Fear of the Unknown in Recovery

Fear is the number one emotion that comes to mind when the idea of getting help for your addiction comes up. It feels like a stressful or distressing emotion that creates the fear of impending doom, fear is a trigger for both anxiety and avoidance. It can cause a full-blown panic attack or drive someone away from the help they need. The fact is you have probably been so used to or so stuck in the same routine that anything other than that appears as terrifying when in all fact it isn’t. It’s simply that you do not know how to regulate your emotions due to the constant numbing of feelings or coping through drugs, alcohol, or other risky behaviors. This is the number one reason why people do not get help.

The Facts

People fear a lot of different things when addiction treatment or recovery is brought up. Some of the most common fears include:

• Fear that treatment won’t work.
• Fear that treatment will hurt or be painful.
• Fear that life won’t be as enjoyable when sober.
• Fear that the challenges of life will be too much to bare without drugs or alcohol.
• Fear that treatment will cost too much.
• Fear that recovery will create too many boundaries.
• Fear that staying sober will be too difficult.
• Fear that relationships will suffer in recovery (especially if only ONE partner in the relationship chooses recovery).

How Fear Affects Recovery

Fear can hinder the recovery process. Many individuals often let their fear obstruct their path to recovery, leading them to forgo treatment or discontinue treatment when faced with challenges. Experiencing fear during recovery is common, but excessive fear can hinder your progress. Be ready to address any instances of overwhelming fear that may obstruct your path to full recovery from substance abuse or addiction.

• Fear that impeded emotional healing in recovery.
• Fear that is used to justify relapse.
• Fear that builds a sense of dissatisfaction in recovery.
• Fear that causes you to make poor decisions.
• Fear that creates undue stress and leads to relapse.
• Fear stopping you in your tracks, preventing you from taking action and getting help.
• Fear that prevents you from thinking clearly about what is necessary.