feel like you can’t handle the requirements of a job or family, but with the strength and determination you had to take to start treatment in the first place, you can do anything. There is also a fear of success, and many may not even realize this. A lot of addicts feel like due to their past behavior, they don’t deserve to be successful or to be happy. This is far from the truth, every person deserves to be happy.
Fear of the Addiction Recovery Lifestyle
There are several other fears that people can face when trying to recover. Fear of facing feelings, being lonely and bored, loss, shame, and ridicule, or being judged. Acknowledge and recognize what is holding you back, and focus on the moment. Fears and worries are always related to the future. Recovery is a process. The goal is to focus on today; always stay focused on the present.
Successful Treatment of Addiction is Possible!
If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction, our addiction specialists are available around the clock to assist you. Evoke Wellness at Cohasset offers evidence-based treatment programs to cater to the individual needs of each patient. Our solution-focused addiction treatment will lead you on a road to long-lasting recovery. You don’t have to suffer any longer, call us today.
