Only YOU can decide if it’s time to get sober in the new year. The New Year is a time of rebirth and renewal. People around the world typically reflect on the past year and look forward to a new year of growth, opportunities and experiences. Perhaps you’ve done some reflections of your own and have decided you need help for a substance use problem.
It’s important to know that there’s never a wrong time to enter drug rehab (Awakenings Treatment Center is located in beautiful Agoura Hills, California). There are programs for all severities of addiction. Even if your addiction is mild, you can benefit from the structure and support of an outpatient program.
Here are four signs that show it’s truly time to get sober in the New Year.
1. You’ve separated from friends and family.
As your addiction progresses, it moves you further and further away from your loved ones. After all, it’s hard to spend valuable time with friends and family when drugs and alcohol take up all your time and energy. And for your loved ones, they’ve probably had no choice but to detach.
Without substance use treatment, addiction will continue to come in between your relationships. You could ultimately lose the ones you love for good. By starting your recovery, you can begin to mend your relationships. Having your connections back will make it easier to recover, too, as you’ll have a great team supporting you.
2. Your physical health is a concern.
It doesn’t take long for the physical effects of regular drug or alcohol use to begin showing. Not only are there the physical effects – large pupils, increased heart rate, slowed breathing – but also drug users tend to fall back on their grooming habits. They may stop shaving, wearing makeup or taking regular showers.
Have people commented on your physical health? When was the last time you went to the doctor? If your health is at stake, it’s time to quit drugs and alcohol. Your health will only worsen if you continue to use these substances. In fact, one study found that people who are hospitalized with alcohol use disorder die an average of 24 to 28 years earlier than the general population.
3. You are dealing with legal problems.
Legal issues are no stranger to drug users. When a person is under the influence, they’re more likely to engage in criminal behavior, such as domestic violence, erratic driving, prostitution or stealing. They do this because they’re not thinking clearly, and/or because they need money to pay for drugs or alcohol.
Legal problems are expensive, and if you don’t change your behavior, the fines will pile up. You could even end up in prison for many years – jail sentences are often long! Over 80 percent of inmates have an active substance use disorder and were incarcerated for a crime involving drugs or drug use.
Getting sober allows you to focus on resolving your legal problems, so that you can lead a free life.
4. Your life has become unmanageable.
What did the past year look like for you? If it was nothing but turmoil caused by your addiction, it’s time to face your struggles. Addiction has made your life unmanageable – just as it always does. Some of the biggest issues that can result from an active addiction are:
- Work problems
- Damaged relationships
- Poor living conditions
- Criminal activity
- Mental health problems
- Physical problems
- Legal/financial difficulties
Commit to Sobriety Today!
Addiction does not get better on its own. It requires treatment as other conditions do, and fortunately, the therapies we have available are effective. Awakenings Treatment Center offers a wide range of treatments and therapies, so that our clients have the greatest chances of success.
Between evidence-based, holistic and alternative therapies, you can work on healing in a way that makes sense for you. Contact our admissions team to learn about the next steps to recovery. Let’s make it a new year that you look back on for the right reasons!
