Your drug and alcohol use started as a way to cope, but you could never of imagined the impact it would have on your life. Now the anxiety and stress you were trying to escape from has reappeared in the form of being afraid to go to addiction treatment. If you have a fear of going to addiction treatment, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s completely natural to be fearful before embarking on a new experience.
The truth is, making the decision attend addiction treatment is not easy, and the gravity of that decision can make any fear you’re experiencing more intense. However, there are steps you can take to overcome the fear and anxiety building over your decision. Join us as we break down some of the most effective ways you can overcome the fear of addiction treatment.
5 Tips to Help You Overcome the Fear of Addiction Treatment
1. Identify Your Fears
The first step to overcoming the fear of addiction treatment is pinning down what parts of the experience you’re afraid of and what’s causing your negative mindset. For many of us, the unknown is a topic that can stir up plenty of fear and anxiety. Start by making a list of any uncertainties you have about addiction recovery. For example, many people who have been through rehab say that once they knew what their daily routine would look like, some of their stress began to fade away.
It’s important to remember that this exercise isn’t meant to give you answers for your fears, it’s to encourage self-exploration so you can find the right kind of support.
2. Talk About Your Fears
Now that you have more details about your fear of addiction treatment, it’s time to get them out in the open. Find a friend or loved one that you trust and ask them if they’re willing to help. During this conversation, lay out your fears for them and get their opinion. You might be surprised how the simple act of talking to someone else can keep your anxiety from getting out of control. Plus, hearing their experience of how to handle fear and anxiety can give you some great ideas on how to move forward.
3. Get a Better Picture of the Future
The more you learn about addiction treatment, the less intimidating it becomes. Do some research on addiction treatment centers like Fountain Hills Recovery and contact one of them directly. Instead of getting caught up in your own anxiety, you’ll be able to ask questions and get answers about what addiction treatment looks like from a professional.
4. Work to Control Your Inner Critic
We all have an inner critic that is not shy to tell us what we did wrong in any situation. When you’re afraid, your inner critic can seem even more convincing and it’s easy for negative thoughts to snowball. You can work on surprising your inner critic by practicing some mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of keeping your focus on the present moment to lower the influence that any worries or anxiety have over your thoughts. If you’re interested in learning more about how mindfulness changes positively impact your state of mind, try some guided meditations.
5. Try to Get Some Exposure with Your Fear
Exposure therapy is a clinical psychology tool that can help people with overcoming their fears. For example, let’s say that you have a fear of dogs, exposure therapy would have you slow work on your fear. First, you’d look at pictures of a dog, then see a dog at a distance, until you got to the point where you were petting a dog. The point is taking yourself through an incremental approach, so you’re not overwhelmed at any point. You can use this strategy with a fear of addiction recovery as well.
Explore Expert Addiction Treatment in Arizona
Fountain Hills Recovery is the top luxury addiction treatment center in Arizona. We pride ourselves on providing you with a welcoming and safe environment to heal from addiction. We know that addiction treatment can be a frightening experience at the start, but our professional staff of addiction experts are here to help you along your journey to lasting recovery. If you’re interested in breaking free from the hold that addiction has over your life, contact us today.
