The fear of letting go of an addiction can be all encompassing. Addiction affects us physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. At the core of my work with those challenged by substance use, the fear of giving up the substance of choice is a very raw, very real one. I am often asked:
What if sobriety isn’t all that it is cracked up to be? What if I can’t do this? What if I don’t like who I am without this?
I fully understand the panic, the doubt, the fear, and offer this: It’s okay to feel torn. It’s okay to feel conflicted. It’s okay to be scared. All of this is completely normal. When committing to recovery, it involves not just stopping the use of the substance, but changing many things including:
- How you deal with stress/your emotions
- Who you spend time with socially
- What you do with your free time
- How you think about yourself
Recovery requires time, motivation, and support. It is a powerful ebb and flow process that addresses the “What-if’s,” and will ultimately open your eyes to who you are...and bring you back to you.
In the end, I would ask this:
What if you can do this? What if you were enough without using? What if you would finally be free?