How to Overcome Fear and Get The Help You Need

There are a variety of reasons why you may be resisting getting the help you need. All of those reasons have one common element – fear. Whether it’s fear of not having fun, fear of losing friends, or fear of failure, the thought of facing each day without alcohol or drugs may seem just too overwhelming. In fact, for many addicts, it can feel like a death sentence. So you’re certainly not alone. But the only way to get on the road to recovery is to acknowledge your fear and learn how to overcome it. Here’s how.

Fear of losing friends.

One of the biggest fears you may have is a fear of losing your close circle of friends. But if these are people who also have addictions, or who enable your addiction, then you must leave them behind in order to get healthy. This is a hard decision to make, but an essential one for recovery. The good news is that there is lots of help out there. Through treatment programs, meetings, and other support groups, you can find a host of new friends who understand what you’re going through.

Fear of dealing with stress.

You may have become an addict in the first place due to a stressful situation – and now you fear you can’t cope without drugs and alcohol. But you can overcome stress and stay sober. Start by trying to eliminate as much stress as possible in your life. If you’re in a treatment program, you should be learning different techniques for managing stress. While stress is a fact of life, it becomes much easier to deal with when you have a solid network of support and healthy coping mechanisms in place.

Fear of boredom.

When you’ve spent so much of your leisure time using, it can be hard to imagine life without drugs and alcohol. That’s why it’s important to start participating in healthy activities. Whether it’s going back to school or taking a yoga class, you’ll occupy your time in a productive way and hopefully meet new friends without addiction problems.

Fear of failure.

Rather than try and fail, it can seem easier to just not try at all. And in fact, the threat of relapse is always there. But you can fight it. You need to focus on taking your recovery one day at a time. Be vigilant about attending your meetings, going to support groups, and getting the counseling you need to help you along the away. Surround yourself with supportive people, like loved ones, sober friends and your sponsor. Unfortunately, fear of sobriety can cause an addict to hit rock bottom – at which point they’ve ruined their careers, relationships, and families – before they consider getting help. Don’t let this happen to you. While overcoming fear takes time, courage, and persistence, you can bring about a positive and happier way of life if you face it head on.