Deciding whether or not to seek support for substance abuse can seem like a big decision. But, if you are asking the question, you will most likely benefit from professional addiction treatment. You have already made the first step towards recovery by recognizing that you need to change and by wanting to get better.
It can be daunting to know what steps to take to help you get sober and clean. Some may hope for a quick fix and believe that just quitting drugs or alcohol is the answer. They want to try it alone. However, depending on your history of substance use, this can pose risks and make it difficult to break free from the surrounding social, psychological, and physical aspects of addiction.
If you have thought about seeking addiction treatment, it is good to educate yourself on the benefits of rehab and the potential risks of attempting to go solo. Read on to find out more.
Getting Help for a Drug or Alcohol Addiction
Thinking about addiction treatment can be overwhelming. It is highly recomended that you get support immediately, a private therapist, a self help group or visit your doctor or local mental health services for more information and support in finding a treatment provider. You may be worried about spending time away from your family members and loved ones, how you will pay for the cost of treatment, and maybe some of the stigmas that surround addiction and rehab are concerning you further. This may make you wonder whether you can get sober alone.
It is completely natural to have hesitations about big life changes, and going to rehab is certainly one of those. But the benefits of rehab can help you in an abundance of ways while dramatically increasing your chances of a successful and long-term recovery.
Benefits of Rehab Centers
Anyone, no matter what stage of their drug or alcohol addiction, will benefit greatly from attending a treatment program. Those who have lived with addiction understand how difficult it can be to overcome the disease alone and rehab offers a healing environment accompanied by the support and professional care necessary for a successful recovery.
One of the key priorities of seeking professional help is to ensure people overcome their addiction, but in addition to this, people undergoing the treatment process will also be taught the essential tools for continuing to build a healthy, productive, and happy life – that’s substance free.
Therapy and Treatment Options
Addiction is a physical, mental, and psychological disease, and therapy is a crucial aspect in helping people understand their different emotional triggers and how to develop healthy coping mechanisms. A licensed mental health counselor works with people to help identify and challenge negative thinking and behaviors that could lead to poor decision-making related to drug or alcohol use.
Effective therapy can help reduce the risk of relapse and can help those get back on track if they do so. Treatment isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and there are numerous therapy options available to account for individual differences. A treatment provider may offer a variety of evidence-based treatment therapies such as:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT)
- 12 Step Therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Individual and group therapy
Medical Support
Another benefit of inpatient rehab is the 24/7 medical supervision provided. The first step in rehab is detox, where the person stops drug or alcohol use and allows their system to completely clear itself. Within this period, a person will experience a series of side effects known as withdrawal symptoms.
When undergoing a medical detox, a medical professional can help make this experience as comfortable as possible, while teaching patients how to effectively manage and cope with the effects. Once these initial symptoms have passed, the stress on the mind and body can aggravate other mental or physical illnesses. Having such close access to constant care can give patients the safety and comfort needed to help achieve long-term sobriety.
In addition, this on-hand care is important in helping to prevent relapse.
Safe and Supportive Environment
Another important benefit of rehab is that it takes place in a safe and comfortable environment where people are surrounded by like-minded people. Support groups and peer support are key aspects of treatment and can be very important to maintain long-term recovery. Rehab programs provide endless opportunities for patients to connect with others and establish a network of support. Having a peer support group not only provides encouragement and accountability but also gives you the chance to help others in their sobriety journey.
The Risks of Doing It Alone
It is important to remember that addiction is a complex disease that can affect the function of your brain as well as your behavior. Once you have become dependent and addicted to a substance, it is extremely difficult to get clean on your own. Substance abuse can cause changes in your brain that result in the compulsion to use substances despite the negative consequences.
Professional help when quitting substance use ensures safety during your detox and allows the time and space to set the groundwork for a lasting recovery. Many substances cause withdrawal symptoms when they are suddenly stopped, with some having the potential to be life-threatening. Additionally, the root cause and underlying reasons behind your substance use needs to be addressed or the vicious cycle of abuse is likely to continue.
Many people who are living with an addiction are also living with a mental illness. Alcohol and drug abuse often co-occur with other mental disorders so it is crucial to have medical professionals who can help address all of these issues.
Rehab is designed to support you through every step of the recovery journey and once professionals have determined your individual needs, they are able to create an individualized treatment plan. Different factors will influence your plan, including the severity of your disorder, the substance used, and the presence of co-occurring disorders.
5 Signs You Need Rehab
While everyone is unique in their substance use disorders, there are some signs that may indicate your substance use is getting out of control, and expert help is needed to support you in getting back on track. If you recognize any of the following signs in yourself or a loved one, you should seek help and a treatment program.
-
Prioritizing Substance Abuse
One sign of an addiction is if the substance has become your main focus. Does it consume your thoughts? Are you constantly thinking about when you can get it next? As your alcohol or drug addiction progresses, your activities, interests, and involvements may take a backseat. You begin to neglect your responsibilities and spend increasing amounts of time and effort attempting to access and use the drug. If this sounds like you, it may be time to seek professional help.
-
You Experience Withdrawal Symptoms
When you are not engaging in substance use, you begin to feel emotional and physical symptoms of withdrawal. Experiencing these is a telltale sign of dependency and addiction. Symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Body aches
- Cramping
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
-
You Have Been Told to Seek Addiction Treatment by Loved Ones
You may have the belief that you can handle your substance use by yourself, but if family members and loved ones have continuously expressed their concerns and worries, it is most likely for good reason and for your safety.
One of the first people who might speak to you is a partner or spouse. This person knows the most about you and your personal habits. If substance use has caused conflict within your relationship, your partner may notice these changes and raise them with you.
Other family members or friends may begin to express their concerns. Some of these conversations may be calm, others less so as your family may be angry and hurt about the situation you are in and perhaps your substance use causes negative consequences to occur within their lives as well as your own. Understandably as an adult, it can be difficult to have people tell you what to do, no one likes to be called out for their behavior – but these expressions of concern are only coming from a place of love and support.
-
You Have Tried to Stop but Unsuccessfully
If you are unable to stop using drugs or alcohol alone despite the negative consequences, then it is a key sign of an addiction. It is more than possible for someone to stop using and to stay sober, and attending a treatment program and a rehab center is the most effective way to do this and gives you the best chance of long-lasting sobriety.
-
Your Physical and Mental Health are Suffering
Substance use is associated with many detrimental health effects. The drug that is being misused will determine the different effects. For example, alcohol addiction has been linked to long-term liver damage. Both alcohol and drug addiction can begin to take their toll on the mind and body, causing a range of mental and physical health symptoms.
Types of Rehab
Despite there being many different kinds of treatments, therapists, and settings, there are only two types of rehab that a treatment center will offer: inpatient and outpatient.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient rehab involves living in a facility that is supervised 24/7, allowing for round-the-clock medical and emotional support. Inpatient recovery programs allow people to undergo treatment in a controlled environment where they can completely focus on getting sober and well without the distractions from everyday life. A typical inpatient program can last anywhere between 30 days to six months.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment falls into two different levels of support and care: intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization. Partial hospitalization programming is perhaps the most demanding out of the two and focuses on stabilizing problematic behaviors early on in the recovery journey. The programs consist of around five to six hours of treatment a day for the majority of the week. The treatment can be as time-consuming as inpatient treatment but allows for a patient to return to their home environment at night.
Intensive outpatient programming is where patients are able to largely continue with their daily lives and day-to-day activities by attending treatment for three hours a day for three to five days a week. This allows flexibility in life and gives the opportunity to get back into real work with continued support. This form of treatment can be suitable for someone with a mild substance misuse and can last anywhere from three to six months.
Treatment at Crossroads Antigua
Whether you are struggling with alcohol, opiates, cocaine, or any other substance, our team of licensed professionals will guide you on your recovery journey. At Crossroads Antigua, we offer an international substance use disorder residential treatment program that provides a holistic approach that is customized to our patient’s needs – healing the spirit and mind, as well as the body.
We are located in the most serene of settings, giving our patients the privacy to heal fully. We offer a range of services including:
- Medical doctor
- Medical detox
- Psychologist
- Nutritional, psychological, physical, and spiritual evaluation
- Nutritional counseling
- CBT – mindfulness and emotional interviewing
- Holistic program with yoga and meditation
- Trauma-informed therapy
- Family program
If you believe you or a loved one is living with a substance use disorder, contact us today to discuss more – don’t do it alone – we are here to help you.