Addiction & the Right Moment to Approach
Referral Service to
Private Treatment Centers in Canada
Referral Service to
Private Treatment Centers in Canada
Most substance abusers who have lost control of their drug or alcohol use will search out, by whatever means, their next fix or hit. Then there’s the substance user who still goes to work and hides it.
They find ways so co-workers and friends won’t find out. They will stop by the drug dealers, pick up their dose and hide their use for the next few days.
More on signs of addiction here.
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The day comes in every addicted person’s life when someone close will insist that they get help with detox or drug rehab. Sometimes, a person will deny a problem, oppose, blame, or generally refuse any help. Others can outright point the finger at you for accusing them of having a problem and tend to make it about you and your distrust, etc.
But testimonies from many recovering individuals state, “I should have listened when the family told me to go to a detox or the addiction treatment program.” Many a time, there is a strange phenomenon that occurs when a substance misuser is first approached to get help with their addiction. The abuser can actually begin to get worse and use more.
The phenomenon at play here can be referred to as a “guilt of discovery,” for example. When someone is deeply entrenched in drug or alcohol abuse, they often fail to realize the seriousness of their condition. Realizing that their family and friends know about the situation compounds the problem.
As these loved ones confront the individual, the overwhelming sense of shame and guilt that follows can be profound. Now, the person faces this intense emotional shame and lacks immediate solutions. The individual can tend to turn to more drugs or alcohol in an attempt to numb their feelings.
But every once in a while, and family & friends should be attentive to this, the substance user will have a moment of clarity. It’s a small moment of recognition that all is not well.
This could be for a few hours, half a day or a whole day. And in many cases, the struggling abuser will contact someone they trust and reach out for help. This is a very key moment to do all one can to get this person into a Detox and addiction treatment program as fast as possible. Once the withdrawal symptoms begin to settle in, the person will be off using again and may do so for weeks, months, or even years before another moment surfaces for help.
Remember that even if the person says they can stop on their own, they cannot. The symptoms of withdrawal can be very difficult on the body and mind and require professional care. Experienced detox and rehab personnel are there to assist the person through these moments. It is where professional addiction specialists are at their best.
The above information is good to remember the next time your son, daughter, spouse or co-worker reaches out for help. You need to act, get in touch with a professional addiction specialist or contact a drug rehab center. Do all you can to keep the person interested in that help.
This means listening to them and letting them know you are there for them. Find out how they would like to deal with this issue. Get their opinion and views on their situation. Don’t just brush it off with a “go-to detox,” etc.
Also, it’s best not to be reasonable or add time. Act fast because this moment of clarity may not last. It’s a matter of hours or days before they no longer want help and return to a daily life of misery and hell.