Do I Need Rehab? Signs It’s Time to Seek Treatment

Dealing with drug and alcohol addiction is a very difficult and challenging thing to do. It can destroy lives and families and it’s a terrible illness to fall prey to.

Approximately 1 in 10 Americans have a drug abuse problem. This means that most of us know of at least one person who suffers. If you’re the one with an addiction problem, it can be very tough to seek help.

Have you ever thought to yourself “I need rehab?” The right help is right around the corner. Not sure if you need to go to rehab yet? Read on for 8 signs that you do.

1. Addiction is Impacting Your Life

A big sign that you have a problem is when your usage and addiction takes over your life. No longer is it a casual thing you do, but you need to do it every day, or even many times each day.

If you can’t face the thought of not using, you’ve got a problem. When it takes over your life in this way, you become dependant on it to get by.

If you feel like you can’t live without the substance, you need to seek help. Otherwise, it could take over all aspects of your life and leave you ruined.

2. You Don’t Like Who You Are Now

Addiction is an ugly disease which turns you against the ones you love to continue using. Do you find that you’re a lot angrier or negative in your daily interactions?

Do you feel like a shadow of your former, happier self? It’s because addiction changes you as a person. Have you done or considered doing things you never would have before to fuel your habit? 

These are all signs that your addiction is controlling you. To get back to your former self and break free from it, you need to seek help.

3. You Have Health Issues Because of Addiction

Substance addiction has a lot of serious consequences for your health. Your use could leave you with a lot of problems you may never recover from.

Lots of substances can cause irreparable damage to your heart, liver, and brain. These vital organs could shut down and even cause your death one day. If you use intravenous drugs, you run the risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis. 

If you suffer from health issues caused by your drug use, it’s time to seek professional health. 

4. Your Loved Ones Express Concern

When you become addicted to substances, it changes your whole life in a big way. Not only does it change your life though, but it affects your loved ones too.

Substance abuse causes a lot of negativity in your relationships. Your loved ones worry about you, even if you haven’t noticed it. They may have expressed concern about your habit to you, so you should listen.

Don’t block them out or push you away, listen to them. They want you to get help because they love you, so think about getting some help for your addiction.

5. You Keep Trying to Quit But Can’t

Have you ever stopped your usage to prove a point, or to convince yourself you aren’t addicted? Do you cave and start using again after only a short while? That’s a sign that you’re addicted and can’t quit on your own.

There’s no shame in that, we all need help sometimes and this is a huge illness to battle. Like any other illness, you need professionals to treat you and help you recover.

For example, opioid addiction is so strong that many can’t do it alone. It’s an isolating illness and you need opiate addiction treatment to recover properly.

6. You Hide Your Use

If you’re taking illegal drugs, of course, you’re hiding your use from most people. But if you find that you minimize or lie about your use to people close to you, you’ve got a problem.

For example, those who have a healthy relationship with alcohol don’t feel the need to hide their use. But if you always hide how much you use from the people close to you, it’s because you know you’ve got a problem.

Instead, be honest with yourself and with others. The first step to recovery is acknowledging the problem and seeking help for it. 

7. You Experience Withdrawal

Drugs and alcohol stimulate the brain and body in different ways and rewires your brain. This means your body will be so used to having it that it will go into withdrawal when it doesn’t have it.

If you’ve experienced symptoms of withdrawal when you stop using, you’re addicted. These symptoms include sweating, nausea, insomnia, headaches and many more. Some withdrawal symptoms can cause serious damage, so you need to get the right help for it.

A detox is the best way to rid your body of dependence on the drug. Going to rehab is the best place to do this properly. In-patient programs will give you the right treatment and make sure you are safe and cared for.

8. Addiction Has Put You In Danger

When you’re high on substances or drunk, you aren’t in the right state of mind. It can lead you to drive under the influence, get into a fight, or any number of dangerous situations.

It could lead to you hurting yourself or others as a result. You could get arrested or worse as a consequence of your usage. Do you find that you’re doing things you never normally would? It’s because addiction has control over you.

Don’t let addiction put you or others in danger. Seek professional help to stay safe and break free of the grip of addiction.

Thinking “I Need Rehab”? It’s Time to Seek Help

If you’ve been thinking “I need rehab” a lot lately, you’re already on the right path. Rehab can help you to get clean and stay free from your addictions. Don’t let this illness ruin your whole life, it’s not worth it. 

Want some inspiration to get clean? Check out our playlist of TED talks to learn more about addiction.

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