Reaching out for help when you’re dealing with addiction is one of those things that sounds simple in theory, but in real life it’s really hard. That’s why a lot of people put it off for ages, and they tell themselves it’s fine, or it’s not that serious, or that they’ll sort it out next week. And sometimes it’s not even that you don’t want help, it’s that you don’t know where to start, or you don’t want to admit it out loud. But asking for help is often the thing that changes everything, so keep reading to find out more.
Start Small
You don’t have to do it all right from the very start, and you don’t need to even know exactly what you’re going to say when you ask for help – you don’t need to plan it or rehearse it because no one expects you to (or needs you to).
Sometimes just saying something like you’re not doing great or you think you need some help can be enough to begin with because it opens up all kinds of new pathways to the future that you wouldn’t have had access to before.
Talk To Someone Who Can Actually Help
Friends and family can be amazing, but they can generally only take you so far, and getting professional help is often an important step to take, even if it feels very serious and hard to do.
You could talk to a GP, a therapist, an addiction service, and so on, and they’ll know what to do next, and the best part is they’re not going to be shocked because it’s literally what they’re there for.
Don’t Wait Until It Gets Worse
A lot of people feel like they need to hit some kind of rock bottom before they deserve to get help – after all, there are always people worse off, aren’t there? But that’s not the case, and waiting until it’s done a lot of damage is never a sensible option.
If it’s affecting your life, your health, your relationships, your peace of mind, and so on, that’s enough of a reason to reach out right now, rather than waiting until you think it’s the right level of bad.
Withdrawal Can Feel Scary
One thing that stops people asking for help might be the fear of withdrawal, which makes sense – it’s completely understandable. Stopping can definitely feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve heard horror stories or you’ve tried before.
For example, 7-oh withdrawal can come with anxiety discomfort, and that awful feeling of not knowing what’s coming next, but that’s exactly why medical support and help is there – the point is, you don’t have to do it alone, and you shouldn’t have to.
There Are Different Types Of Support
Help doesn’t have to look one specific way – some people need outpatient appointments, some need therapy, some need rehab, some need a mix of different things over time…
The important thing is that there’s a lot of support out there, and you can find something that works for you, which is why it’s wise to do exactly that.