And, as always, feel free to lean on the Soberish community for support. The other stuff would’ve worked themselves out eventually if I’d have had the support networks in place to deal with them. Or a single ounce of receptivity to things I wasn’t trying to hear. If I’d had the strength of mind to just go to AA (or someplace like it) or therapy and say, “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but here I am,” I think it would’ve gone differently.

Emotional Effects of Alcohol: Why Drinking Makes You Unstable

• 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.
• It can be scary to confront ourselves and our dreams, and putting them off or procrastinating on them is a way to avoid putting the work in or fear of failure.
• Recognizing and managing emotional triggers is a crucial aspect of maintaining sobriety.
• Whether you have one day sober or 10 years, recovery presents challenges.
• If so, you must stay sober so that you can be a positive role model to them.

A therapist can help you learn new coping skills, develop new thinking patterns, and address any co-occurring mental health conditions that may make recovery more difficult. Surround yourself with people who support your sobriety. This could include friends who understand your journey, family members who encourage your choices, or support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery. A strong support network can provide encouragement and reduce feelings of isolation. Substances like alcohol and drugs may mask stress, emotional pain, or traumatic experiences so for those who experience those feelings deeply, being without that protective shield, if you will, can be scary.

• Learning to navigate all your emotions in early sobriety is hard.
• Most importantly, maintain a compassionate attitude toward yourself and recognize that recovery is a journey with ups and downs.
• I didn’t want the label because I didn’t want the problem.
• In particular, you may notice elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depressed mood after you quit.

Relapse Prevention Techniques

However, the more you know about sobriety, the less scary it will seem. Feeling scared is normal when you’re making such a significant life change. However, it’s important to remember that sobriety is not something to be afraid of. Sobriety is an opportunity to improve your life in many different ways. Substance misuse doesn’t just affect your mental health.

Does quitting drinking make you more emotional?

• It is very normal in the early days to feel like you’ve resigned yourself to a life of misery by quitting alcohol.
• Depending on the severity of addiction and readiness to change, different options may be beneficial for different people.
• Fear is the motivator of most actions taken by anyone in active addiction.
• I know, I know, this website is called “Recovery Connection” and it is designed to encourage those who are suffering the slings and arrows of addiction to get help.

Any big life change naturally brings a sense of fear or unease. Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. Without the influence of substances, you have the opportunity to enjoysober relationshipswhileending toxic relationships. You can formauthentic relationshipsbuilt on mutual respect, interests, and understanding rather than just who is willing or available to drink or use drugs with you.

Emotions In Early Sobriety Are Tough. Here’s How To Tackle Them.

But the truth is, making mistakes is part of the human condition as well. We are all fear of being sober flawed and it’s not realistic to think we will be perfect, even at sobriety. You can’t fail at sobriety, you can only keep trying and keep growing. So understanding and addressing these fears is paramount. Finally, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do this alone.

Barriers to Addiction Treatment: Why Addicts Don’t Seek Help

If any area of your life is out of control, it will not help you maintain lasting sobriety. Once you do return to work, it’s important to create a budget and take steps to safeguard yourself as work stress can be a relapse trigger. A structured routine will help you achieve other goals in your life, whether they are short-term (like being on time for work) or long-term (like going back to school and changing careers). Having a chaotic or disorganized lifestyle can also hinder your recovery. It’s important to develop a structured daily and weekly schedule and stick to it.