Denial, lack of information, and sheer stubbornness can get in the way of making the important decision to seek treatment for a drug and alcohol problem.
- Your are intoxicated more often than not: Not every addict or alcoholic is intoxicated all the time. Maybe you’re not intoxicated day and night, but you find that you have to have something in your system. At the least, you are drinking and using more than you have before, many times more a day. In between, you need some kind of fix, be it candy, sugar, coffee, or an energy drink, or else you experience cravings and withdrawals.
- Your substance abuse has taken a toll on your physical health: It’s not always easy to notice just how sick you are becoming when chemical dependency is taking over your mind and body. Not everyone gets diagnosed with a chronic looming health issue, though that can be the case. Instead, you might experience low energy, exhaustion, fatigue, dizziness, and being sick. Drug and alcohol abuse obliterate your immune system no matter how physically healthy you are. You just aren’t on your game the way that you used to be, and its getting worse every day.
- Your substance abuse has taken a toll on your mental health: You’ve noticed a few things happening. First, you can’t get as drunk or as high as easily as you used to. It takes more and more to get you anywhere near where you feel you “need” to be. Second the mental side effects seem to be worsening. Those side effects depend on your substance of choice. Many report feeling more depressed, more anxious, experiencing paranoia, and feeling like they are unraveling.
- Your closest loved ones have expressed concern, suggestion, and even outrage: You are well aware of the fact that everyone else in your life thinks you have a problem. Subtly and not so subtly, friends, family members, coworkers, and even strangers to whom you have expressed your woes have suggested you seek treatment for your problem.
- You go through withdrawal without drugs and alcohol: If you have reached the stage of full chemical dependency, that means you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms whenever the substance leaves your body. That means you are going through detox every time you don’t pick up a drink or drug- a sure sign that you need clinical care.
The transitional program at LEAD Recovery Center is designed to help clients grow through each level of treatment until they have developed full autonomy in recovery. For more information, call us today at 1-800-380-0012.
