In America, one of the greatest diseases we have is filled with stigma to the point that those suffering often take drastic steps to try to hide any indication they’re suffering not just from others in their lives, but also from themselves. Addiction left untreated almost always results in one final ending: death.
Conquering a disease with risks like that isn’t something you can do alone. If you were diagnosed with other illnesses that come with a similar prognosis, like cancer, you’d line up for the helping hand of medical professionals. Addiction should be no exception, however figuring out the steps you need to take to get on the path to recovery can be difficult.
You Have a Problem, but That’s Not the End of the World
It may seem cliché, but one of the first steps an addict needs to take in order to begin the recovery process is admitting to themselves that their addiction is a problem. Admitting it to family and friends can provide a great support network, but even that isn’t fully necessary, and should only be done when you’re comfortable with the idea.
Thankfully, as you’re on our website, it’s likely you’ve already taken this step. You’ve admitted you have a substance abuse problem, and that’s worthy of congratulations! You’re not alone in this battle, and your fight won’t be perfect. But with assistance and dedication, it is a battle you can win, and that makes admitting that you have a problem not the end of the world, but rather a positive step for yourself, your family, and your friends.
Gathering Information
We’ve developed a culture in this day-and-age of ingesting things into our body we aren’t at all familiar with, from chemicals in foods, to drugs and alcohol. That’s why the next step we suggest taking is learning about your addiction. Educating yourself about what it is you’re planning to fight is an important step, and learning about the process to defeat it will help you throughout the process.
Recovery methods vary, and depend not just on the substance in question, but also on the addict. Some methodologies will work wonderfully for some, while making the problem worse for others. You won’t be able to tell for sure which is which, but learning how they work can help you become more familiar with what to expect, and warning signs to watch for in the event they fail.
Differentiating Between Losing the Battle and Winning the War
For an addict to go from completely untreated to fully recovered, sober life rarely happens without some steps backwards. Addiction is a very powerful enemy, so finding yourself falling back into old ways comes naturally, and can sneak up on you.
The important takeaway from slip-ups and relapses is not that you failed, but rather that you have the opportunity to rededicate yourself tomorrow. Your setback can be viewed as a hard knock, or used as motivation to help avoid similar setbacks in the future, with the difference being that the second will help fuel you on your road to addiction recovery.
Making the Call
As mentioned earlier, battling a dangerous disease by yourself almost always ends in defeat, but battling it with experienced, knowledgeable, and caring addiction recovery specialists can help make sure you succeed.
Picking up that phone and calling a treatment center will be the hardest but most important step you’ll take in your movement towards sobriety. What’s important to remember is that treatment centers are on your side; they’re experienced in helping people tackle addiction as they do so every day. Nothing you could possibly tell them will be of surprise to them. You won’t be met with the same stigma the rest of the community has towards addicts.
Treatment centers are on your side, and are there to help you navigate yourself towards recovery. To find out how we can help you get on that road to a sober lifestyle, contact us today.