With the holidays getting closer and closer, many people have decided to put off drug and alcohol treatment. That’s natural; we think of this as a festive time, so we don’t want to “ruin” it with substance abuse treatment. However, for veterans especially, this mindset can have dangerous and far-reaching consequences.
Today, we’re going to look at the reasons why you should enroll in drug and alcohol treatment before the new year. Because while addiction treatment may not be the holiday experience we all dream of, it’s a necessary for millions of military personnel that should not be put off.
Table of Contents
1. Addiction Doesn’t Take a Break
Most often, when individuals don’t want to enroll in a drug or alcohol rehab, it’s because they hope to enjoy the holidays with family. But if you have an untreated substance use disorder, there’s a real chance that having happy holidays at home isn’t an option for you. Addiction can be hard to fight off, especially on big days like holidays, and drinking or drug use can easily derail family holiday plans.
This is doubly true for veterans with co-occurring mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When mental health flare ups accompany alcohol or drug abuse, it’s easy for holiday plans to turn into a holiday bender. That doesn’t make for a fun holiday for you or your loved ones, so the best thing to do is address addiction issues immediately rather than trying to ignore them. It may seem counterintuitive, but a holiday spent at a rehab is better than a holiday spent drinking or using.
2. Now Might Be the Cheapest Time to Go to Rehab
If you have health insurance, then your insurer will provide some amount of support for inpatient treatment at an addiction treatment center. However, how much you pay can depend on the time of year you go. If you’ve already met your deductible this year, paying for rehab will be much easier now before it resets in January. For that reason, the end of the year might actually be the best time to enroll at a treatment facility!
3. We All Need Extra Support Right Now
As coronavirus rates continue to skyrocket, more and more people are struggling with the mental health effects. From stress related to job loss to social isolation, veterans face many mental health challenges this holiday season. And without support, this could endanger veterans who try to “tough it out” through the holidays.
It’s okay to acknowledge that you need help, especially during this uniquely vulnerable season. In fact, by enrolling in an alcohol or drug rehab, you’re making improvements that will enable you to better control your mental health. We all have to find ways to get through these tough times, but there’s no reason that you should have to do that alone.
4. There Will Always Be a Reason Not to Go
With addiction, you will always find a reason to avoid treating it. That’s not a personal failure on your part; it’s the nature of addiction. There will always be some obligation, some logistical issue, or some convenient reason not to seek drug and alcohol treatment. Your job, if you want to beat addiction, is to see past these excuses and commit to doing the work now.
At a rehab program, you’ll learn to recognize the lies that addiction tells you, including the lie that you should wait to get help. For United States veterans, overcoming obstacles is nothing new. That impulse to avoid rehab is just another obstacle, and it’s one that you have the power to overcome.
5. You Don’t Have to Wait to Feel Better
Almost nobody is happy to live with addiction. It takes so much from you, including professional opportunities, personal relationships, and even your health. But if you seek help for alcohol or drug addiction, you can start recovering from addiction today.
Oftentimes, it’s hard for veterans to imagine life without a substance use disorder. But you need to know that life can get better, and you don’t have to be saddled with the burdens of active addiction for the rest of your life. There are veteran rehab facilities in Florida that are ready and willing to help you end this year strong by confronting your addiction and any related invisible wounds of war.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Can Work for You
There are plenty of reasons to enroll in an addiction treatment program right now. The treatment options and levels of care that you need will depend on your unique situation, but when you attend a drug and alcohol treatment center for veterans, you can feel secure in the knowledge that they are prepared to help you with your veteran-specific issues.
For some individuals, the first step may be to enroll in an alcohol and drug detox. Quitting alcohol or drugs “cold turkey” can have serious consequences, and detox at a treatment facility is the perfect way to quit drugs and alcohol while safeguarding your health. With 24/7 medical supervision, detox programs can give you the perfect start on your path to recovery.
From there, most people will transition to inpatient treatment for addiction. This level of care is where you will learn the foundations of recovery. These coping mechanisms will empower you to get and stay drug-and alcohol-free not only now, but in the long-term. If detox is where you shed the physical aspects of addiction, inpatient treatment is where you begin to address the psychological nature of addiction.
After completing inpatient rehab, most people will transition to outpatient treatment. This can take the form of a partial hospitalization program, an intensive outpatient program, or both. These outpatient treatment options are specially designed to help you transition from 24/7 care to staying sober in daily life. If inpatient treatment lays the foundation of recovery, outpatient treatment can help you apply those lessons in the real world.
As you can see, a full continuum of care can help you overcome your substance use disorder, and there’s no reason to wait. “Now” is always the best time to get help for an addiction!
Would you like to learn more about how we help veterans recover from addiction? Call our admissions specialists at 888-838-6692 or ask your questions online and we’ll get back to you very soon. If you’re ready to get help, then your addiction recovery can start today.
The post 5 Reasons to Start Drug and Alcohol Treatment Before 2021 appeared first on Heroes’ Mile Veterans Recovery Center.
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Original Author: Heroes’ Mile
