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Lots of people question whether their addiction or substance abuse is bad enough for professional help and treatment. In reality, a substance use disorder can be treated at any stage and delaying treatment can not only make the issue worse but also lead to serious consequences.
Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Your addiction is bad enough for rehab if you show signs of severe drug or alcohol addiction. While different addictions can result in different signs and symptoms, and these can also vary from person to person, some of the most common warning signs include:
- Mood swings.
- Tiredness.
- Paranoia and anxiety.
- Poor judgement.
- Loss of appetite.
- Memory problems.
- Lack of self-worth.
- Secretive and deceitful behaviour.
- Poor personal hygiene.
- Withdrawing from responsibilities.
- Losing interest in activities and values that were once important to you.
There are several physical, behavioural and psychological side effects of addiction. Another common indication of addiction is when someone continues to use the substance or behaves in a certain way despite pleas from family and friends or the negative consequences it’s having.
If you have tried to stop taking a substance or behaving in a certain way, but failed, this is also a sign of addiction.
Is My Addiction Bad Enough for Rehab Treatment?
There are a few ways you can assess your own substance use to determine whether professional treatment could help.
This includes questions like do you turn to drugs or alcohol when you’re stressed or upset? Could you go without it for one day? Do you hide your substance use from friends and family? Other indications that you could require professional treatment include the following:
- Wanting to stop drinking and taking drugs but being unable to.
- Taking higher doses than intended.
- Cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- Struggling to manage responsibilities.
- Prioritising drugs and alcohol over day-to-day responsibilities.
The longer you ignore these warning signs, the more likely the addiction is to spiral, and it can lead to serious consequences on your health, career, relationships and finances. The sooner you get help, the quicker you will be able to get your life back on track too.
The Impact of Addiction on Health and Relationships
Addiction can soon take its toll on several aspects of your life, including family, employment and overall health. Addiction works by changing the way the brain functions. As the substance enters the body, it affects the reward system in the brain, which begins to associate feelings of pleasure, happiness, relaxation and even pain relief with the specific substance.
Over time, the brain will require more of the substance in order to achieve the same desired feelings. This is known as tolerance and dependence. Tolerance and dependence can lead to withdrawal symptoms which can be painful and even life-threatening. Typical symptoms include nausea and sickness, headaches, sweating and shaking.
Addiction can also have an impact on your overall mental health, which is just one reason that addiction impacts relationships. It’s not uncommon for those suffering from addiction to become deceitful and dishonest, as well as experience mood swings. This can all lead to more arguments and the breakdown of relationships.
As individuals begin to prioritise their substance use, social obligations can also be impacted too. So, for example, missing important events with loved ones (e.g. family birthdays). The same can be said for work commitments, and in the event that you turn up to work under the influence, it poses a difficult and unsafe situation.
Friends, family members, colleagues and employers may also recognise your addiction and ask you to stop. It’s very common for those suffering from addiction to view this as an attack, which can further impact relationships. Left untreated, these consequences can get even worse. But with a professional medical team by your side, everyone impacted by addiction can get the support they need.
Benefits of Rehab Treatment
There are many benefits of rehab treatment, namely that it will help you to recover from drugs or alcohol and can help you to regain control of your life.
When it comes to choosing rehab, there are a few different options, each with its own benefits.
First, there is outpatient rehab. This is when individuals receive treatment at a hospital or rehab centre for a few hours a week and then return home to recover. The biggest advantage of this type of treatment is that it allows you to access leading medical professionals and facilities while having the support and familiarity of your friends and family at home. Outpatient rehab is also one of the most affordable addiction treatment options and is available on the NHS in some cases.
There is also inpatient rehab which is the type of treatment offered at Nova Recovery. Inpatient has the highest success rates as it provides a level of respite away from familiar temptations and influences.
As an inpatient, you’d stay on-site for the duration of your treatment and be provided with accommodation and meals. As well as treatment, you also get access to wellbeing activities and 24/7 support from a team of doctors, nurses and counsellors.
Another benefit of inpatient rehab is that you are guided through a medically-assisted detox. A detox is essential before any treatment can begin and is the process of the body ridding any drugs and alcohol. It can present a number of serious side effects, but, when this process is completed as part of an inpatient stay, you’ll have a team of professionals looking after you.
There are also free rehabilitation resources, including GP support and community support groups. This is a great way to access advice and support if you don’t want to pay for rehab, but you will require strong resilience and determination to be able to stay on the right track to recovery.
Seeking Help for Addiction
If you’re wondering whether your drug addiction or alcohol addiction is bad enough for rehab treatment, you’ve come to the right place. The team at Nova Recovery can help you to assess your substance abuse and outline an addiction treatment plan that works for you.
It might be daunting or even embarrassing to admit that you need help, but when you do, you’ll be one step closer to your new life – a life away from severe addiction and a life that you’ve always truly wanted.
If you’d like more information about private rehab, contact our friendly team on 01475 303998 and take the first step today.
John Gillen
- Author
- Last updated: June 6, 2023
John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.