How to Overcome Fear in Addiction Recovery
Tuesday 1st October 2013
One of the biggest obstacles for many people in addiction recovery is fear. But what exactly are they afraid of?
In addiction treatment, addicts receive constant medical care & psychological support from the experienced counsellors & therapists inside the clinic. Now that they’ve completed the program, they’re suddenly on their own.
This can be intimidating. “Will I be able to cope on my own?”…“What if I fail?” are just some of the thoughts that run through an addict’s mind.
Unfortunately, attending rehab doesn’t guarantee a successful recovery. The World Health Organisation (WHO) & other significant organisations all view addiction as an incurable brain disease.
Addiction recovery is a lifelong commitment to remaining clean & sober. It takes a lot of discipline, determination & drive to achieve it, but it’s definitely not an impossible task. Many addicts have gone on to live happy & successful lives long after they’ve received treatment.
In this article, I’m going to provide you with some helpful tips on how to overcome fear in addiction recovery.
Focus on the Present
Thinking too far ahead in early addiction recovery can be very intimidating at first. Staying clean & sober for the rest of your life is a monumental task!
Before you begin to doubt yourself, rather focus on what’s in front of you. Every day gives you the chance to learn something new. Take each day as it comes & stop worrying about the future.
Learn from Your Fear
Whenever you’re feeling scared, nervous or anxious, use it as an opportunity to find out what can help you overcome it & what doesn’t work. The experience will help you deal with these feelings swiftly in future.
Recover at Your Own Speed
Don’t try & take on too many things at once, it’ll only overwhelm you. When you’re doing something that’s causing you to stress & panic, break it up into smaller, more manageable parts.
Get Aftercare
Some addicts aren’t ready for a return back into society after addiction treatment. One of the best ways to make things easier for you is to get aftercare.
Aftercare comes in various shapes & sizes but two of the best forms of it are outpatient treatment & halfway houses.
Outpatient treatment gives recovering addicts to receive further care outside of the rehab centre while they reside at home & complete their daily responsibilities. Regular meetings are run in the evenings during the week, where you’ll receive medical care, counselling & therapy.
For recovering addicts who aren’t ready to return back into society, halfway houses are the perfect solution. It offers a continued stay inside a sober living environment, but you will be required to be out during the day doing something meaningful for your addiction recovery, for example, like working or studying.
We can provide you with immediate admission into the best private aftercare programs in South Africa, the United Kingdom & Thailand. Call us now & let one of our addiction counsellors provide you with free, expert & confidential advice.
Article by We Do Recover