Yasmin Recovery Coach

Recovery from addiction is a challenging journey, filled with emotional, mental, and physical hurdles. One of the less discussed but prevalent coping mechanisms during recovery is the impulse to run away.  which can hamper your progress and create extra challenges on the road to sobriety. Understanding why this occurs and how to manage it is crucial for those in recovery and their support networks. 

The Impulse to Run Away 

Running away during recovery can take many forms. It manifests as a wish to physically leave a place, end a relationship, or abandon responsibilities. More subtly, it can appear as emotional withdrawal or retreat into unhealthy behaviours.  

The more I work on myself and understand my reasons why I used alcohol to cope with life, I have begun to understand my patterns of behaviour. I would change jobs, relationships, move countries, hobbies but the problem never went away. It just followed me abound and the emptiness and despair sank deeper and deeper. On the outside, it looked like I had it all but, on the inside, I was breaking, and the cracks were beginning to show.  

The impulse to run hasn’t subsided in my recovery and often this impulse comes up because of: 

1. Overwhelming Emotions: Sobriety brings a flood of emotions that were once numbed by substance use. These emotions can be intense and overwhelming, leading to a flight response. I have learnt to not making any decisions based on emotions and to sit with the feelings until I have processed what I am feeling.  

2. Fear of Failure: The fear of relapse or not meeting expectations can make you feel inadequate, prompting to run away from situations where you feel you will fail. For me this happens at work or even living abroad where my knee jerk reaction has been to run back home because that choice seems easier. 

3. Unresolved Trauma: Past traumas that were masked by addiction resurface during recovery. Confronting these traumas is daunting and can trigger the want to escape. It’s really important to talk about how you are feeling with someone such your recovery coach, sponsor or a professional therapist. 

4. Pressure and Stress: The responsibilities and pressures of daily life can feel more burdensome when not dulled by substances, leading to a flight response as a form of avoidance. When I was drinking, I couldn’t open my bills, look at my phone because the anxiety I had from drinking was just too much for me to cope with.  

The Risks of Running Away 

While running away provides temporary relief, it poses significant risks: 

• Isolation: Isolation can heighten feelings of loneliness and depression, which are detrimental to recovery, and you end up in a vicious cycle and can lead to a.. 

• Relapse: Avoiding problems and emotions instead of addressing them increases the risk of picking up a drink as a coping mechanism. 

• Stalled Progress: running from challenges prevents the development of healthy coping skills and emotional resilience, stalling your overall recovery progress. 

• Damaged Relationships: Repeatedly running away can strain relationships with family, friends, and support networks, leading to a lack of social and emotional support. 

Strategies to Manage the Impulse 

There are many ways to help you handle the impulse to run away from your problems:

1. Therapy and Counselling: Professional help can offer tools and techniques to process emotions and trauma effectively 

2. Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices help individuals stay present and manage overwhelming emotions without the need to flee. 

3. Support Networks: Building a strong support network of friends, family, and fellow recovering individuals can give you a sense of stability and understanding. 

4. Healthy Outlets: Physical activity, hobbies, or getting creative can all be  healthy ways to cope with stress and emotions. 

5. Setting Realistic Goals: Breaking down goals into manageable steps can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and decrease the impulse to run away. 

6. Self-Compassion: Practicing self-compassion involves treating oneself with kindness and understanding during difficult times, reducing the harsh self-criticism and negativity. 

Running away is a natural but counterproductive coping mechanism during sober recovery. By understanding its roots and employing effective strategies, you can confront any challenges head-on, fostering resilience, healing and emotional growth.

Recovery is a journey, and learning to face difficulties rather than fleeing from them is a vital step towards a healthier, sober life