Fears In Early Recovery

Main Points:

1. Common fears in early recovery:
   • Fear of losing important things (e.g., job, family, home).
   • Fear of not being successful in attaining stability.
   • Fear of not being able to function without drugs.
   • Fear of dealing with emotions and internal thoughts without substances.
   • Fear of losing friendships and social connections formed during addiction.
   • Fear of making amends with people they’ve hurt.
   • Fear of long-term sobriety and the discomfort of sitting with oneself.
   • Fear of the process not providing quick gratification, unlike drugs.
2. Challenges in recovery:
   • People often relapse after 30-90 days due to hitting a “wall” of fears and discomfort.
   • Some people try to avoid the steps or look for shortcuts in recovery, which leads to relapses.
   • People are afraid of the long-term process, the slow recovery, and the perseverance required.
3. Solutions proposed in the podcast:
   • Face fears by walking through them instead of avoiding them.
   • Accept that recovery is not a quick fix; it is a step-by-step journey.
   • Perseverance, humility, and taking responsibility are key to successful recovery.
   • Embrace discomfort and resist the temptation to return to old habits.

List of Common Fears in Early Recovery:

1. Fear of losing personal or material things (job, family, house).
2. Fear of failure in attaining a stable life (thinking they’ll never succeed).
3. Fear of not being able to function without drugs (believing they need substances to feel normal).
4. Fear of facing emotions without substances (feeling overwhelmed by their internal thoughts).
5. Fear of losing social connections (friends made during addiction).
6. Fear of making amends (feeling shame or guilt for past actions).
7. Fear of long-term sobriety (it feels like a life of discomfort and deprivation).
8. Fear of slow progress (wanting quick results, not getting them, and feeling hopeless).

Solutions for Each Fear:

1. Fear of losing personal or material things:
   • Solution: Shift focus to rebuilding rather than holding on to the past. Recovery offers a second chance at achieving these things, but it requires patience and steady effort.
   • RYNA Prompt: “What’s one small step you can take today to build toward the life you want, instead of worrying about what you’ve lost?”
2. Fear of failure in attaining stability:
   • Solution: Acknowledge that stability comes from small, consistent actions. Failure is part of the process, but it does not define the final outcome.
   • RYNA Prompt: “How can you redefine success in your recovery journey? What are some small wins you can celebrate right now?”
3. Fear of not being able to function without drugs:
   • Solution: Focus on the skills learned in recovery that replace dependency. Gradually, they’ll see that they are capable of functioning and thriving without substances.
   • RYNA Prompt: “What skills are you developing right now that help you function without substances?”
4. Fear of facing emotions without substances:
   • Solution: Emphasize the importance of learning healthy coping mechanisms, such as meditation, mindfulness, and support systems. It’s about learning to sit with discomfort rather than escape it.
   • RYNA Prompt: “What emotions are you avoiding? How can you sit with them today without judgment, even for just a few minutes?”
5. Fear of losing social connections:
   • Solution: Reframe the fear as an opportunity to form healthier, more supportive relationships. True friends will support your recovery.
   • RYNA Prompt: “What kind of friendships do you want in your new sober life? How can you start building those connections?”
6. Fear of making amends:
   • Solution: Encourage that making amends is about personal growth and restoring integrity, not about being perfect. It’s more about action than words.
   • RYNA Prompt: “What’s one relationship you’d like to heal? What small action can you take toward making amends, even if it’s just for yourself?”
7. Fear of long-term sobriety:
   • Solution: Break the idea of “forever” down into manageable moments. Focus on staying sober one day at a time rather than imagining a life without substances.
   • RYNA Prompt: “How can you focus on staying sober today instead of worrying about the future?”
8. Fear of slow progress:
   • Solution: Recovery is a journey, not a destination. Celebrate small victories and embrace the slow unfolding of a healthier life.
   • RYNA Prompt: “What small victory did you experience today, no matter how tiny?”

Additional Prompts for RYNA:

• “What are the things in your life that make you feel grounded and stable? How can you lean on them in tough moments?”
• “How do you define self-love in your recovery journey? What’s one act of self-love you can offer yourself today?”
• “When was the last time you truly felt connected to someone or something bigger than yourself? How can you cultivate that feeling again?”
• “What is one aspect of recovery that excites you? How can you bring more focus to that feeling?”
• “In what ways are you already stronger than you think? How can you remind yourself of your inner strength today?”
• “What is one thing you’re learning about yourself in sobriety that surprises you?”
• “Who is someone in your life who has been supportive of your recovery? How can you express gratitude toward them today?”
• “How can you shift your mindset from focusing on what you’ve lost to what you’re gaining in recovery?”

This set of prompts and solutions can help people in early recovery confront their fears with practical advice and deeper introspection.