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Addiction is a terrible disease. It can destroy and end lives. Millions of Americans and Canadians suffer from addiction, and the powerful disease can make those people feel trapped.
But there are ways forward through addiction and out of the cycle of substance abuse. If you’re suffering from addiction, you have options. Here are a few to consider as soon as possible. Now is the time to take action and take back control of your life
Hotlines and emergency help
A symptom of addiction is denial, which often brings with it can prevent addicts from seeking help until it’s too late. If you find yourself in a dire situation, you need to act fast. And while a thoughtful mental health plan can and should follow, the important thing in dangerous situations is to act fast.
If you’re in danger, call 911. If you feel that you need to talk to someone about your problem as soon as possible (but that you don’t need medical help right away), call the National Helpline at 1-800-622-HELP instead. Operators are manning that hotline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Therapy and counseling
A substance abuse problem is not something that you can deal with on your own. It’s absolutely imperative that you seek professional help.
Happily, many wonderful counselors, therapists, and psychologists can help you evaluate and combat your substance abuse problem. Addiction is a mental illness as well as a physical problem, and it’s vital that you work with professionals.
This doesn’t have to mean showing up regularly to a therapist’s office. Thanks to the internet, online addiction counseling is an option now, too.
Inpatient and outpatient rehab
Substance abuse problems are insidious. Addictions are more than just habits, but the habitual nature of them makes them even harder to fight back against. In addition to physical cravings, addicts deal with stresses and habit triggers that can be dangerous to those seeking recovery.
That’s why drug rehab centers can be such a great option, explain experts who operate a rehab center for Canadian and American patients. Outpatient rehab centers can provide a controlled setting and structure, while inpatient options can remove addicts from their typical environments (and keep them away from all of the triggers within those environments) while giving them time and space to focus on the most important thing: battling the substance abuse problem.
Support groups and long-term care
Kicking a substance abuse problem is incredibly difficult, but it is possible. When you’re free of the grip of your cycle of substance abuse, you’ll have a chance to put your life back together and start to build the life you’ve dreamed of.
But make no mistake: While a substance abuse problem can be banished from your life, addiction never can be. Addicts, experts believe, are addicts for life. There will always be the threat of relapse, and addicts can never safely return to their substance of choice without the near certainty of kicking off a full-fledged substance abuse problem once again.
To stay on your recovery path, you’ll have to take things one day at a time. It will help enormously to get ongoing support. Regular visits to a therapist are a smart move, and support groups (including 12-step programs that focus on recovery as well as extended sobriety) are powerful tools for staying accountable and engaged with your new life.
Recovery isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. Sober life contains all of the joys and painful moments of a life fully lived. Choose that life for yourself.
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