You may have heard that addiction is a disease, and you may also know that most people don’t choose to become addicts. They start using a substance because they like the way it makes them feel. The next thing they know, they’re addicted to it, and their life is out of control. While it’s true that almost nobody chooses to become addicted, it’s also true that only the addict can choose to get sober.
Most drug addicts and alcoholics are surrounded by people who love them and want to help them. These people can do many things. They can provide emotional support, find treatment options, encourage changes in behavior, and offer their love. They can nag, fight, get angry and plead with the addict. The one thing they can’t do is make the addict choose sobriety. Only the addict can decide that it’s time to change their life.
Why Sobriety Is a Personal Choice
From the outside, an addict’s life looks terrible. At one time, the person had a wonderful life filled with friends, family, success at work and a circle of close friends. Now, they’re physically sick, living in squalor, spending time with dangerous people, and losing everything they owned. Most of them can’t hold down jobs, and many have lost the support of their friends and family.
From the outside, it looks like sobriety is the obvious choice. So, why does an addict say no to recovery? Why are they so resistant to change? There are several reasons.
- They don’t believe they have a problem. Otherwise known as denial, this is a refusal to accept that their problem is serious. They may admit it when they’re suffering from the consequences of their addiction, but once the drug gets its grip on them, they forget that moment of clarity.
- They fear failure. With high relapse rates after rehab, an addict may wonder, why bother? What they need to know is that relapses are part of the cycle of recovery. They also forget that even short stretches of sobriety can improve their lives.
- They’re afraid of withdrawal. When an addict goes without their substance involuntarily, they feel physically and mentally terrible. They are afraid that going to rehab will mean they’re in a constant state of painful, uncomfortable withdrawal. That isn’t true, but the fear is real, and it can be overwhelming.
- They are using drugs or alcohol as a crutch. The person may have started drinking as a way of coping with problems in their lives. They may be dealing with past trauma, loneliness, loss, family problems or a sense of despair about their lives. Using drugs or alcohol helps them mask their feelings, and they’re afraid of what will happen when they stop. As you can see, fear is the underlying factor in all those reasons. How do you overcome an addict’s fear of rehab and help them choose sobriety? You do it by having a plan.
Successful Sobriety Requires a Plan
Every drug addict and alcoholic who made it successfully to sobriety did it by choosing sobriety and having a solid plan in place. It’s not enough to just go to rehab. When a person is ready to get sober, they must change their lifestyle. In many cases, this lifestyle change involves three steps.
- Attend the right treatment center. The right treatment center offers personalized care and focused therapy. It may be outpatient or inpatient, but it must provide therapy that explores the causes of the addiction and the substance user’s fears about sobriety.
- Move to a sober living home. For many people, relapse is almost guaranteed if they return to their home environment. Many former addicts find they can prevent relapses by spending time in a sober living home. Some choose to live in a sober home during treatment, and others enter the home after completing rehab. A sober living home gives a former addict the opportunity to learn how to live without drugs.
- Find ongoing support. Successful recovery means surrounding yourself with people who support your sobriety and are not addicts themselves. It’s too dangerous for addicts to spend time with people who are actively using drugs or alcohol. Successful sobriety means choosing new friends and new activities.
Are You Ready?
If you’re ready to choose sobriety, we can help. Our trained counselors are available 24-7 to help you find the right treatment options. Call us any time at 833-285-1315.
