If you have a willing friend or family member, take them along. So much of this list is not just about finding things to do, but treating the underlying causes of extreme boredom in sobriety. Choosing a new hobby to occupy your time is not always easy. It may require a bit of soul-searching, especially when your motivation is at historically low levels. But also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved in activities around your community.
Wait, are you saying sobriety isn’t real work?
Serotonin depletion can cause major mood swings and feelings of sadness, anxiety, and irritability. To unpack some of the underlying reasons you feel bored right now, it helps to understand what alcohol does to your brain. Relapse (using substances again after stopping) can and does happen, with 85% of people experiencing relapse at least once and half of them doing so within the first two weeks of sobriety.
responses to “8 Reasons Why People Are Afraid To Get Sober”
- By getting help and finding recovery, you can avoid developing life-threatening complications from substance abuse.
- We are biologically wired for companionship, so this is a very real and instinctual fear to have.
- History shows presidential candidates commonly set aside time to prepare for debates, especially when they are incumbents.
- It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse.
They can help motivate a person to remain sober to reach the next milestone. Developing a structured routine can help a person stick to their sobriety goals, make healthy decisions, and reduce the likelihood of triggers and relapse. Establishing a routine with regular sleep and support group attendance can reduce stress and help you stay sober. A person who is getting sober may be getting sober from one substance or all substances.
Treatment Facilities
Depending on the severity of addiction and readiness to change, different options may be beneficial for different people. But seeking a professional opinion on where to get started can help alleviate and address your particular fears. Nobody ever said getting sober was easy, but it doesn’t have to be as scary as it seems. Understanding your fears behind getting sober can help you conquer them and start your journey to recovery. There are stretches of time that went by so fast that I hardly even remember them.
Sometimes boredom in sobriety looks like not wanting to be around anyone. This is probably new for your friends and family, too. Don’t be afraid to communicate how you’re feeling. The good news is that your brain can adjust and restore balance to your internal fear of being sober world. The longer you stay away from alcohol and give your brain some much-needed TLC, the less you’ll feel like life is dull and uninteresting. One study found that 68% of people treated in a detox unit experienced moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- Understanding what to say to a recovering alcoholic or someone grappling with drug addiction can be challenging if you have not faced these experiences yourself.
- Worrying about it constantly will only strengthen your fears and lessen your resolve to do anything.
- Those confronted by uncertainties like this should consider doubling down on some key reasons to get sober and stay sober.
- Now, getting sober isn’t going to make it easier to manage your money.
- Joseph Gilmore has been in the addiction industry for three years with experience working for facilities all across the country.
Don’t expect to accomplish any big self-realizations in the beginning. More than likely, though, this meaningful journey of self-discovery will be a long, ongoing, and wonderful process. Every cell in your body might not know this, but a strong piece of you that is battling for airtime in your brain knows it.
Why Do I Hate Being Sober, and What Can I Do About It?
In addiction recovery, you will be empowered to achieve your true potential with clarity and purpose. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may be available through your employer. https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/why-is-alcohol-addictive/ Addiction is not just a chronic brain disease — it is a family disease. Family members are deeply impacted and often traumatized by a loved one’s substance use disorder.
As painful and destructive as active addiction can be, many people put off getting the help they need because they are scared to be sober. It wasn’t until well into my sobriety that I thought, “this is for me.” During my first year of sobriety it was just something I was doing, not drinking. I wasn’t sure where I was going with it, if I would stay sober forever, or even if I was an actual alcoholic. Sobriety is often tied to the extreme stereotype of addiction, the old homeless man that lives under the bridge, the heroin addict who shoots up in the bathroom.
responses to “7 Reasons Why It’s Good to be Sober”
We use drugs to numb ourselves and our emotions and to push off thinking for another day. But when we no longer have those devices at our disposal, we’re left with only our minds, our willpower and our inner strength to carry us through the hard times. We’re forced to think and analyze our problems, to come up with solutions, and in doing so we may fail or make mistakes. But that’s how we grow and learn, and how we learn to cope better when the next challenge presents itself. Over time, our ability to cope and come up with solutions that work for us becomes easier and easier. There are common setbacks to getting and staying sober like withdrawal, craving, and pressure to use.
