Entering recovery from drug or alcohol addiction can be a scary experience. And that’s alright. Fear is normal at every stage of recovery during drug and alcohol addiction treatment. But fear doesn’t have to derail your recovery. Take a moment to understand what’s going on, recognize what you’re afraid of, and make an effort to cope with such fears. Here are five common fears that you might encounter in recovery, along with suggestions on how to best overcome them.
1. Fear of withdrawal
Most people in recovery in the Austin area have heard disturbing stories about how traumatic withdrawal from drugs and alcohol can be. While it might be difficult to completely skip the withdrawal stage, a supervised withdrawal monitored by trained medical personnel at Rock Springs Hospital will significantly reduce the pain associated with the process. Your therapists will also teach you techniques to minimize the effects of cravings associated with withdrawal, and you will learn to manage or avoid them.
Keep in mind that the process of entering sober living can involve an uncomfortable few days, but the rewards that come afterwards make it well worth it.
2. Fear of Sharing your Story
People dealing with addiction are often uncomfortable with the prospect of sharing their personal struggles. In reality, all reliable behavioral treatment programs use evidenced-based practices where professional therapists never push you to reveal anything that you’re not ready to talk about. They make every effort to partner with you in recovery, allowing you to share information at your own pace.
If you don’t feel like sharing your story at all, that’s perfectly OK too. You can still benefit from simply listening to the people around you.
3. Fear of Failure
Probably the most daunting fear in seeking treatment is the fear of failure. Addiction has already taken control of your life and sent you on a downward spiral. What happens if you enter a treatment program and don’t succeed?
It’s a reasonable fear. But remember, you’re not alone. Professional therapists and counselors at Rock Springs will help you with this fear of failure every step of the way. Talk to recovery professionals about your situation. Remember, you have final say on your treatment choice. Even if your recovery attempt has failed in the past, you still learned a few things along the way and can use those insights to do better next time. Relapse is not the end of recovery.
4. Fear of High Costs
Many people automatically assume that treatment costs for chemical dependency are prohibitive. Yes, it comes at a price that includes professional medical attention, drug-free living arrangements, and care from licensed clinicians and nurses. But don’t forget, you have options.
Many major insurance providers offer addiction treatment coverage and Rock Springs is an in-network facility for many of those providers. Rock Springs also accepts private payment options and has a full-time financial counselor who can assist you in evaluating your benefit plan and private pay options.
5. Fear of Sobriety
Getting sober means replacing your primary coping mechanism – drugs, alcohol or any other addiction – with new, unfamiliar ones. The process of drug and alcohol addiction treatment can be unnerving and fraught with self-doubt. Will all of the hard work be worth it? Will sobriety be boring? Coming out of treatment may also mean letting go of former friends who supported and fueled your addiction, setting off a fear of isolation and loneliness.
Once again, you’re not alone if you face these fears. What will make a difference is finding ways to commit to your recovery plan. Go to rehab, meet with a therapist or attend a support group. Once you try it, you will find that sobriety is not as scary as you once feared.
Your new life awaits at Rock Springs. Call today to begin your road to sobriety.
