The sad reality is that many people fail to get sober because they are worried about what other people may think of their choice. However, this only leaves you stuck in the endless cycle of addiction with no end in sight. The key is to understand that you must get sober for yourself. It is only when you focus on your own health and well-being that you will learn how to handle “naysayers” of sobriety. The good news is that there are many communities that focus on sobriety that are willing and ready to support you completely.
How to Handle ‘Naysayers’ of Sobriety
Someone who is “naysaying” your sobriety is not someone whose opinion you need to worry about. This is especially true in early sobriety, where your only focus should be on getting better. One of the best ways to handle naysayers in sobriety is to show them how well you are doing by example. You can show naysayers how much better life looks and feels when you are sober.
Many naysayers of sobriety are also simply unaware of what addiction is. They often think addiction is some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply not the case. Addiction is a disease.
Better Understanding Addiction as a Disease
The reality is that addiction is a chronic disease that has more in common with other chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer than it does with some type of choice. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs.”
This is also why many people struggle with relapses in addiction recovery. Many people don’t realize just how common relapses actually are. According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment. For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.”
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Now, of course, you cannot get better unless you know that you have a problem (or that a loved one has a problem). This is why being able to spot the signs and symptoms of addiction is so important. The following are just a few of the more common signs and symptoms of addiction:
- Negative changes in appetite
- Struggles with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (insomnia)
- Physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
- Not being able to stop using substances or drinking once started
- Losing interest in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
- Feeling overly anxious and/or depressed
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Experiencing mood swings
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Aggressive feelings toward oneself and/or others
- Having suicidal ideations
These are the types of symptoms that must be addressed as soon as possible if one is to heal in the long term. Seeking professional help as soon as these symptoms arise can make a big difference. It can mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.
Don’t Get Distracted: Sobriety Is Your Ultimate Goal
The key to avoiding naysayers is to keep your ultimate goal in sight, and that ultimate goal is sobriety. Without staying sober, none of the benefits or promises of a new life can come true.
It is important to connect with the right recovery professionals and recovery center to ensure that you have a recovery plan that can withstand outside scrutiny. It is also important to find the right recovery community.
Find Your Community: Working With Others in Recovery
Many recovery communities are full of people whose main focus is healthy sobriety. This includes 12-Step communities, which have been shown to be highly effective at helping their members stay sober. They also greatly reduce relapse rates among their members.
In fact, working with other people in recovery has been shown to be so effective that it is even discussed in the primary text (often referred to as the “Big Book”) of 12-Step recovery. The text states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail…. You can help when no one else can. The key is to avoid the people who don’t support your sobriety and find the people who will.
Our Primary Purpose at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, our primary purpose is to help you recover by any means necessary. That is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future. We are the support you are looking for.
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You got this! We can help.
The reality is that while we may be ready to recover, others may not be. Usually, these are people who may have addiction issues themselves. Making the right relationship choices in recovery can be the difference between long-term success and a series of relapses. The good news is that there are plenty of exceptional recovery communities available to support your sobriety. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward recovery. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about connecting with the right people in recovery, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
