Who Should Seek Rehab – Determining if You or Your Loved Ones Need Rehab
Admitting yourself into rehab is one of the strongest moves that you can make. Deciding to go to rehab shows that you’re committed to your health and to the well-being of yourself and those around you. Aside from a financial commitment, there’s nothing to be lost from going to rehab.
However, many people find that it’s difficult to decide whether or not they need to go to rehab. They may not know whether or not their drug use is serious enough, or they may be worried about the stigma associated with rehab. Or, some people may have difficulty acknowledging that they have a substance problem serious enough to necessitate rehab.
Whatever the case, it’s important to decide sooner or later. The longer you leave your addiction untreated, the more serious it will become. Even if your addiction hasn’t created any problems yet, it will only become more likely to do so as it grows worse.
This article explores the question of who should seek rehab. In it, you will learn whether or not you or your loved ones would benefit from seeking help at a rehab facility.
Understanding Psychological and Physical Addiction
Before delving further into the topic of who needs rehab, it’s important to differentiate between psychological and physical addiction. Understanding the difference can be a great help in understanding whether or not someone might need rehab, or when deciding which type of rehab might be best.
Psychological Addiction
Psychological addiction occurs when someone is psychologically addicted to a substance or a behavior. It’s important to note that behavioral addiction describes a different style of addiction, one in which a person is addicted to a process (such as sex or gambling) rather than a drug.
While both behavioral addictions and drug addictions describe a form of psychological addiction, drug addiction is often managed differently. When someone is psychologically addicted to a drug, they believe that they need it in order to function.
For example, someone who is psychologically addicted to alcohol might not drink very frequently. However, they may drink every time that they go out socializing. It is the belief that one needs a substance that underlies a psychological drug addiction.
Physical Addiction
Physical addiction may or may not occur in conjunction with psychological addiction. While many people who are physically addicted are also psychologically addicted, there are certainly situations in which one could be solely physically addicted.
Physical addiction occurs when the body becomes dependent on a certain substance and requires it in order to function. This differs from psychological addiction in the sense that people who are physically addicted will begin to get sick if they don’t have their drugs. In that sense, physical addiction prevents an entirely different set of challenges.
Psychological addiction can easily give rise to physical addiction. For example, let us continue the example of someone who is psychologically addicted to alcohol and uses it to socialize. If they find themselves in a situation where they are socializing on a regular basis, then they will also be consuming alcohol on a regular basis.
Over time, as the body becomes accustomed to having a regular supply of alcohol, it will start to function differently. As the body becomes reliant on alcohol then the individual will no longer be just psychologically addicted.
Is My Addiction Bad Enough?
If you’re unsure as to whether or not your addiction is bad enough to warrant treatment, then there are some things that you might want to consider. While there is no universally accepted definition of addiction, many define it as the repetitive use of substances despite the emergence of problems or interference in an individual’s daily life.
In other words, if you’re actually addicted to something, chances are that the situation is already bad enough to warrant treatment. If you don’t seek treatment in the early stages of addiction then it will most likely continue to get worse.
The reality is that many people only choose to seek treatment when they hit rock bottom. Rock bottom is different for different people, but it generally describes reaching a point where they have no choice but to take responsibility for their actions.
For some people, this may be something as simple as losing a job due to missing work because of drugs. Other people end up homeless, broke, and hungry before they’re willing to recognize that the drugs have control over their lives.
If you’re able to pull yourself out of the addictive cycle before you hit rock bottom, then you will be saving yourself a lot of trouble. Otherwise, you will be like many others who believe that they have complete control over their drug or alcohol use. This is a dangerous mindset as it allows the addiction to increase in severity.
Ultimately, if you’re asking whether or not your addiction is bad enough to seek treatment, then it most likely is. There’s nothing to be lost from seeking help, and plenty to be gained. At the worst, you’ll participate in therapy and learn some interesting things about yourself and your habits. Most likely, you’ll save yourself months or years of struggling with addiction. You might even save your life.
Physical & Mental Indications That You Need Rehab
There are some things that might indicate that you need rehab. This is a collection of physical and mental symptoms that tend to emerge when an addiction is becoming more serious. If you’ve noticed a few of these symptoms then it may be in your best interest to seek help.
Physical Signs That You Need Rehab
Drug and alcohol use can cause a number of physical symptoms and conditions. Over the long-term, addiction can cause serious health problems. However, these short-term problems may indicate that your drug use is reaching a point that requires treatment.
- Increased tolerance. One of the first things that indicates that your drug use is moving from merely recreational into something more serious is the development of tolerance. As your body becomes tolerant to drugs or alcohol you require more and more in order to get the same feeling.
- Withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are a sure sign that you’re physically dependent on a drug. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in intensity from quite mild to very serious. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:
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- Digestive issues (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Restlessness and agitation
- Discomfort
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- Changes in appetite and weight. Drugs and alcohol can change your appetite. Changes in appetite can have an influence on your weight. People who drink and regularly make unhealthy food choices may gain weight, whereas stimulant users may find their appetite disappears and they lose weight.
- Injuries related to substance abuse. If you’re experiencing injuries because of your substance use it’s a good idea to check in to rehab. Injuries can be directly related to your use (such as a drunken car crash) or can be indirect, such as getting an infection or disease from sharing needles.
- Changes to sleeping patterns and habits.
- Changes to physical appearance. Addiction can impact a person’s personal hygiene and their ability to take care of their appearance.
Mental Signs That You Need Rehab
Drug and alcohol use can have a profound impact on your mental health and behavior. These signs indicate that your substance use is changing the way that you behave.
- Difficulty stopping your use. If you’ve tried to stop drinking or using drugs but find yourself unable to, then it’s a good idea to seek treatment. Being unable to control your use indicates that the addiction will likely get worse if you don’t get it treated.
- Continuing to use despite problems emerging. If you’re continuing to use drugs or alcohol despite problems emerging in your life, this is a good sign that you need treatment. Problems can include social difficulty, health problems, financial difficulty, or anything else that impedes the quality of your life.
- Rationalizing. You may also find that you are rationalizing these problems in an attempt to avoid recognizing their relationship to your addiction. For example, if you injured yourself, you might attempt to avoid acknowledging your addiction by pointing out that you were tired or uncoordinated.
- Using drugs or alcohol to cope. If you reach for substances when faced with a problem, it’s a good idea to seek treatment. The more that you use drugs or alcohol to cope with emotional or social problems, the easier it is to become dependent on them.
- Taking larger doses. If you’re taking larger doses than you were when you first started this means that your body is developing a tolerance. The more you consume, the more addicted you will become.
- Focusing on the next time you get to use. If you find yourself thinking or stressing about your next dose when you’re unable to use, this indicates a developing addiction. You may also find that you’re constantly fretting about how to secure a consistent supply of drugs or alcohol to avoid running out.
- Engaging in immoral, risky or dangerous behavior. If your substance use has led you to engaging in behavior that you would otherwise not participate in, you’re putting yourself at risk. If you’ve taken part in prostitution, robberies, or other illegal or immoral actions in order to support your habit, it’s a good idea to seek help.
Social Signs That You Need Rehab
Oftentimes, people determine that they’re in need of help based on these social signs. When people in your social circle, school, or place of employment begin to react and respond to your substance use, it’s a good idea to seek help.
- Difficulty in romantic relationships. One way to look at substance abuse is like having a relationship with a drug, or with alcohol. When this relationship becomes so serious that it dominates the other relationships in your life then your romantic relationship is likely to struggle. If your romantic relationships have taken a hit since your substance use began, even if the connection is not immediately obvious, it’s a good idea to consider seeking help.
- Changes in hobbies and activities. Many people find that they abandon their preferred hobbies and activities when they start using drugs or alcohol. As the addiction becomes more serious, the brain won’t respond as positively to things that you used to find enjoyable. Instead you’ll have to rely on substances to produce the same feel-good hormones.
- Problems with the law. If your substance use has led to legal repercussions (fines, tickets, DUIs, or arrests) then this is a good sign that it is becoming a problem.
- Changes in social groups. If you find that you’re hanging out with different people since your drug use began, this could indicate that it is having an adverse effect on your life. If you prefer to spend time with other drug users or drinkers, rather than your previous friend circle, this suggests that your addiction is beginning to shape your life.
- Lying, denying, or being deceptive. If you find that you have to lie or make excuses for your behavior, then this suggests that you’re uncertain about how other people will respond and that you’re worried that they’ll think you have a problem. This actually indicates that you do have a problem.
- Missing responsibilities. If you have missed out on school, work, family meetings, or other responsibilities because of your drug use, then it might be a good idea for you to seek help.
What Type of Treatment Do I Need?
If you’ve concluded that you do need treatment, it’s important to decide upon which type of treatment would best suit you. There are two main types of rehab: inpatient and outpatient rehab.
Outpatient Rehab
Outpatient rehab is a less-intensive form of treatment. You can complete the program by attending meetings and counselling sessions at the facility. As long as you don’t miss these meetings, you can come and go.
If you’ve only been using drugs or alcohol for a few months, or if you’re an occasional user, then outpatient rehab may be for you. Outpatient rehab works well with people who are hoping to erase their addiction before it causes them any serious problems.
Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient rehab is a more intensive process that requires you to stay at the facility for the duration of your treatment. During this time you’ll be surrounded by medical professionals who will be able to help support you in the event of an emergency.
Inpatient rehab is for people who have more serious addictions, or for those who have attended outpatient rehab without success. If you’re unsure about whether or not you even have an addiction, then you might not need to subscribe to an inpatient program right away.
Conclusion
It can be difficult to decide whether or not you need rehab treatment. The most difficult part isn’t just recognizing the signs and symptoms: it’s acknowledging that you have a serious problem. Once you do that, then you can begin to move forward in your recovery.
Hopefully this article helped you understand a bit more about addiction and some of its signs and symptoms. If you think that you’re in need of a treatment program, don’t hesitate to reach out to a rehab company.
