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The Most Common Excuses for Not Seeking Treatment (And How to Beat Them)

Common excuses for not seeking treatment

Studies have shown that less than ten percent of individuals with active addiction go to rehab. [1] This is such a small percentage of the millions of people struggling with addiction in the United States, but there are many reasons why individuals with a substance use disorder either refuse to seek treatment or are hesitant to reach out for help.

At Prosperity Haven, we understand this hesitation, so we’ve broken down a few of the most common reasons that people who are addicted don’t seek help. And, if you or a loved one are struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, we’ve also provided some advice for how to overcome these hurdles.

1. You’re in Denial

Many people who have a substance use disorder (SUD) are in denial about it, or don’t want to acknowledge how serious it really is. Maybe you think you have everything under control or that you can quit any time you want — or maybe you don’t want to quit at all. It’s very possible that you’ve been using for so long that you’re unable to differentiate your substance use from other problems in your life and blame these problems on others instead of your own behavior.

The first and most difficult step is admitting that that you have a problem. Perhaps it doesn’t seem like a problem to you at this moment, because of your own internal stereotype of what addiction looks like. But to suffer from addiction doesn’t always mean you lost your job, home, friends, and family, and in fact, it’s even harder to ask for help once you’ve reached rock bottom. Don’t let it get to that point before you admit to yourself, and others, that you’re in a bad place and you need support to get back on solid ground.

2. You’re Afraid

Even if you’ve admitted you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, it can be difficult to reach out for help. When a person has been set in their ways for a long time, any sort of change can seem frightening. Recovery is a lifelong commitment, and it may seem that simply staying addicted would be easier than trying and failing to maintain sobriety. You also might be afraid of what your employer or others in your community may think if you go to rehab due to the stigma surrounding addiction.

More than anything, fear of the unknown can be a huge factor in not seeking treatment; perhaps you have been addicted for so long that you are not sure who you are without your substance. But it takes courage to admit that you can’t overcome your addiction alone, and even more courage to ask for help from others. It is a risk you must be willing to take to leave your addiction behind and pursue a healthy and fulfilling life, and to rediscover and reforge your identity in recovery.

Afraid of seeking treatment

3. You Feel Guilty or Ashamed

Many people who struggle with substance abuse don’t believe they deserve help, and this can be a huge mental barrier to seeking treatment for addiction. Whether you’re ashamed that you started using in the first place, or ashamed that you have gone so long without looking for help, you may feel that you’re not worthy of getting better.

Nothing could be further from the truth. No matter how hopeless or overwhelmed you feel, you deserve to get better, and to have the opportunity to live your best life, free of drug or alcohol addiction. And when you are ready to change your life, addiction rehab centers like Prosperity Haven are here to support you every step of the way.

At our all-male drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility in Cleveland, we provide a warm, welcoming, stable environment for those struggling with addiction to heal in a small group setting. Our holistic, clinically-driven treatment programs and recovery services are designed to address multiple dimensions of addiction, so our clients can build the skills they need to maintain lifelong sobriety.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse and are ready to seek help, reach out to Prosperity Haven today at (440) 253-9915.

[1] https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DR-FFR2-2016/NSDUH-DR-FFR2-2016.htm

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