Why Substance Abuse Addicts Refuse to Seek Help

Why Substance Abuse Addicts Refuse to Seek Help

A person suffering from alcohol or drug addiction faces the risk of developing various mental and physical health complications. For instance, their substance abuse might contribute to heart attack, nerve damage, liver failure, brain damage, overdose, and even death. Also, substance abuse can lead to mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, paranoia, anxiety, and depression.

Not only that, continued substance abuse can ruin a person’s relationship with co-workers, friends, and family members. When considering the various issues associated with substance use and abuse, one might wonder why addicts are reluctant to seek help in addiction recovery centers. Below are the main reasons that help to explain that:

Denial of the Disease

Most addicts fear to believe that their drug use is problematic even if others have informed them. Most addicts feel the negative effects of their drug use, but they fail to accept that the drugs directly relate to such effects. Therefore, it becomes difficult to seek help if one cannot admit that they have an issue.

Fear to open up

Most people who enter treatment centers are expected to go to therapists and engage in group therapy. Such a prospect might be frightening, especially to men who are reluctant to seek assistance for mental health problems and talk about their feelings. In particular, treatment encompasses revisiting saddening emotions and memories, and most patients might have forgotten such experiences.

Therefore, feelings of shame and reluctance to open up can make one avoid therapy entirely. However, a good therapist will not compel the patient to talk about issues they are not ready to expose.

They are afraid of the stigma

It requires significant courage, motivation, and determination to seek treatment at a drug rehabilitation center. However, fear deters most addicts from looking for help. In particular, they fear that the whole withdrawal and detoxification process is due to perceived dangers, failed past attempts, and ignorance. Also, most drug addicts do not wish to seek treatment due to fear of the judgment of others. In other words, they do not want to stand out, be punished, and be looked at wrongly.

Unfortunately, the negative judgment in society has detrimental consequences for the patient who might want to seek treatment. For instance, negative perception can contribute to unworthiness, low self-confidence, low self-esteem among the addicts seeking help.

They lack knowledge of where to seek help

It can be hard for addicts to know where they can receive the appropriate help in some cases. In particular, they might feel unsure, apathetic, and hopeless if others can offer them help. Also, they do not consider it necessary to research into finding the appropriate drug rehabilitation center. Although they might uncover a nearby facility, they might be living several miles away from it and might not have the means of travel. Not only that, they might not understand the available treatment options.

They cannot afford it

In most cases, substance abuse treatment is associated with costs that vary depending on the facility. In particular, the therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other professionals who assist millions of people to recover from substance-use disorders commit their knowledge and time, and they might be working on a full-time basis. Unfortunately, most people battling drug addiction do not attempt to seek help since they believe it is costly.

Admittedly, before one enters a treatment facility, one needs to consider the available types of treatment, length of stay at a facility, insurance coverage, and therapy provided after treatment. However, if the patients know that their insurance caters for treatment, it can be one way to help them determine their eligible treatment. Also, other treatment facilities have rehabilitation grants, scholarships, and sliding scale programs that some addicts might not know.

There are several reasons why people battling drug addiction do not seek the help they need. Such a case explains why all people worldwide should openly talk about substance use, addiction, and strategies for recovery. In other words, people suffering from substance-use disorders should know that they can find help near them, and recovery is possible for every person, regardless of the severity of their disorder. If you want to uncover more about substance abuse treatment and recovery, you can look at Austin drug rehab.

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