When we think of rehab, we often picture drug addicts or alcoholics suffering withdrawal symptoms and other complex issues. We see people who’ve lost their jobs, income, and relationships. Worse, some of us judge them, regarding them as hopeless cases.
We will surely be surprised if someone says they’re going to rehab but don’t seem addicted. How could someone who functions so well be an addict? Well, the truth is, addiction—including alcoholism—isn’t always visible. It’s comparable to depression and anxiety. Those mental illnesses can damage our brains every day but not necessarily incapacitate us. That doesn’t mean they’re not valid illnesses, though. Addiction and mental health disorders alter the brain chemistry and function, eventually causing long-term damage.
An addict who still maintains productivity at work is called a high-functioning one. They finish their tasks, have great relationships with their colleagues, and enjoy a rich social life outside work. But every time they’re alone, or with certain friends, they’d drink or take drugs relentlessly. They will secretly crave them while working or doing anything sober.
You don’t need to hit rock-bottom before considering treatment. Here are the reasons you should seek treatment as early as you probably should:
1. Rehab programs are inclusive and customizable
Addicts, high-functioning or not, are all welcome in rehabilitation centers. All they need is a determination to heal. The facilities don’t choose their patients based on their age, jobs, income level, educational attainment, etc. They’ll only ask you what kind of help you need. Then they’ll decide whether you need inpatient or outpatient rehab.
Addicts who have hit rock bottom qualify for inpatient rehab. This treatment category is when the patient checks themselves into a controlled environment. There, they will receive 24/7 medical and emotional support. The length of the treatment depends on several factors. Since it requires the patient to reside in the facility, they would need to have their affairs settled before starting treatment. They need to inform their employer about their rehab if they’re employed, resulting in their resignation or sabbatical leave.
High-functioning addicts are often suited for quality outpatient rehab. It is a less restrictive treatment that only requires the patient to complete 11 to 12 hours of treatment every week. They would undergo counseling, drug or alcohol abuse education, and lessons on coping without the addictive substance. They will also undergo an outpatient detox, which is just as effective and safe as an inpatient detox.
Outpatient rehab is good for you if your addiction is mild or just about to develop. Once alcohol or recreational drugs become an important part of your day, you’re headed toward addiction. Don’t wait for yourself to take the plunge before seeking help. As with any disease, prevention is also better than cure for addiction.
2. You’re struggling with a mental health illness
Any form of addiction has links with poor mental health. But one disease doesn’t necessarily cause the other. Often, they co-exist because of the effects of the addictive substance. For example, psychedelic drugs increase your risks for psychotic episodes, which can come with symptoms of a mental disorder. If those symptoms manifest, you may be more likely to drink alcohol to self-medicate or drown your sorrows.
If your poor mental health triggers your drinking habits or drug use, consider seeking psychiatric treatment first. Your therapist may give you a treatment that can address both your impending addiction and mental illness. If psychiatric treatment alone doesn’t work, then seek rehab.
3. You’re getting tempted to try more dangerous substances
Addiction starts with a choice. If you’re at a party and you saw your friends trying out a drug, you have two choices: to try out the drug with them or pass. If you went with the first option, it might become easier to do it again because you have found the drug’s effects pleasant the first time.
It’s hard to resist the temptation because when the drug’s effects wore out, you crashed and felt sluggish. This is what causes the craving. You’d think the drug is the cure to your sluggishness, so you’d seek it out again.
Get treated before getting your hands near that drug again. Talk to a friend who doesn’t use the substance. Approaching your friends who use the drug will do you no good because chances are they’d only enable your emerging addiction. At this time, you need someone who has your best interests at heart. Alcoholic or drug-addicted friends are hardly that.
When your risks for severe addiction are reduced early on, you will avoid its devastating effects and save the relationships you’d otherwise lose if you become a full-blown addict. You can also retain your job and income stability. Remember, the comfort of one drug or shot isn’t worth years of despair.
Helpful Resources
North Jersey Recovery Resources
Northern Illinois Recovery Center
Portland Partial Hospitalization Program
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers
