The Importance of Recognizing Addiction and Accepting Help
Addiction is a problem that many Americans suffer from every year. Drug and alcohol addiction is the most common form due to how easy drugs and alcohol are to acquire. If you’re not sure if you have an addiction, you will find information below to help you figure it out and find help.
Am I Addicted?
There is a fine line between enjoying something and being addicted to it. Enjoying something, like drugs or alcohol, is what our brains have been programmed to do. The issue is when enjoyment becomes an addiction. Addiction can be determined by asking yourself a few simple questions. Do you only feel better after you use it? Do you need it at the expense of other more important things? Do you use it more often than you used to? Do you overindulge when you use it? Do you feel frustrated, unable to concentrate, or anxious if you can’t use it? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, there’s a high chance that you’re addicted.
How Did This Happen?
Addiction can happen to anyone at any time. Often times, addiction occurs when someone is experiencing a high level of stress or anxiety. For entrepreneurs, stress and anxiety are a regular part of your day. Unfortunately, this often leads you to turn to drugs and/or alcohol for relief. The symptoms of stress can be relieved by accessing the ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain. One source explains, “these chemicals get released as a reward for doing or feeling something enjoyable. A quick way to do or feel something enjoyable is to turn to drugs or alcohol. This creates a biological connection in your brain which associates drugs or alcohol with ‘feeling good’ and stress relief.” You begin with just a sample or a taste to take the edge off. Soon, you’re trying and using more every day until it gets out of hand.
How Can I Get Help?
Aside from having serious health implications, your addiction can have negative consequences for your daily life. For example, your addiction can alienate family members. If you have a positive drug or alcohol test after an accident at work, your workers comp claim can be denied. There are many resources available to you if you are serious about recovering from your addiction. The first step you have to take is admitting that you have an addiction. Once you’ve acknowledged that you have an addiction, you can begin to look for help.
There are many different ways to receive help and start healing. The two most common are going to a drug detox center and staying there for a while, or doing at home programs which sometimes may have you go to a local doctor or rehab center for treatments. You can also try at-home detoxes with treatments like kratom for opioid addiction or milk thistle for alcoholism. This may not be as effective as professional treatment, however. While you’re going through your rehabilitation, remember to detoxify the drugs and alcohol from your body. According to this drug detox center, “there are many possible approaches to drug detox, ranging from do-it-yourself detox using nothing but home remedies, to state-of-the-art detox programs that include pharmaceutical therapy and 24-hour monitoring. If you aren’t sure where to start, call a drug abuse hotline to speak with a specialist who can help you determine your next steps.” The best strategy for you will depend on your personal preference and willpower.
The most important thing to remember about addiction is that you don’t have to recover from it alone. Reach out to friends and family for support, encouragement, and advice. In time you will be able to take back your life, and be able to live a happy, productive life.
