Figuring out whether or not you need professional addiction treatment can be tricky. Your mind may tell you that you have control over your substance use, but your friends and family may say otherwise. Or, you may not feel as though your substance use has gotten serious enough, and that going to rehab simply isn’t for you.
A few signs that indicate it’s time to find addiction help for yourself include:
- Your friends and family are concerned about your substance use and/or your wellbeing
- You want to stop using drugs or alcohol and have tried to do so but were unable to stay sober
- You continue using drugs or alcohol to avoid the withdrawal symptoms that occur when the substances wear off
- Your personal relationships, career, finances, and/or mental health are suffering as a result of your substance use
- You have engaged in dangerous, risky, or even illegal behaviors either to obtain your substances or while under the influence
- You feel as though you cannot cope with daily life without using drugs or alcohol
If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms in relation to your drug or alcohol use, you can benefit from attending a local substance abuse treatment center.
Building The Courage to Ask For Addiction Help
Admitting to yourself that you have a problem with drugs or alcohol is one thing, but asking for help and admitting your struggles to another person can be even more challenging. After all, there is a lot of stigma surrounding the idea of addiction, and you may be scared that your loved ones will look at you differently if they know the truth. You may also be fearful that your job or future employers will find out about you going to rehab.
First and foremost, the people who truly care about you care about your wellbeing, and they don’t want to see you ruin your life with drugs and alcohol. More than likely, your close friends and family will be excited that you are getting real help and more than willing to help you begin your recovery journey.
Second, addiction treatment centers are healthcare providers. That means they must comply with healthcare privacy rules like HIPAA. A drug rehab center cannot share your information with anyone unless they have received your written consent. Rehab also does not go on your permanent record, so there is no way an employer will find out that you have gone to rehab unless you willingly release that information.
If you’re still scared to make that phone call to ask for help, you can ask a trusted friend or family member to call a rehab center for you. While you will have to speak to the admissions coordinator on the other line, doing so can be easier if you let someone else make the first phone call.