Should I go to Rehab? Signs that it’s Time to Seek Help

Your alcohol or drug use may be at the point where it’s become too much to handle on your own. You’re seeking a sober life. You may have tried to quit under your own willpower and found it too difficult. You may be asking yourself, “Should I go to rehab?” Signs that it’s time to seek help are all around you.

The short answer is simple - go. If you are even suspecting that you should seek rehab that is the biggest warning sign of all. You know yourself better than anyone else. However, it’s much easier said than done. It’s perfectly normal to have ‘do I really need this?’ rationalizations. To help you make a decision, take a look at your life from an objective point of view to determine if a trip to rehab is what you need.

The Warning Signs

According to a study done by the National Institute of Health, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, doctors have begun to conduct a series of in depth interviews when advising patients if they should seek rehabilitation or further counseling. You can conduct a similar interview on your own by examining several aspects of your life. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is my job in jeopardy? – Drug and alcohol abuse is perhaps most apparent when it comes to your job. When struggling with an addiction, you may start showing up late, calling out more often and forgetting about assignments. Your boss and coworkers will likely be able to tell the change in your behavior even if you think you’re hiding it well. Objectively examine your current job performance—is it slipping?
• How much time goes into satisfying your addiction?—Consider your day-to-day life. Do you spend a lot of time thinking about that next drink, or the next time you’ll use? Are you considering ways to finance your next binge?
• Am I financially struggling? – Financing a serious drug or alcohol habit is expensive. At this point, if you’ve been using for a while, chances are it takes more than a few hits or a few beers to get the feeling you are craving. If your bank account is empty, you’ve exhausted savings and your credit cards are getting declined, this is a sign that a trip to rehab may be a good idea. If you have gotten to the point where you are asking family and friends for money, or even stealing from them, a trip to rehab may be a necessity.
• How is your family life? – When in the grips of addiction, you will likely become more irritable when not using. If you are married and have children, you may find yourself snapping at them. Even if you are single and living alone, your relationship with your own parents and extended relatives may be on the decline. Perhaps you don’t visit and call them as much as you once did. There are very real consequences to letting a drug or alcohol problem come between you and your family.
• Do I like who I am? – This is perhaps the most important question of all. Usually, the longer an addict uses, the less they like themselves. This results in more using, and just makes the hole that much deeper. Are you overeating, gambling compulsively or regularly lying? Do you truly like who you are when you are using? If the answer is no, a rehab facility can help break the cycle of self-loathing and put you on a path towards loving yourself.

After sincerely and objectively considering the above questions, you may have your answer. It’s never too late to seek help and change your answers to these questions. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) advises those who wish to become sober to visit their primary care physician to discuss what sort of treatment would be best for them.

What’s In It for Me?

A research paper released by Dr. Jordan Peterson of Harvard University illustrated that our basic fear of the unknown can keep us from making decisions we know to be in our best interest. He concluded that by knowing some of the potential benefits we are able to mitigate enough of this fear to act. Here is what you can expect from a stay at a rehab facility:

• You will get your life back on track.
• You will have the opportunity to rebuild relationships.
• You will potentially save your life.
• You will save money.

Making a decision to enter a rehab facility may be the best decision you ever make. Don’t hesitate – schedule a consultation with your physician or rehabilitation expert today to determine the best course of treatment.