Many people wrongly believe they can beat addiction by themselves. Here are signs that you need to seek the help of a professional substance abuse treatment program.
Let’s be honest, we all have our vices.
The things that we do even though we know that they are not good for us. It could be smoking, binge eating, or having a couple of glasses of wine when you get home.
Maybe deep down inside, you know that something is wrong. But you just don’t know what to do.
The truth: In America, around 22.7 million individuals need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Annually, less than 1% of that number receive the help they need.
If substance abuse affecting your life negatively, then it is probably time to take a closer look at your life choices. When we abuse our vices they can quickly become an addiction.
Many people wrongly believe that they can beat their addiction all by themselves. Sometimes though, it may not be that easy.
The best thing you can do if you are wondering if you need help is to look at your own behavior and be completely honest with yourself.
Below are some warning signs that you may need to seek the help of a substance abuse professional.
Your Doctor Tells You To Seek Help From A Substance Abuse Professional
Be it drugs or alcohol, any sort of substance abuse will be harmful to your body over an extended period of time. Some examples: alcoholism causes severe damage to major organs such as the heart, brain, and liver.
If you use injection for drugs, the needles you use can increase your risk of contracting fatal diseases such as HIV or hepatitis C.
If your drug or alcohol use is causing noticeable effects on your health, this is a clear sign that your substance use has gone too far. As part of a regular check-up, your doctor will also ask about your normal substance habits.
Being honest with your doctor is one of the most important things you can do. Your doctor needs to know about your habits so that you can be screened with the appropriate health exams.
Alcohol addiction, for example, has been linked to the following health conditions:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Liver deterioration
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
- Anemia
It is important that you are honest with your doctor so that they may be able to provide the appropriate advice and help. If you doctor ever tells you to seek help from a substance abuse professional, it is safe to say that they believe you substance abuse has started affecting your health negatively.
Your Friends And Family Tell You To Seek Help
The people who know you best may be expressing concern about your habits. You should listen to them. It is always easier to see problems and changes from the outside.
If those close to you are concerned, you should definitely consider seeking help from a substance abuse professional.
You may believe you have a handle on your situation, or that you can quit anytime you like. But the truth is, that is rarely the case. When you have loved ones talking to you about your habit, it is definitely a sign you should be taking a closer look at yourself.
Your spouse or partner, family members, and close friends will probably be some of the first to express concern.
These are, after all, some of the closest people to you. It may start with an odd comment here or there, but will eventually turn into a full-blown intervention if you do not pick up on their hints.
Most of these conversations will not be calm or peaceful. You need to recognize that it is very possible that your life choices and addiction problem has also probably deeply affected and hurt your loved ones.
Although it may be hard to be put on the spot and criticized, don’t forget that all this concern comes from a place of love.
You Experience Withdrawal Symptoms
A major sign that your substance addiction has gotten out of hand is if you experience withdrawal symptoms? when you don’t take your substance of choice for some time. That time can be just a couple of hours for some.
Some symptoms of withdrawal are:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Trembling
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
Withdrawal symptoms are how addiction takes an even stronger hold. Many people try to quit, but give up when these symptoms become too much to handle. You can let it get stronger, or you can choose to fight back.
A detox program can help you get through the initial withdrawal phase while offering medication to help you transition. A treatment program afterward is a great choice to help you stay sober long term.
You Lie About It
People don’t lie unless they have something to hide. If you take steps to hide your substance habit from your family and friends, it is definitely a major sign you have a problem.
People who are suffering from substance abuse are known for hiding their substances all over their home, place of work, and even their car. They hide it knowing that what they are doing is no longer a good life choice.
You may be ashamed of your addiction and are hiding your substance, keeping it a secret from the people in your life. On some level, you know that your substance use is beyond what is considered normal or moderate.
When confronted about it, you may decide to lie. You lie because it makes you uncomfortable to share, even with those closest to you.
It may even come to a stage where you yourself are delusional about your addiction. When you find yourself lying to cover up your substance habits, it is time to see a substance abuse professional.
You’ve Tried To Quit Many Times Before
Maybe you’ve tried to quit before. Once, twice, many times. But every time, it doesn’t seem to stick. This is a major red flag that your body has already become physically addicted to the substance. If you continue to put it off, the addiction will only get worse.
The inability to stop using alcohol or drugs even in the face of negative consequences is a definite sign of addiction. It may be hard for you to see all the ways your substance addiction is affecting not only you but those around you. Only by seeking help will you slowly come to terms with your problem.
Ready To See A Substance Abuse Professional?
If you have an addiction, treatment is your best option. Beating your addiction requires not only removing the physical dependence but also fixing the behavioral issues. Addiction recovery means you need to change the way you think, feel, and behave. It is very difficult to address all of these issues without a professional.
Are you ready to get better?
Check us out to find out how we can help.
