How Do You Know When it is Time to Get Sober?

There is no strict guide that tells when the symptoms of substance abuse have reached their limit. However, when it begins to cause problems in other aspects of the addict’s life, it is a good time to consider getting sober. Here are just a few signs that it is time to make a change in your life.

Know the Signs of Addiction

According to a study by SAMHSA in 2014, about 20.2 million American adults suffered from a substance use disorder, and of that, 7.9 million people simultaneously suffered from a mental disorder due to some variation of substance abuse.

An addiction is an uncontrollable craving of the substance in question that is out of the individual’s control, and provokes the continual involvement of its use despite the consequences. Appropriately, the word “addiction” is a born from a Latin term that literally translates to “enslaved or bound by.”

Many addicts do not see this as a problem, and it can be very hard to change their minds despite the consequences that occur in theirs or their loved ones lives due to the addiction.

Decide to Change

The first step is admitting you have a problem and making the decision to change.

The biggest step toward recovery is the admittance that the addict needs to change their lifestyle, and to give up the drug of choice. It can hard to admit and the journey ahead is going to be a challenge, which can cause a lot of conflict in an addict’s decision.

When the substance abuse begins to make the addict wonder if they should get sober, it is most likely the best time to consider going sober. The realization that the substance abuse is the cause of many problems can be a hard one to accept for addicts but deciding to change can vastly alter the way an addict lives their life. Making the decision can change the way an individual deals with stress, chooses who is in their lives, what to do in their free time, and how they view their self-image.

What to Do

If an addict has decided to become sober, the first step that should be done is for the addict to look into rehab centers and find out which program will work best for them. It is important to know that it is not an instantaneous process, and according to NIDA, the most optimal amount of time for a patient to be in rehab is no less than 90 days.

Any less and it could affect the success or limit the effectiveness of the treatment. For loved ones, it is important to be there to support the addict when they reach out for it so that they can begin to rebuild their lives. Once their time in rehab is done, the individual must learn to keep the triggers and cravings in their lives in check to continue their sober existence.

While in rehab, the patient will learn more healthy ways to cope with the stress without the use of any sort of substance. From meditation to counseling, rehabilitation centers will help to curb the cravings and teach the individual how to deal with stress in a healthier way.

When an addict is ready to be sober, it is important to know the signs and for the addict to be able to make the decision to change in their lives. Once that change has become the permanent decision, he or she should seek out a rehabilitation center that has programs that will be best suited for their unique situation.

Before, during, and after rehab it is important that the addict have the support of their loved ones in order to properly reestablish their lives. If you or a loved one is suffering from substance abuse and needs help, call 800-256-3490 to speak with a caring specialist that can assist you.

Questions to Ask a Treatment Center before You Go