Reasons to Go to Rehab

The thought of going into rehab can be difficult for both the addict and their loved ones. While some feel as if their addiction isn’t serious enough to require rehabilitation, others are simply afraid of what life will be like when they’re sober, so they wait it out. Unfortunately, rehab and drug addiction are often followed by stigma, as well, which many prefer to steer clear from. No matter the fear, there are many great reasons to go to rehab to keep in mind if you or a loved one is still unsure.

When Should Someone Go to Rehab?

When it comes to drug and alcohol abuse, it can be challenging for a person to admit their problem. But when substance abuse begins to negatively affect your life and the lives of the people around you, it’s important to reflect and review the signs that may indicate an active addiction. After all, the first step toward recovery is recognizing the problem.

For many, accepting their addiction comes after struggling and hitting “rock bottom,” which for some people occurs over the course of many years. Even if they don’t hit rock bottom, they may have other reasons to seek out drug or alcohol treatment. However, regardless of whether you’ve hit this point, if you believe that you’ve developed a drug or alcohol problem that’s affecting your life, then it’s time to get help.

If major areas of your life, such as your relationships, career, and health, are being negatively affected by your drug use or drinking, these are likely red flags of a serious addiction. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are diagnosed by healthcare professionals by assessing individuals for 11 criteria or symptoms that are grouped into 4 categories.

These criteria can be considered signs of when someone should go to rehab:

Physical Dependence:

• Tolerance: The individual may have developed a tolerance to drugs or alcohol. Tolerance refers to needing more of a substance to achieve the same effect. For instance, someone with a high alcohol tolerance may need to drink 8 to 12 beers to feel a buzz, whereas someone without a tolerance would only need 1 to 2.
• Withdrawal: The individual experiences unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance, resulting from dependence on this substance, that can be life-threatening and require medical attention. These may include nausea, frequent headaches, vomiting, sweating, or feeling sick after not using for a period of time or cutting back on the amount of use.

Risk Usage:

• Continued use of a substance despite the problems and dangers it presents.
• Repetitive usage in unsafe situations, such as drinking while driving or using drugs at work.

Social Problems:

• Continued substance use despite the harm it causes to employment, relationships, or social obligations. Examples include losing your job, coming into work high or intoxicated, or forgetting important events like birthdays and anniversaries.
• Family complaints, arguments, and altercations occur more frequently as a result of the individual’s drug or alcohol abuse.
• Meaningful relationships and activities the individual once enjoyed doing are reduced as a result of drug or alcohol abuse.

Impaired Control:

• Using for longer periods than intended, such as drinking more beers after telling yourself you’re only going to have one.
• Wanting to cut down on use or stop but not being able to.
• Cravings for drugs or alcohol that occur when you’re not using are intense and difficult to ignore.
• Spending excessive time trying to find, use, or recover from drug or alcohol abuse.

Substance use disorders are also broken down by severity depending on how many criteria you’ve met. For instance, if you met 2 of the 3 symptoms listed above, you’d likely be diagnosed with a mild substance use disorder. To be diagnosed with a severe substance use disorder, you’d have to meet 6 or more of the above-mentioned symptoms.

However, regardless of the intensity of your addiction, seeking professional care is still important for physical and mental recovery. Our Clearbrook rehab offers detox in PA that can help you or a loved one get started by addressing tough withdrawals and cravings.

Should I Go to Rehab?

Why someone would go to rehab varies from person to person. For some, the motivation to regain their physical health is enough. Others want to rebuild the relationships with loved ones that were damaged by drugs and alcohol. If you’re battling addiction and are looking for reasons to go to rehab, here are a few to consider:

• Quitting drugs without professional help can be dangerous: If you’ve been using drugs or alcohol for a long time, your body is likely highly dependent on these substances. As a result, you may experience some severe withdrawals when you try to cut back or quit. However, especially in cases of severe addiction, the withdrawal process can become complicated and life-threatening if medical help is not available. For this reason, people with severe or long-term addictions usually begin treatment at a rehab with a detox program that’s medically supervised to ensure they safely recover.
• Rehab can save your life: One of the most common reasons for rehabilitation is that it will save your life. Whether you’re on the brink of using so much that you’ll overdose, you’ve overdosed several times, or you’ve put yourself or loved ones in danger while high or intoxicated, rehab can help you.
• Rehab can also give you your life back: Not only can rehab (quite literally) save your life, but it can also give you your life back. With your sobriety comes the ability to make amends with loved ones you may have hurt during active addiction, get a new job, or go back to school. You also regain your mental sobriety, allowing you to make sound decisions, be honest, and simply enjoy life again.
• Rehab can teach you how to live a sober life: Not only does rehab help you get sober, but the specialists at our drug rehab in Pennsylvania also teach clients how to sustain their sobriety. Through various therapy programs, you can learn how to work through drug cravings, long-term withdrawals, stress, and other relapse triggers.
• Rehab can help you find yourself again: With your newfound sobriety comes physical and mental clarity, as well as the opportunity to get to know yourself again. What are your likes and dislikes outside of drugs or alcohol? What are some goals you may have for yourself now that you’re sober?
• Rehab can help you save your relationships: While most reasons for going to rehab are centered on personal growth, sobriety also comes with the added benefit of rebuilding broken relationships. Addiction often fosters deceitful actions, lying, stealing, and other behaviors that can hurt loved ones. As a newly sober individual, you learn to recognize your wrongs and are given the opportunity to apologize and possibly mend the relationship with the person.
• Rehab can help you build new relationships: Some of the best takeaways from rehab are the relationships formed during treatment. Having a strong support system of people who are on a similar path to sobriety is a reminder that you aren’t alone. Through group counseling, peer activities, mentorship programs, 12-step recovery meetings, alumni programs, and other support groups, you can develop sober, meaningful relationships with people who will support your recovery.

We can keep listing reasons to go to rehab, but at the end of the day, you have to choose for yourself. People who choose to go to rehab on their own are the ones who are most willing to make the changes necessary for living a sober life afterward.

If you or someone you care about wants to begin their recovery and doesn’t know how to start, know you can start with Clearbrook. Our Northeast addictions treatment center has addiction treatment in Pennsylvania that offers well-rounded care to ensure clients recover their physical and psychological health. No matter how long you’ve been addicted to drugs or alcohol, we can help.

To learn more about our Pennsylvania drug treatment and how to get started, call Clearbrook Treatment Centers today at 570-536-9621 or send us your contact information, and we’ll reach out to you as soon as possible.

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