Category: Uncategorized

Despite the common rhetoric of rock bottom, not all alcoholics crash. Many of them are experts at hiding how their drinking affects their lives, and because of this we’ve come up with ‘Recognizing the Signs of a High Functioning Alcoholic,’ to help you identify what often remains hidden.  

Because of this, they’re experts at denying help. They don’t need to go to rehab–after all, they can hold down a job, support their families, maintain relationships, and have every outward appearance of success.

However, this actually puts high functioning alcoholics at great risk of harm. They may have major warning signs for years without anyone noticing. All the while, their alcoholism is subtly affecting their physical, emotional, and psychological health.

If you or a loved one is a high functioning alcoholic, you’re still harming yourself and those around you, and you deserve help. Here’s what you need to know about high functioning alcoholism and signs that it’s time to look into treatment options.

The Five Types of Alcoholic

Alcoholism takes many forms, but most alcoholics fall into one of five types:

1. Young adult
2. Young antisocial
3. Intermediate familial
4. Functional
5. Chronic severe

These descriptors fit both the patient’s stage of life and the relative progression of their alcoholism. The typical young adult alcoholic, for example, is around age 25 and started drinking at 19 or 20.

What is a High Functioning Alcoholic?

When you think of an addict or an alcoholic, you probably think of someone who can’t hold down a job, can’t stay on top of their responsibilities, and prioritizes their addiction over everything else despite clear signs of strain in other areas of their life.

A high functioning alcoholic doesn’t look like that. In fact, they’re almost the opposite of every addiction stereotype.

High functioning alcoholics tend to be highly educated, high earners with stable home life. They can do more than just hold down a job and pay rent–in many respects, their life appears to be untouched by their addiction.

Risks of High Functioning Alcoholism

Like all addictions, high functioning alcoholism is deceitful. It insists that there isn’t a problem and that the behavior is perfectly normal. Because of this, the conditions required to break through that mantra of normalcy are pretty extreme.

With high functioning alcoholics, the conditions required to break through denial are even more extreme. Unlike non-functional alcoholics, high functioning alcoholics are good at maintaining the outward appearance of a successful life, even to themselves.

The problem is that people can develop severe alcoholism and put themselves at extreme risk of harm while seeming like perfectly functional, healthy people with normal lives.

Because of this, the alcoholic has even more ammunition to avoid seeking treatment. Worse, those around them may not even realize that they have a drinking problem.

The trick, of course, is that more people are high functioning alcoholics than stereotypes would have you believe. In fact, only 10% of alcoholics are homeless or otherwise deeply low-functioning, which leaves 90% of alcoholics existing well outside the stereotypical penalties for extreme alcohol addiction.

Signs of High Functioning Alcoholism

Because of this, it’s vital that you know how to recognize the warning signs of high functioning alcoholism when they present themselves. The signs may not be obvious–if, indeed, most people recognize any signs of alcoholism in the first place.

In fact, many high functioning alcoholics are witty, clever, and responsible. To all but those who are closest to them (provided that those people are paying attention), high functioning alcoholics seem to be perfectly healthy. They may not show any apparent signs of addiction, even if the signs are right in front of you.

If you’re worried that you or a loved one is suffering from high functioning alcoholism, here are a few red flags to watch for.

Drinking is a Big Part of Your Life

The first sounds abundantly obvious: drinking is a big part of your life. However, if drinking has featured significantly in your life for some time, others may not even notice it.

Let’s say you were a drinker in college. You were the first to the party and the last one to leave, and you could drink everyone under the table in the meantime. Your friends at the time didn’t blink–after all, they were doing it too.

Most people, including your college friends, graduate, grow up, stop partying, and scale back their drinking. But you’re still drinking like a freshman in college. The difference is that you’re good at hiding it in other areas of your life, and you may not drink to party anymore.

You Drink to Cope…

One of the big red flags of alcoholism, high functioning or otherwise, is drinking to cope.

There’s a reason why so many of us go out for a drink to unwind after a stressful day at work, or get home and break out a drink after a bad day. Alcohol is a depressant, slowing chemical activity in the brain. This is why you feel loose and relaxed after drinking–your brain chemically cannot function as fast.

Chemically speaking, it’s easy to understand why more than half of adults drink alcohol to cope with stress.

This is the area where most people get into trouble, which is why drinking to cope is one of the universal warning signs of alcoholism. If you reach for a drink every time you have school stress, a bad day at work, or even an unpleasant phone call with a relative, that’s a bad sign.

…And You Drink for Every Situation

Of course, alcoholics don’t drink just because they’re sad or depressed or anxious. Alcoholics also drink when they’re overjoyed, bored, excited, tired, or anything in between.

Remember, alcoholism isn’t just a coping mechanism. It might start that way, but it’s a chemical addiction in the brain. Eventually, you reach for alcohol in any situation, not because of the situation but because your brain has learned to chemically rely on alcohol to process any situation thrown at it.

You drink to calm down. You drink to get excited. You drink to wake up. You drink to go to sleep. You drink with friends. You drink alone. You drink for an occasion or you drink on an ordinary day.

Either way, the story is the same: if there’s a situation, any situation, your first instinct is to reach for a drink.

You Drink Too Much, Too Often

High functioning alcoholics don’t show the strain of drinking on their lives, at least not at first. They can maintain their work projects, execute their responsibilities, show up for their families, and don’t show any obvious negative behaviors like depression or anger issues.

That said, you can still maintain your responsibilities (for a while, anyway) while drinking too much.

A red flag for alcoholism is drinking too much, too often. “Too much” varies between people, but for women, it’s generally three drinks in a day or seven drinks in a week. For men, it’s generally four drinks in a day or fourteen drinks in a week.

However, it’s important to remember that alcoholism isn’t limited to drinking too much in one sitting. In fact, many alcoholics have a problem not because they drink too much at once (though they do that too). Their problem is drinking a “moderate” number of drinks on a daily basis.

You Don’t Get a Hangover After Several Drinks

Humans are remarkably adaptable, and that extends to our alcohol consumption.

Like most other drugs, our bodies learn to adapt to alcohol. Over time and repeated excessive drinking, we need more alcohol to get the same effect. This is known as alcohol tolerance, and for functional alcoholics, their tolerance is unusually high compared to other people.

However, this shows through in unexpected ways. For example, a high functioning alcoholic can drink the same amount as a friend and not experience a hangover, even after several drinks too many.

This might seem like a benefit, but it’s actually a screaming red flag. It means that your body is dependent on alcohol, and you’ll need to drink more to get the same effect. And while you may not think it’s hurting you, you’re harming your brain and your body the whole time.

Denial is Your Superpower

Regardless of severity or progression, all alcoholics have one thing in common: denial.

Addiction is fundamentally dishonest. You’re not just lying to others about your habits–you’re lying to yourself. You know, in your heart of hearts, that something is wrong, but you find ways to justify the behavior because you need your fix.

You can hide it for a while to avoid the pain and embarrassment of showing others (and yourself) how bad it is, but the negative consequences will catch up to you eventually. Even if you haven’t seen obvious negative consequences like a car accident or an arrest, you may still have a problem.

High Functioning Alcoholism Can Hurt You

A high functioning alcoholic can hurt those around them just as readily as any other addict. And while you may not think that your drinking is harming you, the truth is that you can live a fuller, happier life free of alcohol. 

If you or a loved one need to look into treatment options, click here to check out our recovery program, or get in touch to talk about how our team can help you get on the right path.

Getting help to beat your drug addiction can be one of the most significant decisions you make in your life. If you have a loved one who has finally agreed to go to rehab, it can feel like the glimmer of hope you have been longing for. But you still have to decide which one will benefit them most between inpatient vs outpatient rehab. 

And choosing the right rehab facility for them can be a daunting task, a fact we know well.   

Drug addiction is a complex condition. It gets tough for most people who develop a substance use disorder to stop without professional help. In essence, the needs and addiction severity determine the right rehab program for an addict.

Once you decide to go to rehab, you must understand the difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab to make an informed decision.

Inpatient Vs. Outpatient Rehab

Inpatient programs require patients to live in the facility. Outpatient programs entail daily treatments that allow patients to go back to their homes once treatment is over. Inpatient programs tend to be quite expensive compared to inpatient programs.

However, on the upside, they offer round-the-clock care. This may offer a more immersive treatment experience for patients. Any distractions and triggers that patients may experience at home are totally eliminated. Patients are given an opportunity to focus solely on recovery. It’s usually wise to consult an addiction counselor about the best option since it will highly depend on the addition level.

An In-depth Look at Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment is suitable for most people looking to escape addiction since they can be far away from temptations and get right into sobriety. Several benefits come with inpatient or residential treatment, which we’ll cover in this in-depth post.

Features of an Inpatient Treatment Program

Inpatient programs may vary from facility to facility, but some of the features you’ll find include:

• Both individual and group therapy
• Supervised detoxification
• Medication administration whenever necessary

Beyond these, some facilities may offer other beneficial activities. These may include meditation, yoga, life skills training, and family therapy.

Advantages of Inpatient Treatment

Given that a patient has to live in the facility full time for a certain amount of time, they are likely to benefit more. Most patients will view staying in the facility and away from loved ones as a drawback. However, it can be highly beneficial in terms of recovery. Here are more inpatient treatment benefits.

• It allows patients to be away from their usual environment that’s possibly rife with temptations.
• Places the patients in a safe and healthy environment where they are taken care of by professionals and other people who are focused on their recovery
• Allows patients to get into skills training as well as education
• Possible chance of a higher success rate
• Full-time supervision
• Allows patients to interact with others in a community

Drawbacks of Inpatient Treatment

• Patients are not free to leave whenever they please
• They live in a structured environment and have to follow rules about when to wake up, when to eat, and when to undergo counseling sessions
• Patients with children need to arrange for childcare while they undergo treatment
• Patients need to leave their jobs or businesses
• Most insurance companies only cover outpatient treatments

Most treatment programs run between 30 and 90 days. However, patients can undergo treatments for a longer duration in therapeutic communities, which lasts at least six months.

Such programs are suitable for patients who need long term care or comprehensive treatments. They make it easier to transition back into life with renewed hope and better life stills.

What Does Inpatient Treatment Entail?

Detoxification

The first phase of inpatient treatment encompasses detoxification. Patients start taking less and less drugs than their usual dosage, causing withdrawal symptoms. Depending on addition severity, the drugs may be reduced gradually or stopped entirely.

This process can also occur in outpatient facilities. However, inpatient facilities can provide comfort and safety. One of the best things about an inpatient facility during this detoxification phase is that the patient is monitored to ensure the withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening.

Medication Administration

Certain medications can be used to manage acute substance withdrawals. There are several types of FDA approved medications, known as medication-assisted treatment, that treat certain types of substance addiction.

In some cases, it works exceptionally. However, it becomes quite challenging to severe addicts who are addicted to more than one type of drug. Henceforth, it is advisable for patients who need this kind of treatment to use an inpatient setting for success.

Therapy

One of the most significant benefits of inpatient treatments is the fact that patients can undergo individual or group therapies, which can be more helpful. Living in the facility means the patient will attend therapy without having to worry about other commitments.

The Best Candidates for Inpatient Programs

Inpatient programs are suitable for people who have a hard time staying sober alone. If you are not sure whether you or your loved one can be sober without supervision, then an inpatient rehab center will serve you best.

Patients trying to recover from drugs such as cocaine, opioids, among other hard drugs, are encouraged to use inpatient facilities for safety purposes during the detox phase.

An In-depth Look at Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatments involve a variety of different programs. Patients visit the facilities on a scheduled basis, depending on the treatment they need. Counseling may also be in a group or individual setting, depending on the most beneficial option for the patient.

Features of an Outpatient Treatment Program

Essentially, programs also vary for outpatient therapy, depending on the patient’s needs.

However, more focus is placed on therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, matrix model, motivational interviewing, and multidimensional family therapy. Patients may also undergo skills training, educational programs, mental health care, among others.

The most significant drawback of outpatient treatment is that patients do not entirely remove themselves from temptations and triggers that may cause a relapse. For this reason alone, outpatient treatment is not suitable for patients with severe addiction.

Advantages of Outpatient Treatment

• Patients get to live at home close to their loved ones
• They can continue with school or work and other daily activities
• They can still take care of their children
• Get constant support and attention from family
• They can start applying what they learn in their lives and begin making changes immediately
• Affordable and generally covered by insurance
• Privacy and anonymity

Drawbacks of Outpatient Treatment

• Patients risk being exposed to drugs and substances and risk triggering the addiction
• Daily distractions may keep them from recovering
• Limited professional care
• Risk of life-threatening withdrawal symptoms
• The missed opportunity of growing into a support community that inpatients have

The Best Candidates for Outpatient Treatments

People addicted to alcohol and not hard drugs tend to have an easier time in outpatient treatment programs. Alcohol withdrawals tend to be milder compared to other substances.

Hence the risk of a medical emergency during detox is significantly reduced. Still, it may be frightening for some people, and the condition of the patient needs to be assessed before making a decision.

If a home environment is completely sober, and neither friends nor family members have alcohol or drugs at home, then an outpatient program may work. It also helps if the patient does not know anyone close by who may procure the substances for them. Otherwise, they risk a relapse.

How Do You Determine the Best Option?

With all this information, it’s clear what both programs offer and what the patient is likely to get from each one. However, choosing the right one that will yield the best results may not be an easy task. It’s essential that you consider several factors that may affect the patient.

Understanding how they’ll affect them and the possible outcomes will be a big help. Here are several questions that will help you come up to the right choice.

• How severe is the patient’s addiction?
• Is the patient exposed to drugs at home?
• How stable and supportive is their family?
• Is it possible to leave their job, school, or children?
• Are they suffering from any mental health issues?
• Do they require specialized treatment, like a handicap-assisted facility?

What Should You Look for In A Facility?

The rehab facility should have the resources to treat both the physical and psychological effects of the addiction. Patients are likely to overcome their addiction if both their dependence and psychological needs contributing to that dependance are addressed. A facility should be able to offer you a complete package until the patient is fully recovered.

Beyond that, the professional in the facility should be educated, trained, licensed, and certified to practice. Such qualifications increase the chance of a successful recovery because the patient will receive optimum care. Do thorough research to ensure the facility is licensed as well, and their reputation is solid.

How Long is Treatment Likely To Last?

The time it takes for a patient to recover depends on many factors, including whether you choose an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. In general, treatment outcomes are much better with prolonged treatments that last 90 days or more.

You also need to understand that rehab is the beginning of a lifelong process. Given the fact that addiction can be a chronic illness, some patients may continue with aftercare programs after treatment.

Summary

So, inpatient vs outpatient rehab, which is better? With all these factors to consider, choosing between inpatient and outpatient rehab will be easier for you.

You or your loved deserve a brand new start and picking the right facility will give you just that. If you’d like to know more, kindly check out our website or contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

“Should I go to rehab?” When you are concerned about this need, it makes sense to review our short article on the matter, ‘When to Go to Rehab.’ 

If you suspect you might be addicted to drugs or alcohol, you’re probably asking yourself this very question right now.

In theory, it seems like it should be simple enough for someone to see that they need to think about checking themselves into a rehab facility to get help with addiction. But when addiction has its claws in you, it’s not always easy to admit that you need a helping hand.

There are, however, some signs that you can look out for if you’ve been wondering whether or not rehab might be beneficial for you. If you spot any of these signs, there’s a good chance that you should strongly consider checking yourself into rehab right away.

Take a look at ten signs that’ll show you need to go to rehab below.

1. You’re Relying on Drugs or Alcohol to Get You Through Every Day

When you first start experimenting with drugs or alcohol, you might only use them once in a while. But as people become addicted to them, they tend to begin using them more and more often.

Before they know it, they’re using drugs or drinking alcohol every single day and have a hard time imagining their lives without them. They’re consumed by the thought of using drugs or alcohol and can’t function normally without them.

If you struggle to abstain from drugs or alcohol for more than 24 hours, it’s a sign of a serious issue. You should entertain the idea of trying to go to rehab to get a handle on your drug or alcohol problem.

2. You Experience Physical Withdrawal Symptoms When You Don’t Use Drugs or Alcohol

How does your body feel when you’re not able to use drugs or drink alcohol for a day? Those who have become addicted to them often go through physical withdrawal symptoms that can send them crawling back to their drug of choice.

Drug users will usually experience some or all of these symptoms when they’re going through withdrawal from drugs:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Chest tightness
• Heart palpitations
• Muscle tightness
• Sweating

Alcohol users, meanwhile, may have to combat withdrawal symptoms like:

• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea
• Agitation

There are also some more serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms like tremors, seizures, and alcohol hallucinosis that can kick in.

If you try to deal with drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms on your own, you could put your health at risk. It’s better to do it with help from a professional at a rehab facility.

3. You’re Dealing With Drug or Alcohol-Related Health Issues

Speaking of health issues, there are all kinds of health problems that you might encounter if you continue to use drugs or alcohol over an extended period of time.

Initially, using illicit drugs on a regular basis can cause problems like:

• Changes in appetite
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure

But those health problems will be nothing compared to the problems you might be forced to face down the line. Long-term drug users are often susceptible to:

• Heart attacks and strokes
• Mental health issues
• Different types of cancer

Those who abuse alcohol, on the other hand, increases their chances of suffering from:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Different types of cancer

If your doctor has told you that you might be suffering from a drug or alcohol-related illness, it’s time to go to rehab. Otherwise, you could jeopardize your health even further by continuing to use drugs or alcohol.

4. You’re Lying to People About Your Drug or Alcohol Use

It’s hard to lie to your doctor about drug or alcohol abuse. Many times, they’ll be able to connect health issues that you’re having with addiction.

But it’s not always that difficult to lie to the important people in your life about your drug or alcohol problem. There are many full-blown addicts who are able to disguise their drug or alcohol problem so that those around them don’t notice.

Do you fall into this category? If you’re going out of your way to hide your addiction from other people, that likely means that it’s more serious than even you might believe.

Take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself why you’re lying about your drug or alcohol use. It could very well be because you’re ashamed to admit that you have a problem.

5. Your Relationships Have Suffered Due to Your Drug or Alcohol Use

Is the relationship that you have with your parents strained at the moment because they know you’re using drugs all the time? Or have your old friends stopped hanging out with you because they don’t enjoy being around you when you’re drinking?

These are both clear-cut signs that it’s time for you to go to rehab. They show that drugs or alcohol have taken a toll on some of your closest relationships.

It’s very hard to use drugs and alcohol all the time and maintain the relationships in your life.

You become so consumed with acquiring drugs or alcohol and using them that you can’t invest much time into nurturing your relationships.

If you value these relationships, think about seeking professional help for addiction.

6. You’ve Lost Interest in Things You Used to Enjoy

As we just mentioned, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to devote time to anything other than drugs or alcohol when you’re battling addiction. Drugs or alcohol will be just about all that you think about on a daily basis.

It’s not uncommon for those with a drug or alcohol problem to completely lose interest in things that used to bring them joy. They’ll stop playing sports, put their video game controllers down, and skip the gym in favor of using drugs or alcohol.

If the only thing you’re doing these days to keep yourself entertained is using drugs or drinking alcohol, there is no question that you need to see about enrolling in a treatment program at a rehab center.

7. You’re Struggling to Keep Up Your Grades in School or Hold Down a Job

There are certain people who are able to do well in school or hold down a job—even an important job in some cases—without allowing their addiction to get in the way. These people are referred to as “high-functioning addicts.”

But the vast majority of people cannot keep up their grades in school or do their best at work when drugs or alcohol are always on their mind. Their school or work performance will start slipping eventually.

If you’ve stopped turning in work at school or made a habit out of calling in sick from work due to your addiction, it’s yet another sign that you should go to rehab right away.

8. You’ve Run Into Legal Trouble Because of Drugs or Alcohol

Most people who abuse drugs or alcohol will encounter legal trouble at some point in their lives. There are many different drug-related crimes that people are arrested for every year.

When someone is addicted to drugs, they’ll often steal—both from strangers and from those they know—to fund their addiction. They’ll also engage in things like prostitution to get their hands on the money they need to buy drugs.

Alcohol abusers have also been known to break the law as a direct result of their addiction.

Public intoxication and driving under the influence are two of the most common crimes among those who abuse alcohol.

If you’ve been arrested even once because of either drugs or alcohol, it could be an indication that you have a problem and need help. The last thing you want to do is create a long rap sheet for yourself that could make your life harder than it has to be later on.

9. You’ve Attempted to Quit Drugs or Alcohol on Your Own and Failed

Oftentimes, people who abuse drugs or alcohol will say things like, “I can quit anytime I want,” when they’re confronted by others about their addiction. But quitting is easier said than done.

If you’ve tried to quit drugs or alcohol cold turkey in the past and come up empty, it should show you that it’s going to take more than sheer willpower to break your bad habits. Go to rehab to give yourself a better chance of quitting drugs or alcohol for good.

10. You’re Surrounded by People Who Are Telling You to Go to Rehab

Has your parent, your sibling, and your best friend all told you that you have a drug or alcohol problem? Listen to them.

You might not think that you have an issue. But clearly, they’ve seen a change in you that they don’t like.

At the very least, consider what they’ve said to you and evaluate your relationship with drugs or alcohol. You might need to go to rehab more than you realize.

So, Should You Go to Rehab?

It’s not easy to make the decision to go to rehab. Many people who could benefit from it put it off for years and sometimes even decades before getting the help they need.

If you’ve seen any of the troubling signs discussed here, you should give some serious thought to going to rehab. It could help you get your life back under control and prevent health problems in the future.

Contact us today to find out if our rehab center might be a good fit for you.

If you or someone you love has had an addiction problem, you know that the most challenging part is trying to overcome it. Whenever you start using drugs, you may believe that you may stop at any time. You may also think that addiction problems are myths and that you will be an exception to the rule. This is unlikely to be the case, and in case you do find yourself battling substances, we’ve written these ‘Steps to Overcome Addiction,’ to help.

Overcoming addiction is a journey, and you have to have the right mindset to be able to go through the journey. You need to be determined to use all the resources available to you to overcome your addiction.

Steps to Overcome Addiction

So now that you want to go through this journey, where do you start? Here are some steps you can follow to overcome addiction.

Acknowledge You Have an Addiction

The first step you need to take is being honest with yourself. Acknowledge and accept that you have an addiction. Since you’re well aware of your addiction, you need to:

• Find out what you are addicted to
• Know what causes or triggers your addiction
• Determine how the addiction is affecting your life
• Identify what actions or decisions led you to it

Having a personal evaluation will help you determine what the source of your addiction is and what causes it. Once you identify this, you will be able to overcome it.

Accept Responsibility for Your Addiction

The next step in the journey to overcoming addiction is taking responsibility for your actions. You should start by taking away the blame you often place on other people or circumstances for your addiction. You should also stop justifying actions you take to engage in your addiction.

The most important of all is to stop always making excuses for your behavior. Accepting responsibility for the actions you took and the decisions you made to get you to your addiction is vital to overcome it.

Since you are only human and as humans, we are prone to make mistakes, forgive yourself for being an addict and strive to change.

Make a Conscious Decision to Change

Accepting to take responsibility not only makes you have the right mindset for recovery, but it also helps you make conscious decisions to change. You are now able to set a precise goal for what you want. Your target could either be quitting all addictions, removing some addictive behaviors or substance, or lessen the amount of money and time taken engaging in this habit.

Once you set a precise goal in your mind, it is always advisable to share this with someone close to you. This person becomes your accountability partner. You should ensure that she or he will not judge you, but will be there to support you and remind you of your goal.

Being able to quit an addiction entirely is the best option for your wellness. Nevertheless, if you can reduce the most harmful substance use or behavior, you are setting yourself on the right path. Recovery from addiction is a process, and as so, you should strive to get to your goal gradually.

Prepping Your Path to Overcoming Addiction

Since you have set a clear goal in your mind, there are actions you need to take to ensure that you get to your goal. It means taking away any triggers for addiction from your life or home. Meaning that you:

• Take away all the things that remind you of your addiction
• Have just enough money for your bills
• Cut off ties with people who serviced or engaged you in your addiction
• Stay away from stressful situations
• Leave an abusive relationship

Getting rid or reducing contact with triggers of your addiction will help you to overcome it gradually.

Take It a Step at a Time

Gradually taking positive steps is the healthiest way to overcoming addiction. You will be working towards changing your behavior in small ways until it becomes a habit. Doing this is not easy. There will be moments where you will relapse and go back to your old habits.

In those moments, acknowledge and accept that you made a mistake and try to avoid repeating it.

Beating yourself up over a mistake can easily cause you to fall back to old patterns. Therefore, being compassionate and forgiving yourself in such moments is crucial for this journey.

Remembering that this is a process that will take time and effort will keep you from being too hard on yourself. It will also ensure that you keep pushing even in the face of difficulties and self-doubt.

To keep you motivated to get to your final goal, always remember to reward yourself when you succeed in making any small step forward.

Finally Quitting

After all the preparation, changing your mindset, setting your environment for the new you, and taking gradual steps to the goal, you get to quit the substance use. It could be the most liberating or empowering time or the most painful and frustrating time.

Getting rid of an addiction, especially one of substance use can be difficult. You may experience withdrawal symptoms which could be unbearable. In times like these, you need to seek treatment from your doctor.

How Do You Cope With Withdrawal Symptoms?

The most challenging aspect in the process of overcoming addiction is the withdrawal symptoms. Some symptoms may pass within a week or two when you quit substance use, yet others could take months or even years.

Just as people experience different symptoms, there are various ways to cope with withdrawal.

No coping mechanism will work for everyone. Some of these coping methods include:

• Engaging in physical activities
• Having close people such as friends and family around to talk to
• Getting prescription to medication that helps with withdrawal

At this stage, you may also experience an intense craving for the drug you decided to quit as your brain needs time to recover from changes you are making. You can keep away these cravings by:

• Staying away from the crowd you used to abuse substances with
• Avoiding the places you used to frequent like clubs
• Exercise caution when taking prescription drugs
• Involving in distracting activities such as watching movies, exercising, etc.

Relapse Occurrence

Although you have put in the effort and are doing well after quitting substance use, you may find yourself relapsing. No one ever wants to fail, but these moments are very common on this journey to overcome addiction. You may need to try several times before you finally get it right.

The most common reasons for relapses are cravings, which are common during withdrawal.

Sometimes they may manifest after a few weeks, months, or even years after you quit. Knowing that you can manage these cravings when they arise is vital during this process.

You may also believe that you have control over substance use and that having a drink or a smoke won’t make you relapse. This is another common reason that people relapse and could lead to overdose or even death.

Coping With Relapse

When you relapse, it doesn’t mean that you have failed or that you don’t need to continue on your journey to overcoming addiction. It is a common setback that most people face. The best thing to do when this setback occurs is to understand what triggered you to relapse. Also, get to know what you would have done differently.

Once you realize and recognize this, you can put measures in place to ensure that you don’t relapse again. You can learn from your mistake and be successful on your next try.

Don’t Replace Your Addiction

It may be tempting to replace your substance addiction with another. For instance, chronic drinkers and smokers, after quitting, usually start overeating and gaining weight. It is quite common for people trying to overcome addiction to replace these bad habits.

Enjoying the calmness of life without that high you get off addiction, may sometimes be more rewarding. Meditation and maintaining a gratitude journal can be ways to help you avoid replacing your addictive behavior.

Overcoming Addiction Using Treatment

Since you are committed to overcoming your addiction, you may explore what treatment options are available to you. Addiction treatments may vary with the drug you used. These treatments include:

• Medication
• Detoxification
• Counseling
• Outpatient treatment
• Partial hospitalization
• Behavior therapy

When you make up your mind to overcome addiction, you need to understand that addiction is more than a character flaw. Also, it’s not a sign of weakness and, therefore, requires willpower and commitment to overcome it.

Support is Essential during This Process

However you decide to take on your journey to overcome addiction, you need assistance. Your chances of recovery are better when you have people around you to share your experiences with.

You could lean on close family and friends, have a social network with other people going through recovery, or attend the 12-step program support groups.

All in all, you should ensure to be committed to your goal and remember to forgive yourself when you have a setback.

If you or your loved one wants to take on the journey to overcoming addiction, contact us today or fill out this intake form to get specialized assistance.

Walking down the road of addiction is a life-changing event. It’s no easy path to tread, yet such an easy path to stumble onto. With this knowledge in mind, we’ve identified ‘7 Signs to Identify Addiction,’ and assist in recovery.  

Addictions come in many shapes and sizes and go by many names. Regardless of what the addiction is centered on, however, it has the horrific potential of ruining your life. Addictions can be the root cause of destroyed relationships, lost jobs, financial problems, health issues, and more.

Do you understand how to know if you have an addiction?

It’s almost guaranteed that everyone on the planet is addicted to something, even if it’s minor and somewhat inconsequential – food, sex, pornography, videogames, TV, etc.

However, 1 in 7 Americans will deal with substance addiction. Substance addiction, unfortunately, has a far greater ability to become destructive in and around someone’s life.

Shockingly, even people suffering drug and alcohol addiction can remain oblivious to their own condition. Sometimes it’s because of fear or denial. Sometimes, people simply don’t know or recognize the signs.

We’re here to provide answers and guidance. Keep reading to understand and recognize the vital signs that point to addiction.

How to Know if You Have an Addiction

To be honest, if you’re wondering how to know if you have an addiction, there’s a strong likelihood you’re already there.

Don’t worry, however, the fact that you’re asking means you’ve already covered one of the first steps – recognizing there’s a problem. After you read the rest of this article, you can take the next step. If necessary, you can admit you have an addiction.

Before we get there, though, it’s important to read through these 7 important signs. Take each of them seriously and be honest with yourself. While reading this, set excuses and doubt aside.

In the end, have an honest conversation with yourself. If you recognize that you have an addiction, reach out to your family and friends, people you trust.

Then, with or without their help, start looking at recovery programs. Find a place with professionals who know how to treat addictions and put people back on their feet.

Now, let’s take a look at how to know if you may have an addiction.

1. You Have Mind Consuming Thoughts and Cravings

Everyone has wants, desires, and even cravings. However an addicts cravings are overwhelming. They’re consuming.

A traditional sign that an addiction is forming or has formed already presents itself in your mind.

When you’re addicted, once the idea of using pops into your head, you won’t be able to think of anything else. Until you satisfy that craving, whether it takes a day or a week, the thought will be there.

These thoughts start “innocently.” In your mind, you’re just “thinking” about it. It may even start out with you thinking about how it needs to stop.

However, the more you think about it, the more it starts to sound appealing. Before long, the appeal turns into a craving. Finally, the craving turns into a necessity.

Addicts go down this very train of thought all the time, sometimes every day. That’s why it’s so important to seek help. As an addict, you can’t trust your own mind.

It hurts to hear, but it’s a sincere truth.

2. You Make Broken “Last Time” Promises

The sincere truth mentioned above is validated if you’ve made and broken endless promises to never use again. Sadly, it’s an incredibly common behavior among addicts of all types.

As you begin to recognize that your substance usage may not be entirely in your control, you start making “last time” promises. In fact, you’ll often use these promises to justify one more relapse. In your mind, you honestly believe you’ll use one last time, and then your road to recovery will start.

Unfortunately, however, this is a form of denial. The fact is, there will always be an opportunity for “one more use” and addicts, by definition, can’t say “no”.

If you’re wondering how to know if you have an addiction, taking note of broken promises of last time substance use is a clear place to start. If you do find yourself making these promises, start making them to someone who can help keep you accountable. Additionally, this is a good time to seek counseling and other forms of professional help.

3. You Take Risks, Keep Secrets, and Lie to Cover Up Your Substance Use

As painful as it may be to hear, being an addict changes your behavior. Don’t misunderstand, being an addict doesn’t change who you are or make you a bad person. However, it does influence you to make bad decisions.

Although not everyone understands or accepts it, addiction is a disease. Similar to depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, it is a disease of the mind. While the path to becoming an addict is often within our control, substance abuse after the fact is not.

Once you’re addicted, you begin taking risks to satisfy your cravings. These risks include buying from drug dealers, stealing, using while at work, driving while intoxicated, and causing serious damage to your health. During your craving, these bad decisions all seem worth it.

Additionally, as an addict, you will find yourself lying to those around you. Addicts will lie to explain a missed an appointment, to get out of something to go home and use, to explain missing money, or to explain a change in behavior. Unfortunately, once you begin down a path of lies, it’s hard to stop.

Finally, along with lying comes keeping secrets. If you’re wondering how to know if you have an addiction, ask yourself if you’re keeping secrets. A common behavior of addicts is keeping their substance use and everything around it hidden from the people in their lives.

4. Your Friends, Family, or Co-Workers are Starting to Notice

One way to know if you have an addiction is if other people start pointing it out.

People who are close to you will know if something’s off. They may not come out and directly ask you if you have an addiction, but they will notice changes in your appearance, mood, and behavior.

Your instinct will be to lie and hide your substance abuse. Additionally, bringing it up and asking for help is incredibly difficult. If someone who loves you has noticed and is offering you their help, take this opportunity to come out of hiding.

Having just one person on your side who knows about your problem can make all the difference in the world. Don’t let pride or shame stop you from getting the help you need and beginning the process of recovery.

5. Your Addiction Interferes with Your Life

By now, you’re beginning to understand how to know if you have an addiction. Perhaps you are recognizing changes in your behavior or lies you are telling to yourself and others.

However, to drive the point home, let’s take a look at how your addiction is likely interfering with your life.

Addictive substance abuse, as discussed, often leads to poor decisions. This could be calling into work or just skipping a shift entirely. It could also mean falling behind on bills, distancing yourself from friends, or allowing yourself to adopt an unhealthy lifestyle.

Even temporarily, these behaviors can be detrimental to your well-being. However, if continued for long periods of time, these behaviors could lead to unemployment, lost relationships, homelessness, and even serious health problems. The final and most permanent repercussion could be a fatal one.

6. You Experience Withdrawal Symptoms

Learning how to know if you have an addiction may present itself when you try to stop using.

Addictions plague both the body and the mind. Not only can you become mentally and emotionally addicted to substances, but your body can become physically addicted as well.

Withdrawal symptoms take place when your body goes without the substance and it becomes distressed. These symptoms will be stronger based on the depth of your addiction. The sooner you realize you have a problem, the easier it will be to recover from it.

Withdrawal symptoms are also determined by what substance you’re addicted to. They range from irritation and anxiety to muscle soreness, seizures, and hallucinations.

There are multiple and unique symptoms for each type of addiction, however, the typical responses are as follows:

Alcohol withdrawal – a few days to a few weeks of tremors and/or seizures

Heroin and pain killers – 5 days of flu-like symptoms

Cocain – Up to 10 days of depression and restlessness

Benzodiazepines – Several weeks or months of seizures and anxiety

7. You Can’t Stop, Regardless of Negative Consequences

Finally, if you know a substance is causing negative consequences in your life but can’t stop using it, it’s a clear sign that you are addicted to it.

People are smart. Being an addict doesn’t change that. Therefore, whether you can stop yourself from using or not, you know it’s a problem and you’re aware of how dangerous it is.

However, intelligence and the ability to make good decisions can sometimes be stunted by pride and shame. Not wanting to admit they’ve lost control mixed with the shame of being labeled an addict prevents many people from seeking the help they need.

Change Your Circumstances Today

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, if you’re wondering how to know if you have an addiction, you probably do.

Please, before your problem gets worse, seek help. Our treatment staff is well-trained and willing to help. Start turning things around now.

Contact us today and learn how we can help you take your life back.