Many people who wish to quit drinking struggle with taking that first step. Often times, this is because of some common sober fears. These fears keep these people stuck and afraid of trying to get sober. However, there fears aren’t impossible to overcome…
Sober Fears: Casual Drinker or Alcoholic?
You aren’t sure if you have a problem
People often like to make jokes about alcoholism or themselves being an alcoholic. While on the surface these may just be jokes, for many people they represent one of the common sober fears. These people are often worried about whether or not they have a problem, and as a result their drinking continues to worsen.
In these situations, it’s common to try and compare yourself to others and see how your drinking stacks up. However, this will usually lead you nowhere. Instead, ask yourself how your drinking impacts you, and if it’s negatively, then you know it’s time to make a change.
You have a love/hate relationship with drinks
Do you find yourself unable to imagine a life without drinking, yet sometimes ask yourself why you still do it? In these cases, it might be signs of another of the common sober fears. Many people struggle with wanting to stop drinking, but believe they’ll lose friends and their social lives. As a result, they end up stuck in a love/hate relationship with drinking.
When this happens, you have to be serious with yourself over what you can or can’t live without. Odds are that alcohol won’t make the cut. Still, you don’t have to cut it out right away. Try and give yourself a few months without drinking, and see how it effects your life before making any serious decisions.
You’re afraid of failing
The fear of failure is something that prevents people from doing a lot of things, especially in regards to sobering up. As a result, it’s no surprise one of the most common sober fears is trying to sober up, and then failing. There’s a very common idea that if a person does fail, then they’re some kind of “permanent” alcoholic.
However, failure is simple a part of life. Many people do relapse while trying to get clean. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t pick yourself up and try again. It can be hard, but that determination can keep you going, even during the rough spots.
