1. Fear of Losing Relationships
One of the most common fears of substance abuse programs surfaces when addicts realize they must be separated from their friends and families for an extended period of time, and they don’t want to spend time among strangers in unfamiliar surroundings. They fail to realize that if they don’t get into treatment, the continued addiction will eventually result in lost relationships anyway.
2. Fear of Withdrawal and Detoxification
Most addicts have experienced withdrawal symptoms at some time during the addiction, but they are able to stop the symptoms by taking more of the substance involved. They know how tough these symptoms can be, so the thought of going through them without getting their fix is almost unimaginable.
3. Fear of Judgment, Stigma, or Embarrassment
Many addicts have been successful in keeping the extent of their addiction hidden from loved ones or the community. Entering substance abuse treatment would reveal to the world that they are an addict, and this is something they don’t want to admit to anyone.
4. Fear of Losing Reputation or Standing in the Community
Not all addicts are homeless or poor. Some of the most influential or famous people in society today are addicted to one substance or another. These individuals stand to lose a great deal if their addiction is exposed. They avoid getting treatment in order to keep the addiction hidden, and mistakenly believe they are in control of the situation.
5. Fear of Losing Self-Confidence
One aspect of drug addiction is the boost in self-confidence experienced by the addict. Most drugs give the user an enhanced sense of well-being, strength and energy. They fear rehab because they don’t want to give up this feeling of invincibility.
6. Fear of Gaining Weight
One of the side effects of most drugs is decreased appetite and weight loss. For many addicts, this is how their addiction began. They used drugs to lose weight and became addicted. They fear that discontinuing the drug will bring all that weight back.
7. Fear of Sharing Personal Feelings with Others
Most professional substance abuse treatment centers incorporate individual and group counseling as part of the overall program. In group sessions, addicts are encouraged to talk about their experience with addiction in an attempt to help them understand the root cause of the problem. Most addicts are ashamed of their behaviors and don’t want others to hear their story.
8. Fear of Facing Old Traumas
During treatment, counselors help addicts recognize and confront past experiences that might have contributed to their desire to use drugs. This is a difficult process for many addicts due to the intensity of these personal dilemmas. They don’t want to remember those painful times.
9. Fear of Being Bored
In most cases, substance abuse gives the individual a false sense of being the life of the party. When they consider rehab, their first thought might revolve around how they can possibly tolerate normal, everyday life without a buzz.
10. Fear of Failure
This is probably one of the greatest fears regarding rehab. Since some addicts actually enter rehab and then relapse immediately after release, it isn’t difficult to see that this is a valid fear. Along with the failure comes the fear that loved ones are disappointed and might give up on you.
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