Addiction affects over 21 million Americans every year.[1] Unfortunately, this means that addiction is common. However, this does not mean that addiction is not a serious issue that requires intensive treatment. Substance abuse is a chronic disease of the brain that is very difficult to recover from on your own. Thankfully, with dedication and proper treatment, the disease of addiction is manageable.
Struggling with an addiction is one of the most difficult things to go through in life. Similarly, admitting you have a problem is one of the hardest steps you can take. Research has shown that addiction changes the way an individual’s brain functions, causing clouded judgment, dysfunction in the reward and pleasure system, and much more. All of these things can cause a person to question whether they need treatment, even if the evidence is all there.
If you have found yourself wondering “is my addiction bad enough?”, the answer is most likely yes. Continue reading to learn about how to know if you’ve hit rock bottom.
Determining if You Are Dealing With Addiction
When wondering if your addiction is bad enough to require formal treatment, there are several self-assessing questions to ponder. When trying to decipher whether you are dealing with a true addiction, the first thing to consider is your motivation to drink or use drugs. If you only drink while you are at parties as a social activity, likely, you are not suffering from substance abuse. To explain, substance abuse is often the result of abusing a substance to self-medicate and soothe unwanted feelings.
The warning signs for addiction include:[2]
- Drinking or using drugs more or longer than intended
- Wanting to stop but being unable
- Spending a lot of time abusing substances and recovering from using them
- Craving drugs or alcohol
- Having a hard time upholding responsibilities due to substance abuse
- Continuing to use despite facing consequences at work, school, or in your relationships
- Using substances even when it puts you in danger
- Having withdrawal symptoms when you do not use a substance
- Hiding your substance abuse
If you or a loved one are dealing with any or all of the warning signs listed above, you’re likely dealing with addiction. But is your addiction bad enough to require treatment? Let’s find out.
Signs Your Addiction is Bad Enough and You Need Addiction Treatment
Any addiction is bad enough to warrant receiving professional help. However, some situations are direr than others. Let’s take a look at the most common signs that you need addiction treatment.
Your Substance Abuse Caused Legal Trouble
If you have been dealing with legal trouble as a direct result of your drinking or drug abuse, it’s probably time to attend formal addiction treatment. Many people suffering from addiction deal with poor decision-making skills as a result of the effects addiction has on the brain. If you find yourself getting DUIs because you have driven while under the influence or receiving possession charges, contact a drug and alcohol rehab in West Palm Beach today.
Your Family and Friends Have Been Affected
Another good indication that you need addiction treatment is if your family and friends have been affected by your substance abuse. Have you lashed out at a family member while under the influence? Have your parents or significant other stayed up all night worrying about your safety while you were on a bender? If so, your addiction is bad enough to seek rehab.
People Have Said You Have a Problem
Oftentimes, friends and family get caught in the crosshairs of an individual’s addiction. This prompts them to let their loved ones know that they have a problem with drugs or alcohol. If this has happened to you, it’s time to attend a professional rehab facility.
Your Substance Abuse is Causing Financial Instability
Maybe you have not dealt with legal issues as a result of your addiction, but you have likely seen some financial consequences that were bad enough. When a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they tend to prioritize buying these substances over paying bills and even buying food. Sometimes people even lose their jobs as a result of their addiction, causing serious financial instability in their lives. If this sounds familiar, you should attend professional substance abuse treatment.
Why Waiting for “Rock Bottom” is a Bad Idea
Everyone has heard the term “rock bottom” regarding addiction and alcoholism. Rock bottom is described as the lowest point of an individual’s substance abuse disorder.[3] Most people believe that individuals must reach rock bottom before attending addiction treatment. However, this belief is not only false but extremely dangerous.
Once upon a time, in the olden days, people could trust that the substances they were buying were pure and “safe”. With the rise of fentanyl-laced drugs in recent times, waiting for rock bottom (or even one more hit) can be the difference between life and death. When a person waits to attend treatment, their chances of long-term health issues, loss of relationships, substance-related injuries, and even death increase.
While waiting for your addiction to get worse can spark some desperation for recovery, things do not have to get worse before they get better. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, contact Daylight Recovery Center today. We can help you begin a new way of life.
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