Do you know many individuals with addictive disorders are aware of their problem but have difficulty stopping independently? Maybe you are questioning if your addiction is severe enough to seek drug and alcohol rehab help from renowned professionals. That’s a good step that leads to acceptance, which is the most crucial factor in your recovery journey.
Should you wait to hit rock bottom to seek help? If you spend a lot of time questioning whether you should seek help or think that your problem is not bad enough, you probably need help.
Only 10% of those struggling with substance abuse get treatment, according to SAMHSA’s 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. There are some ways you can self-evaluate to know if you are among the addicts and make a smart decision to be among the 10 percent who seek help.
Understanding the Stringency of Your Addiction
How do you know you are addicted in the first place before understanding the stringency of the addiction? If you have noted any negative impact of substance abuse on your life and relationship, you probably have an addiction. It may be an alarm to go to a drug and alcohol rehab center.
Addiction is diagnosed on a spectrum to know the level of dependence of an individual. These criteria help you determine if your habit is mild, moderate, or severe. The measures used are;
• Lack of control
• Spending a lot of time trying to get the substance
• Lack of responsibility
• Worsening situations
• Desire to quit but unable
• Cravings
• Problems with relationships
• Dangerous use
• Tolerance
• Loss of interest
• Withdrawal
The number of criteria you meet determines the stringency of your addiction. Whichever conclusion you come up with, whether mild, moderate, or severe, it is prudent to seek drug and alcohol rehab to get sober.
High-Functioning Addicts
Are you battling your addiction behind the scenes? Everything seems to go well, keeping up with family duties, your career, maintaining your friendship with others, and having drug or alcohol addiction. You are getting it all wrong. You are a high-functioning addict, probably living a double life.
What kills high-functioning addicts is living in denial. The addiction is pretty worse than you think, and living in an illusion that things are pretty normal is like playing chess with the devil.
You probably don’t want things to hit rock bottom or wait for life-changing events, like getting an accidental overdose to address your problem. You’d with no doubt be on the safe side if you seek help as soon as possible.
Can Your Addiction Get Worse?
You’ve probably said it, “But my situation is mild!” Yes, it is. However, you should know that addiction is a progressive disease with all the chances to get worse with time.
Addiction is among chronic diseases like cancer, asthma, hypertension, among others. Seeking help in the initial stages makes it better since diagnosis treatments aim to prevent the situation from worsening. Like a cancer patient with stage 1 cancer would seek treatment, so do an addict with mild symptoms. However, all hope is not lost for the people with a severe case of addiction; just like the ones in their last stages of cancer, something can be done.
Your Friends Don’t Acknowledge Your Addiction
So, you’ve probably shared with your friends to ascertain that you genuinely have a problem, and they keep on telling you that you are fine. If you have self-evaluated, then concluded that you might be an addict and your friends tell you otherwise. It would help if you considered seeking help from a professional psychologist.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Is the Ultimate Road to Sobriety
Treatment is your best option if you have an addiction and want to get sober. To effectively address an addiction’s psychological side, it is recommended you get help from a professional.
If you are considering rehab for drug or alcohol abuse, the team at Fairwinds Treatment Center is here to help guide you onto your path to recovery.
