Successfully recovering from an alcohol or drug addiction takes time and dedication. It also takes a treatment program that addresses the underlying causes of addiction, such as trauma or mental illness. Unfortunately, many obstacles might stand between someone with an addiction and treatment. Identifying these obstacles can help you or your loved one avoid them.
Most people struggle with addictions in silence. They do not want their friends, family, coworkers, or employers looking at them differently. Coming out and admitting one has a problem can be difficult. The person might fear what it could do to his/her reputation as a person or professional. If you’re afraid of ruining your reputation by seeking addiction treatment, you are not thinking about the long term.
Without seeking treatment, your reputation will still suffer eventually, but from being addicted to drugs or alcohol, not from admitting you need help. Admitting you need treatment is a great first step toward recovery. Your friends and family will respect you for making this difficult decision. Once you achieve sobriety, you can work on rebuilding your reputation – as someone in recovery, not someone with an addiction.
Many people worry they cannot afford detox or rehabilitation programs. Some programs can cost thousands of dollars. Finances should not, however, deter you from seeking treatment. First, ask your health insurance company if it covers inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment. Your insurer might cover most or all the costs of the program. Next, call around your local community for resources. Financial aid for low-income families might help you pay for treatment.
If you cannot afford the costs of an inpatient treatment program, seek help from free meetings near you. Addiction support groups exist in every major city, with meetings that are free to attend. These groups can connect you with resources, such as low-cost detoxification centers, and help you establish a strategy that will hold you accountable and help you achieve sobriety. Speak openly with your employer about your situation if you are afraid of losing your job for going to treatment. Many employers will understand and applaud employees for seeking help.
If you have children or pets at home, this could be a reason you do not seek inpatient addiction treatment. You might not know how to tell your kids you are seeking treatment, or be able to find suitable guardians while you are away. Luckily, solutions are available. Most people have a trusted friend or family member who can stay with children while they receive addiction treatment. If you do not, search for a center that allows you to bring your kids or pets. They are not as common, but they do exist.
If you do not know how to tell your kids you have an addiction and need to seek treatment, call a counselor for advice. Addiction counselors can walk you through exactly what to say to convey the issue to kids in a way they will understand. Your children want you to be happy. They might not understand your addiction exactly, but they will appreciate that you are trying to do what’s best for you and the family. How to approach the subject with your child depends on his or her age.
Children under 10 should feel that they have the freedom to ask questions and speak directly about how they feel. Younger children can connect to feelings even if they do not understand what is happening. Avoid sounding like you are lecturing a tween or teen. Stick to the facts of your addiction. Be truthful and transparent about your addiction as a disease. Being honest from the start can help your family stick with you through your recovery journey.
Addiction treatment is as much psychological as it is physical. While it is important to detoxify the body from a drug or alcohol addiction, it is equally as critical to work on the mind. If someone is not ready to get treatment or really commit to sobriety, this mental or emotional obstacle can get in the way of recovery. The individual has to admit he or she has a problem and actively seek a solution for recovery to stick.
If you have a loved one who is not ready to accept treatment, you may want to consider planning an intervention. An intervention can shed light on the problem for your loved one. It could help him or her see the addiction from others’ points of view, such as siblings or parents. During an intervention, each person talks about how the addiction has affected him or her. This could convince the individual to mentally accept treatment. Otherwise, the individual may have to hit rock bottom before overcoming psychological barriers to recovery.
It’s easy to use lack of resources as an excuse not to seek treatment. Perhaps you do not know of any addiction treatment centers near you, or you do not have the means to conduct research. Yet there are most likely multiple treatment centers, addiction counselors, interventionists, and specialists near you. If lack of resources is your obstacle to addiction treatment, go online to find help centers in your area.
Maryland Recovery has counselors available for 100% confidential consultations available 24/7 at (877) 958-9370. We can connect you or your loved one to extended care programs and a unique approach to addiction treatment. Our team understands the most common obstacles standing in the way of addiction treatment and long-term recovery. We help individuals overcome these obstacles with tailored treatment plans. Learn more about our holistic and clinical recovery services. Contact us today.
Reviewed by Christopher Schwartfigure MS, LGPC, CAC-AD
