Getting Help For Addicts & Alcoholics: The Truth Behind The Lies

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Maybe you haven’t admitted it to yourself yet: Substance abuse has consumed your life. Or, maybe you’re attempting to convince a loved one that they need help, but they keep giving you excuse after excuse. Either way, it’s important to know that denial in itself is a major symptom of addiction. Addicts and alcoholics use excuses every day in an attempt to hide how much their substance abuse affects their lives — from others and from themselves. They create excuses to drink and use, excuses for not showing up to work, and even excuses for why they can’t get help for their addiction.

The truth is that giving excuses over and over again only prolongs the pain and suffering. The sooner you can break through them, the sooner you or your loved one can begin to live a better life in recovery. Here are some of the most common excuses we hear for avoiding treatment — and why the person saying them probably still needs help.

“I Can’t Afford Treatment”

The reality is, you can’t afford not to get treatment for your substance abuse. The longer you stay in denial or avoid getting help, the more likely health, legal, and financial issues will pile up. Getting help from a residential addiction treatment program is more cost-effective than paying for hospital bills or legal bills associated with your addiction. Ultimately, you have two choices: Pay now and get help, or pay later — even, potentially, with your life.

Yes, some addiction treatment programs can be expensive, but finding a facility that is in-network with your health insurance can help you get a significant reduction in price or even have it completely covered. If you don’t know where to start, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration( https://www.samhsa.gov/) at (800) 662-4357 and ask for a list of addiction treatment programs that are in-network with your insurance. Once you find a residential addiction treatment facility that does take your insurance, it’s easy to speak with an addiction administrator. At Acqua Recovery, you can reach out to us by phone, fill out our contact form online, or chat directly to one of our caring admissions specialists to see if your insurance will cover treatment. If not, we can help you find one that will.

Most residential treatment centers will work with you to consider your financial situation and figure out a payment plan that’s doable for you. Financial concerns should never stop someone from finding help, because every life is priceless.

“I Can’t Miss Work for Rehab”

Addicts and alcoholics often tell themselves and others that they can’t miss work for thirty to ninety days to seek treatment. Maybe you hold a leadership position within a company and think that it can’t run without you. No matter your position, though, the truth is that you’re already giving less than 100% if you’re struggling with addiction. Take care of yourself now, so you can become a greater asset to your company — through recovery.

If you’re concerned about losing your job, don’t be. It is illegal for a company to fire you for taking time off to receive addiction treatment. Approach HR and let them know you need to take a leave of absence. Their response might surprise you: They probably will be helpful in any way they can, because you are a valuable asset to the company. While you take a leave of absence for a residential addiction treatment program, you can apply for disability insurance through your state’s Employment Development Department, so you won’t lose your income during that period of time.

At Acqua Recovery, our caring staff will help you in any way we can so you can stress less and continue to focus on your recovery. Sitting next to our calm waters and whispering trees, you can finally find a sanctuary away from work — and substances.

“I’m Not an Addict or Alcoholic”

Maybe you’re not sure if you have a problem or haven’t admitted it to yourself; either way being honest with yourself is step one. The truth is, if alcohol or drugs are causing issues in your life, it’s a problem.

Secrecy and denial often come along with addiction. Do you fib about the amount of alcohol or drugs you consume on a regular basis? Are you hiding your use from those close to you? Do you get really defensive when someone suggests you drink or use too much?

If you’re attempting to convince yourself and those around you that you don’t have a problem, shift the question to, “Would my life be better without the substance?” Sometimes it takes a good amount of time away from our substance to realize how consumed our life was by it.

At Acqua Recovery, we understand admitting you have a problem is hard, because we’ve been there too. We believe that there is more than one path to recovery, so we will guide you to finding the path that works best for you through individualized treatment, group therapy, experiential activities, and sobriety support groups. You don’t have to wait until it gets “that bad” before you get help. If it’s affecting your life at all, you deserve help.

“I Can Stop On My Own”

Maybe you’re telling yourself or a concerned loved one that you can stop on your own. However, addiction is a disease and just like any other disease it needs to be treated by professionals. Stopping drug or alcohol use suddenly can lead to withdrawals or even death. Even if you do try stopping on your own, the emotional scars from trauma and mental health disorders fuel your addiction. Unless treated properly you will be stuck in the vicious cycle of addiction.

At Acqua Recovery, our masters-level clinicians use a trauma-informed approach and dual diagnosis treatment to help safely guide you to recovery. This means that we treat the underlying trauma and mental health disorders that may fuel your addiction. For more information on trauma-fueled addiction, click here.

Finding the right residential treatment center is also imperative for addiction recovery. At Acqua Recovery, we track our patient’s treatment outcomes, so we can continue to better our program and give you the best treatment for substance abuse possible. We combine medically-informed therapies with experiential and meditative activities to deliver a holistic recovery experience.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, stop using excuses to avoid addiction treatment. This is your life. Are you really living it the way you want to be? Acqua Recovery can help you rediscover yourself and renew your life for the better — without drugs or  alcohol. Reach out to us today to take the first step.

Getting Help For Addicts & Alcoholics: The Truth Behind The Lies

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Dr. Daniel Pickrell

Dr. Daniel Pickrell
Medical Reviewer

Dr. Pickrell is a board-certified psychiatrist with interests in addiction and psychiatry. He strives to identify the underlying cause of substance use. His understanding of addiction as the overlapping symptoms of biopsychosocial development is the foundation to his care model. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness. He has been involved in the treatment of addiction for the last 17 years and completed his residency training at the University of Utah.

By: Acqua Recovery

Maybe you haven’t admitted it to yourself yet: Substance abuse has consumed your life. Or, maybe you’re attempting to convince a loved one that they need help, but they keep giving you excuse after excuse. Either way, it’s important to know that denial in itself is a major symptom of addiction. Addicts and alcoholics use excuses every day in an attempt to hide how much their substance abuse affects their lives — from others and from themselves. They create excuses to drink and use, excuses for not showing up to work, and even excuses for why they can’t get help for their addiction.

The truth is that giving excuses over and over again only prolongs the pain and suffering. The sooner you can break through them, the sooner you or your loved one can begin to live a better life in recovery. Here are some of the most common excuses we hear for avoiding treatment — and why the person saying them probably still needs help.

“I Can’t Afford Treatment”

The reality is, you can’t afford not to get treatment for your substance abuse. The longer you stay in denial or avoid getting help, the more likely health, legal, and financial issues will pile up. Getting help from a residential addiction treatment program is more cost-effective than paying for hospital bills or legal bills associated with your addiction. Ultimately, you have two choices: Pay now and get help, or pay later — even, potentially, with your life.

Yes, some addiction treatment programs can be expensive, but finding a facility that is in-network with your health insurance can help you get a significant reduction in price or even have it completely covered. If you don’t know where to start, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration( https://www.samhsa.gov/) at (800) 662-4357 and ask for a list of addiction treatment programs that are in-network with your insurance. Once you find a residential addiction treatment facility that does take your insurance, it’s easy to speak with an addiction administrator. At Acqua Recovery, you can reach out to us by phone, fill out our contact form online, or chat directly to one of our caring admissions specialists to see if your insurance will cover treatment. If not, we can help you find one that will.

Most residential treatment centers will work with you to consider your financial situation and figure out a payment plan that’s doable for you. Financial concerns should never stop someone from finding help, because every life is priceless.

“I Can’t Miss Work for Rehab”

Addicts and alcoholics often tell themselves and others that they can’t miss work for thirty to ninety days to seek treatment. Maybe you hold a leadership position within a company and think that it can’t run without you. No matter your position, though, the truth is that you’re already giving less than 100% if you’re struggling with addiction. Take care of yourself now, so you can become a greater asset to your company — through recovery.

If you’re concerned about losing your job, don’t be. It is illegal for a company to fire you for taking time off to receive addiction treatment. Approach HR and let them know you need to take a leave of absence. Their response might surprise you: They probably will be helpful in any way they can, because you are a valuable asset to the company. While you take a leave of absence for a residential addiction treatment program, you can apply for disability insurance through your state’s Employment Development Department, so you won’t lose your income during that period of time.

At Acqua Recovery, our caring staff will help you in any way we can so you can stress less and continue to focus on your recovery. Sitting next to our calm waters and whispering trees, you can finally find a sanctuary away from work — and substances.

“I’m Not an Addict or Alcoholic”

Maybe you’re not sure if you have a problem or haven’t admitted it to yourself; either way being honest with yourself is step one. The truth is, if alcohol or drugs are causing issues in your life, it’s a problem.

Secrecy and denial often come along with addiction. Do you fib about the amount of alcohol or drugs you consume on a regular basis? Are you hiding your use from those close to you? Do you get really defensive when someone suggests you drink or use too much?

If you're attempting to convince yourself and those around you that you don’t have a problem, shift the question to, “Would my life be better without the substance?” Sometimes it takes a good amount of time away from our substance to realize how consumed our life was by it.

At Acqua Recovery, we understand admitting you have a problem is hard, because we’ve been there too. We believe that there is more than one path to recovery, so we will guide you to finding the path that works best for you through individualized treatment, group therapy, experiential activities, and sobriety support groups. You don’t have to wait until it gets “that bad” before you get help. If it’s affecting your life at all, you deserve help.

“I Can Stop On My Own”

Maybe you’re telling yourself or a concerned loved one that you can stop on your own. However, addiction is a disease and just like any other disease it needs to be treated by professionals. Stopping drug or alcohol use suddenly can lead to withdrawals or even death. Even if you do try stopping on your own, the emotional scars from trauma and mental health disorders fuel your addiction. Unless treated properly you will be stuck in the vicious cycle of addiction.

At Acqua Recovery, our masters-level clinicians use a trauma-informed approach and dual diagnosis treatment to help safely guide you to recovery. This means that we treat the underlying trauma and mental health disorders that may fuel your addiction. For more information on trauma-fueled addiction, click here.

Finding the right residential treatment center is also imperative for addiction recovery. At Acqua Recovery, we track our patient’s treatment outcomes, so we can continue to better our program and give you the best treatment for substance abuse possible. We combine medically-informed therapies with experiential and meditative activities to deliver a holistic recovery experience.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, stop using excuses to avoid addiction treatment. This is your life. Are you really living it the way you want to be? Acqua Recovery can help you rediscover yourself and renew your life for the better — without drugs or  alcohol. Reach out to us today to take the first step.

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