Understanding Nifaliophobia: The Fear of Being Sober SMI Hamburg

Finding an addiction treatment center with aftercare planning services can help you overcome your fears of long-term sobriety. Nifaliophobia, or the fear of being sober, manifests as a significant and persistent fear related to the absence of alcohol or drugs from your life. Another common fear in recovery is rejection from friends and family. You may think that your loved ones will think less of you or not want to be around you.

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The fog lifts, the poor behavior stops, and people generally become happier and easier to be around. The mind clears, there is more peace, more clarity and a better ability to function. All of which are just some of the many reasons why being sober far outweighs being addicted to drugs or alcohol. When we aren’t sober, we can use that as an excuse to avoid those problems.

Understanding Nifaliophobia: The Fear of Being Sober

In my mind, sobriety meant Friday nights alone on my couch, watching Netflix and hiding from the rest of the world who was definitely out drinking. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life. A healthcare professional may prescribe medications such as clonazepam and tranylcypromine to help treat the symptoms of nomophobia, such as anxiety. In the case of nomophobia, the therapies could help address a person’s fear of losing their phone, not being connected, and the implications of not having access to their phone. Additionally, the intoxicated individual rarely remembers what they did, or what they will remember is untrue. “These are safe, nifaliophobia non-addicting medications that have been proven to help people reduce the craving for alcohol, stay sober and are especially helpful,” he shared.

• This knowledge of benefits and challenges can empower you and reduce anxiety and alleviating fear by framing sobriety as a positive lifestyle change.
• On one side of the road are all the temptations, urges, and cravings that had led them to the path of destruction.
• Even after being in recovery for a while, you may not be delighted with the changes you have made.4 In fact you may realize you don’t like being sober.
• Educate your family about your challenges and what you need from them so they know how to support you.
• 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.
• Instead of fearing the unknown, be curious about what will happen, and be excited to find out.

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Coping mechanisms are tough—they work temporarily, and allow us to avoid and put things aside for the time being. 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.

A therapist who specializes in addiction and recovery can offer invaluable support. This might include providing strategies to manage fears related to sobriety and sensitively addressing underlying issues. For example, you may have developed a co-dependent relationship, or a family member, friend, or employer may have been enabling you without even knowing it. Shoving the letters from the bank down the back of the sofa while you drink away the worries won’t help you get back on track.

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If you’re newly sober and you need help with avoiding relapse, call on the compassionate team at Casa Pacifica. Our services include sober companionship, coaching, and mentorship for those who are recovering from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. For more information about our sober living facilities, call us today. Dealing with setbacks or relapses is a common part of the recovery process. It’s important to view these events not as failures but as opportunities for learning and growth. If you experience a setback, take the time to analyze what led to the relapse and discuss it with your support network or therapist to understand the triggers involved.

Understanding Nifaliophobia: The Fear of Being Sober

• When thoughts of failure come to mind it’s enough to make anyone start to worry.
• Even people for whom alcohol is not a problem experience this.
• Post-detox, you may have a wide range of emotions flooding your mind.
• That said, while “recovery” and “sobriety” are different terms, they’re also used interchangeably in some instances.
• This can help you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed by fears and cravings.

A journey can begin with community mutual-help groups, inpatient treatment, residential rehab, outpatient programs, and more. 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. So it may take some time before you truly feel content in your new life.

But the following insights may ease your journey and improve your outlook. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. Most people will need ongoing support groups for some time after detox. This is a very good time to speak to your counseling team about these fears and the emotional struggles you are having.

This may include worries about losing social connections or coping with life’s stresses unaided. Recognizing that family and friends can’t help you maintain sobriety is a painful feeling, but know that the road doesn’t end here. Another common reason people may be afraid to get sober is that they think life might become “boring” once they’ve quit all their vices. Many times, social events and outings center around drinking alcohol.

Thankfully, there have only been a few times when someone at the table hasn’t pointed it out on my behalf and adjusted accordingly. However, when it has happened, I have to speak up to point out that I didn’t drink and I’m not subsidizing their drinking. Knowing in advance how to decline alcoholic drinks or drug use in social situations can make it easier to stick to your sobriety. Practice and plan your responses so that you feel confident and prepared in these environments. These practices encourage focusing on the present moment, which helps alleviate worries about the future.