How do you know if you need rehab? There are some who’d say that if you’re asking the question at all, then you need to go to rehab. There is some truth in that — if you recognise symptoms of substance abuse in your behaviour, then you should seek help. But do you need rehab, with its intensive in-patient care? That’s a complicated question.
Consider this your ‘Do I need rehab’ quiz. Your answers to these six questions will help you decide whether you need to go to rehab for drug or alcohol abuse.
If you’re struggling with a substance use disorder, our 14 or 28-day detox and withdrawal program will help you take the first steps towards long-term recovery. Get in touch with our veteran counsellors for advice and next steps.
6 signs you need rehab for drug and alcohol addiction
Below are six questions that will prompt you to think about how using drugs or alcohol affects your life. You may find answers come quickly for some of them. You may even find that your answers suggest you don’t need rehab.
Here’s our advice — if you can, try to talk through these questions with someone who knows you, cares about you, and whom you trust. In our experience, even relatively mild substance use disorders can skew a person’s ability to self-reflect. Having an outside perspective can help you see yourself a little more clearly.
1. Have you been increasing your dosage to feel its effects?
The more you use narcotics or abuse alcohol, the more your body grows a tolerance for it. The greater your tolerance, the more of the substance you’ll need to feel the same effect.
You may find you’re using larger doses of your preferred drug or drinking more alcohol in a single session. If you can’t recall precisely how much you use at a time, you may be aware if you’ve been spending more and more on your habit. Increased spending can be an indirect sign of your growing addiction.
2. Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit?
Withdrawal symptoms are physical and mental changes that you go through when you stop abusing drugs and alcohol. These symptoms can be extremely distressing and painful, and indicate a deep addiction.
You may have tried to manage your substance abuse disorders on your own in the past. Or you may feel that you do not have a problem and can stop when you want to. Think about what happens to you when you stop using. Have you ever felt any of these?
- Bodily aches and pains
- Vomiting or nausea
- Shaking and tremors
- Temperature fluctuations
- Trouble breathing
It’s natural and expected for addicts to feel these symptoms and decide to start using again to ease them. This is a sign you need the professional services of a rehabilitation facility.
The Hader Clinic’s specialists can help you better understand drug and alcohol acute withdrawal symptoms, and we’re always ready to talk to you about your concerns and needs.
3. Has your addiction become the priority of your life?
This may not be an easy question to answer — now is when an outside persecution from someone you trust will help.
The greater your alcohol or drug addiction, the more time, money and energy you devote to servicing it. It’s not always easy to see how much you prioritise your addiction. Some of our clients consider themselves ‘functioning addicts’ or feel that their regular habit ‘is not that bad’.
It is possible to function (to hold down a job, maintain relationships, etc.) while nursing an addiction. But you might find that you’re using or drinking while engaging in other parts of your life (for example, drinking on the job or consistently getting high with friends).
You may not realise just how large a part your addiction plays in your life. Or maybe you do. Give our counsellors a call, and we can help you to consider how significant your habit is and whether you need rehab.
4. Is your drug or alcohol addiction affecting your relationships?
The deeper your addiction grows, the more strain it will put on important relationships in your life. Think about the quality of your relationships with your family and friends. Has your circle of friends dwindled? Do your close family members consider you trustworthy and reliable? Have those you love expressed concern about your behaviour?
Many people who use drugs or alcohol in excess fail to see problems with their relationships because, while they’ve lost touch with healthy and sober family and friends, they’ve created new friendships with other addicts. Being friends with addicts is not in itself bad, and we are not implying that they are by definition immoral people, but if the only bonds you have are with addicts, then you may need help.
5. Is your addiction affecting your health?
Alcohol and drug abuse take an immediate and clear toll on the body and mind. The type of signs and their severity will vary from person to person, depending on the substance they’ve been abusing and how long they’ve been on it.
Physically, you might have noticed significant fluctuations in your weight, constant illness, skin problems, loss of hair and teeth, constant exhaustion, bodily aches and shakes and a lack of coordination. You may even suffer from infections if you’ve been taking drugs intravenously.
Mentally, you may find that you are constantly irritable, depressed, stressed and anxious. You’ll have trouble concentrating even for short periods of time.
All of these are signs of a growing and severe alcohol or drug addiction. We recommend you try to make a list of symptoms that you’ve noticed. Not only will this help us to tailor your addiction treatment, but it will also help you to answer the next question.
6. Have you tried and failed to overcome your addiction yourself?
Many addicts attempt to quit their alcohol or drug use themselves, either by weaning themselves off of it or quitting ‘cold turkey’. Some do this alone, and some with the help of friends and family. Some addicts attempt to prove they’re in control of their addiction by ‘quitting’ for set periods, like a weekend or a week.
If you’ve attempted to quit and found that you cannot, that is a clear sign that you need professional help.
If you have a significant drug or alcohol dependency, it is crucial that you do not attempt to quit without medical supervision. Withdrawal can be psychologically and physically hazardous and leave you with permanent damage. Without medical assistance, withdrawal from a deep addiction can even be fatal.
So, how did you do on our ‘Do I need to go to rehab’ quiz?
If you think that maybe you need to go to rehab, then your next step is to book yourself into rehab at The Hader Clinic.
Give us a call, and we’ll begin with a one-hour consultation. We’ll discuss your issues, answer your questions and help alleviate your fears and concerns.
We specialise in mental health services administration and holistic treatment. Our experienced medical team and clinical psychologists will tailor a treatment plan just for you, and it will address your physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
A final note to remember — rehab isn’t a place; it’s a process. It’s okay to struggle and fail. You may even relapse. What we can promise you now is that you will not be alone. We’re with you for the long haul; a clinical audit of our facilities shows we have a 74% success rate for long-term recovery.
Your life is worth saving. Ask for help, and we’ll answer.
