How Do I Know if I Need Professional Substance Abuse Care?
There are some scenarios in life that are too big to tackle on your own. Recovery from addiction is one such scenario. However, choosing to get help can vastly improve your outcome. Some people find themselves at a crossroads – unsure if their behavior is simply the result of a few wrong choices or whether they are truly battling an addiction. If you or a loved one are in this position, you need guidance for your path forward. Use our “Do I need Rehab Quiz” below for an honest look at your life choices and whether a habit could be something more serious.
Signs That I’m Struggling With Addiction
Like any challenge in life, no two people’s journeys are the same. The same is true when it comes to addiction. However, there are similar issues that can point toward a problem. Here are a few signals that you might need help with.
Concerns of Family and Friends
Having a structured support system of friends and family brings mental, emotional, and physical health and balance. The considerations of our family and friends can help indicate signs that you may be addicted to alcohol or the drugs you are using. Losing a connection with your family and friends may also be a sign that you need more serious help with your addiction or substance use.
Have you ever experienced issues with your family because of your use of substances? It can be easy when habitually drinking alcohol or using drugs to lose track of other aspects of our lives. If the individuals you consider yourself close with – those who have shared your life through ups and downs – are expressing concerns or removing themselves from your life because of your drug use, then that’s a huge sign you could be on a dangerous path. In this situation, your community and support system may be falling apart. This could be due to your alcohol or drug use. If you would rather use the substance than have your family and community, you may be addicted and need help through recovery.
If your family and close friends have asked you to stop drinking or using drugs, it is likely something that they have been building the confidence to say for a long time. Do not take it lightly – these are the people who love you. At the end of the day, they want the best for you. Be honest with your friends and family, but you may need to earn their trust again. Consider, have you ever lied to the people who love you about your alcohol or drug use? That alone could signal an addiction
Increasing Health Issues
Realistically, using any drug or alcohol in excess or over an extended period can have adverse effects on your body. Depending on the method with which you may be taking substances, these effects may range in their effects and seriousness. Some of these symptoms may display themselves in more visible locations. Some may affect the ability of your organs to function properly and could not be realized until later in life when you notice deterioration in the effectiveness of your body’s function.
Regular use of drugs and alcohol affects all different aspects of the body. Notably, if you find that your substance use is negatively affecting your personal hygiene, then you may need to assess the value of your habit to the value of your own health. You may also notice a significant decrease in appetite because of your drug use. Because we get the essential vitamins, minerals, and other biological compounds we need to survive from our food, you need to address seriously whether your drug or alcohol habit is affecting your ability to eat well.
Something else that drugs and alcohol can affect is our ability to get a good night’s rest. Many individuals who use different recreational drugs or drink alcohol regularly report that their sleep patterns are inconsistent, restless, or unpredictable. Sleep is essential to the biological function of our body, and many substances negatively affect our ability to sleep well and restfully.
Now, there are some more serious immediate medical consequences than those brought on by poor hygiene or lack of sleep (though in excess, these can be detrimental). If you have ever been told by a health professional that you may have health issues caused by your drug or alcohol abuse, you should prioritize acting on your own health above the desire to use drugs or alcohol. If you have been made aware of such health issues but find you would rather continue to use than make strides for improving your health, this is a flag for addiction, and you should look into getting help through a rehab center.
Personal Realization
In life, it is critical that you are honest with yourself. There is no sense in creating a false reality to convince yourself that you are healthy or do not have an issue with using substances. Why distract yourself from being a better version of yourself when the only thing you must do in life is create a positive environment for yourself and those around you.
Due to habit, trauma, socialization, or a slew of other reasons, it is common in the world today to start using drugs or alcohol as coping mechanisms. However, it is important to realize that using these substances is an extremely temporary solution and does not end up creating any resolve for the conflicts or dramas in your life. If you find that you manage to dissolve the issues in your life and avoid finding or enacting tangible solutions, then you are showing signs that you are addicted to the substance you are using and should seek out professional help.
If you have ever tried to stop using drugs or alcohol in the past but found that it is an integral part of your lifestyle, you may need to seek help in managing and overcoming your addiction. If you truly want to stop using drugs or drinking, but you have become dependent on the substance and do not know how to stop, seek help. Rehab centers are designed to help people overcome these dependencies and to improve their lifestyle.
Trust your gut, too. Our intuition is a powerful tool, and if you have found yourself constantly worrying that you may have a serious problem with drugs or alcohol, it is better that you act in premeditation rather than in response to issues that arise. Be honest and genuine with yourself – for instance, do you find that you need to use drugs or alcohol just to feel normal or meet a baseline each day?
Find Help With Your Substance Use Disorder
There are structures in place that are designed to help you find the help and support you need to manage and overcome your habitual use of drugs or alcohol if it is causing a negative impact on your life or the quality of life for those around you. Reach out to your friends’ family if you find yourself in need of support, and reach out to the professionals to look into the plan that makes the most sense for your situation.
What If My Loved One Is an Addict?
If you are concerned about a loved one and want to help them get the support they need, the most important thing you can do is be completely honest and genuine with them. If they know that you seriously want to help them, they may realize that all they have needed this whole time was for someone to show that they see them struggling and want to help them.
They can use our “Do I Need Rehab?” quiz to assess their dependency and identify it as an addiction. Feel free to send them a link to this page if you think it might be helpful.
Compassion is the key to creating a better relationship with everyone in your life, and being honest and compassionate about concerning behavior can help bring someone into the awareness that they do need support.
If you are uncertain about how to get help for a loved one, contact us today. We can help you understand your options and work with you and your loved one to find the right services for their specific needs.
