How to Know When You Should Go to Rehab
If you’re battling a drug addiction it can be tough to get help. It can be tough knowing if you even need help at all. But if you’re unsure about whether or not you should go to rehab, this guide will help you out.
Did your substance misuse start out as a social activity? Do you still only go drinking with friends on a Saturday night, or is it every night – alone? Do you feel like you need to drink or get high just to get through the week?
If substances are taking over your daily activities, it could be time to go to rehab. You may not think that your addiction is bad enough to go through a detox program, but there are many warning signs to look for which show you need help.
Attending a detox facility is a big decision and takes commitment, but it’s a huge step towards leading a cleaner, healthier, and more positive life. If you’re not sure whether rehab is right for you right now, take a look at this list of signs you need to book into a facility soon.
You Lie About Your Addiction
The first warning sign that you need to think about going to rehab is that you know you have an addiction but try to hide it from others.
If you drink in secret or tell your spouse you’re meeting friends when you’re really off to get high, your lies are an indicator that you need help.
Debt or Financial Worries
Do you think about your next paycheck and worry about whether you can afford all of your bills?
If your substance misuse has become a priority spend in your life, it’s time to think about rehab.
Getting into debt is easily done when you start to rely on alcohol or drugs to get you through the week. If your first reaction when you get some money coming in is to seek a high or find a drink, you need to think about going to a detox facility.
Are you behind on your rent? Do you worry about how you’re going to pay the mortgage next month? If you’re worried about losing your home or have already been evicted because of your substance problems, it’s time to seek help.
Relationship Breakdown
There are two ways that substance misuse can affect your relationships with friends and family.
First, you may find you’re spending less time with people so that you can chase your high alone.
If you keep finding excuses not to see your friends and family, they’re going to resent your substance use more and more. This will cause a breakdown in your relationships.
Second, substances can change your mood and behaviors. Friends and family might not want to be around you if you have become short-tempered, moody, or aggressive over time.
Your friends and family may have tried to talk to you about your addiction. How did that make you feel?
It’s easy to feel that our friends and family are intruding on our lives, or trying to tell us what to do, but they do so from a place of love. If your relatives have tried to talk to you about your addiction, it’s a sign that your substance misuse is getting out of hand.
If you’ve lost friends because you put drinking or getting high first, it’s time to get help. If your family relationships are strained because your parents, spouse, children, or siblings can’t bear to see the changes in your behavior caused by substance use, you need to think about seeking rehab advice.
Problems at Work
Are you regularly late to work because your sleep has been affected by substances? Do you feel like you can’t get through a working day without a sneaky lunchtime drink?
Perhaps you’ve already lost your job, and you’re struggling to make ends meet or find new employment.
When your reliance on alcohol or drugs starts to affect your performance at work or gets you fired from your job, you need to consider rehab.
Legal Problems
Have you got a DUI or traffic ticket? Are you in an eviction battle with your landlord because you can’t pay the rent?
Perhaps you’ve been arrested for public disorder, or you’re not yet in trouble but know you often drive under the influence of substances. If you often carry an illegal substance while traveling or when you’re out in public, you’re risking serious legal implications if you’re caught.
Whatever the legal issue you’re facing, if it’s caused by – or related to – your addiction, a detox facility is your next step.
Health Issues
Alcohol and drugs have significant negative consequences on your health. There’s no way around it: from liver disease to losing teeth, your drug of choice will be affecting your health over time.
You may not have told your doctor yet about your drinking habits, or that you take drugs, but they’ll soon know. Your health will deteriorate over time, and your physician will be able to see that your addiction causes many chronic problems.
Even if your doctor hasn’t spoken to you about your addiction yet, think about how your general health has been lately. Do you feel unwell? Do you feel that you can only alleviate your symptoms if you have a drink or get high?
If your addiction is starting to affect your health, you need to seek immediate help from a detox expert.
You Can’t Quit on Your Own
How many times have you tried to go sober alone?
Many people try to go it alone the first, second, or even tenth time they want to be sober.
Without professional help to guide them through, however, it’s easy to relapse.
A professional detox facility like Clean Life is there to help you quit your addiction, but also will provide counseling and coping mechanisms to use in the future. This will help you remain sober even in the face of temptation, and isn’t something that is easily learned alone.
A rehab center will also help you to work on your relationships. Family meetings are designed to allow for open discussion in a safe environment, where you can ask your family for help to support your sobriety in the future.
This is very hard to do on your own, but a guided meeting with a qualified therapist will help both you and your family learn how to talk about your addiction without getting angry, ashamed, or upset.
It’s Time to Go to Rehab: Now What?
If you’re ready to gain sobriety for good then it’s time to go to rehab.
Your first step is to speak to your doctor, who will be able to recommend detox programs to you.
You might want to take a friend or relative to this consultation, as your journey to sobriety is a big step, and you’ll need support wherever you can get it.