If you’ve been struggling with an active drug or alcohol addiction and are ready to commit to a life of sobriety, you have likely already accepted you can’t do it alone. Seeking help at an accredited rehab center can help you get back on your feet and allow you to make a fresh start.
However, many addicts are reluctant to go to rehab, even when they have come to terms with the reality that they have lost control of their lives. Perhaps they are intimidated by the idea of the changes the process will require them to make, or worried about how to tell people they are going to rehab. But why would you be afraid of something you know is going to heal you and make you a better person? Here’s why you shouldn’t be afraid to enter treatment.
Fears That Hold You Back From Recovery
Intimidation about undergoing addiction recovery is one of the most frequent obstacles standing between people with substance misuse disorders and the life-saving treatment they need. Whether you are feeling anxious about what the process itself will entail, or worried that other people will treat you differently when they learn you are struggling with an addiction, here are some ways to address and move past the intimidation.
1. Fear of What Others Think
Unfortunately, there is still a stigma around addiction, even though it has been well-documented that addiction is a chronic illness and not a sign of moral weakness. One reason you may be dragging your feet about entering addiction treatment is that you are worried people in your life will be judgmental, instead of offering the support you need.
However, your health and happiness should be your highest priority – not what people think about you. Don’t let others intimidate you into ignoring your needs. Those who truly care about you will understand, and will stick by you when times are tough.
2. Fear of Facing Your Feelings
People with substance misuse issues come to rely on drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism to help them repress feelings such as anxiety, stress, sadness and trauma. Rather than processing their emotions constructively, they obscure them behind a haze of toxic substances.
You may feel intimidated when you start thinking about what you’ll do when you’re sober and you no longer have alcohol or drugs as a crutch. It’s true that people in early recovery often face a flood of emotions they’ve kept dammed up for years. But part of your addiction treatment program will include individual and group therapy, where you will learn new strategies for improving your mental health.
3. Fear of Trusting Others
One factor that makes addiction especially insidious is how it chips away at the foundation of your life until it begins to crack and crumble. Though you might feel as if you are in control of your life, your addiction is taking over.
In many ways, entering treatment is a leap of faith. You are surrendering yourself to the care of other people and trusting that they will help you reach a place of healing. You will also need to admit that you can’t solve your problems all by yourself, which can be frightening for someone who has been in denial and self-imposed isolation for years.
If you start to feel intimidated or overwhelmed, remind yourself that the addiction professionals at your treatment facility have your best interests at heart, and they want you to get better.
Your Second Chance Starts Here
Life doesn’t give you many opportunities to start over and undo mistakes you’ve made in the past. There’s no reason not to embrace the new possibilities sobriety will introduce you to. At Vista Taos, we offer a private residential rehab program that blends the traditional 12-step model with integrated therapies such as massage, yoga, acupuncture and meditation to help you heal mentally, physically and emotionally. Call us to learn more about starting your treatment at our well-appointed New Mexico facility.
