According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 23 million people need treatment for a drug or alcohol abuse problem, but less than 11 percent of those actually get it. There are valid reasons why people put off seeking help, such as not being able to afford it, but sometimes we just make up excuses to put off things we don’t want to do. If you’ve been avoiding thinking about treatment, are you just finding excuses to keep using? Here are some of the ways people talk themselves out of going to rehab.
It’s too embarrassing. Addiction is a disease, not a character flaw, and there’s no need to be embarrassed. The sheer number of people with a substance abuse problem should be enough to convince you that it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You don’t have to discuss your treatment with anyone you don’t want to, but odds are the people closest to you already know. You might be able to function well enough at work or with strangers, but addiction changes you, and your loved ones have most likely noticed a difference. If anything, they’ll be happy for you if you decide to get help.
It’ll be too hard. To put it bluntly, life is hard. Everyone faces challenges every day, and we all have to learn ways to cope with them. It could be that part of your problem is an underlying mental disorder such as depression or anxiety, and if you seek help for that along with your addiction, it might turn out to be a lot easier than you think.
I haven’t hit rock bottom. There’s no level of suffering that must be reached in order to get treatment. Rock bottom can be different things for different people, but if you put it off too long, it might be too late. Waiting until you overdose to admit that you have a problem might end in your death, for one thing, but even if you survive it’s going to be that much harder to fight your way out.
The timing isn’t right/I have too much going on. The timing might never be perfect. If you have a job and a family to look after, those things aren’t going to go away. Odds are you’re not going to win the lottery next week. You aren’t going to wake up one day suddenly cured of your depression and find the motivation you’re waiting for. The right time is now, because the sad truth is that for many people, there may not be a tomorrow.
If you have the means and the opportunity to get help, don’t waste it. Less than 15 percent of people who need help for addiction have access to treatment.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
