It’s not uncommon to ‘miss’ alcohol after completing alcohol rehab in Prescott Arizona. Many people in recovery feel guilty or ashamed of these feelings when they’ve worked so hard to quit, but they are normal and natural. It’s just not talked about all that often.
The problem with missing alcohol is that it can cause you to start romanticizing about drinking again. Your brain chemistry, coupled with cravings, can make you experience nostalgia. It could be nostalgia for drinking. Nostalgia for the ‘old’ you. Nostalgia for the ‘fun’ you used to have. But it’s a dangerous trap that you have to be mindful of.
The Fading Affect Bias: How it Impacts Your Recovery
The fading affect bias (FAB) is a psychological phenomenon in which memories associated with negative emotions are forgotten. Research shows that as time goes on, our brains tend to forget the negative emotions connected with an event.
The fading affect bias has its purpose. It can improve self-esteem by helping you remember your past actions more positively. It can also make you more optimistic as you go through life. A common example is having a baby. Even though childbirth is painful, mothers quickly forget about the pain and only remember the good.
But there are some downsides to the fading affect bias, as you’ll learn in recovery. This bias can make it easier to remember all the fun you had when you were drunk and forget all the pain you suffered. Essentially, you’re not remembering the bad because your brain is protecting you from it, allowing you to move on.
Life is Better Sober. Play the Tape Forward.
When you started alcohol rehab in Arizona, you made a commitment to stay sober. You might have even experienced the pink cloud stage of addiction, which involves feelings of euphoria and exhilaration. But now that you are trying to rebuild your life, you find yourself romanticizing about your past days with alcohol. And this can be tough.
While there are many strategies for overcoming this, one of our favorites is called ‘playing the tape through.’ This relapse prevention technique involves picturing what would happen if you did give into your urges. It might sound counterproductive, but this thinking actually helps you see what would happen if you relapsed.
Your brain is playing tricks on you, so you need to be realistic. Drinking wouldn’t make you fun, cool or happy. It would lead you straight back into addiction. It’s impossible to have ‘just one drink.’ Again, that’s your brain playing tricks on you. You need to be objective about where the consequences would lead.
Embrace Recovery from Alcohol
At Wolf Creek Recovery, many of our staff members have struggled with addiction and are now in recovery. They understand the challenges that people go through in recovery, including the less-talked-about ones like fantasizing about drinking. We offer support in many ways, helping people to stay sober and build a life that makes them happy. Get in touch with our admissions team to learn more.
