This is the third entry in our series dedicated to replacing bad ideas about substance use disorders and recovery with facts. You can read the first two entries here and here.
When it comes to substance use disorders, misinformation is particularly dangerous. After all, when drugs or alcohol are involved, decisions made based on the wrong information can have serious—even deadly—consequences. That is certainly the case when it comes to the first bad idea we will tackle in this entry. And the second myth we are looking to bust can also lead you down the wrong road—including to a relapse.
You don’t need to get help for a substance use disorder until you hit rock bottom! WRONG!
“Rock bottom” is hard to define—and that is a big problem.
All too often, a person who is using drugs or alcohol will set a random limit for themselves. They will think of that limit as “rock bottom.” At the time, that imagined limit might feel like it is as low as they could possibly go.
For example, a person who realizes they are drinking more than they really should might decide that it is fine as long as they never get behind the wheel of a car after drinking. But then one evening after knocking several drinks back, they do get behind the wheel—and make it home without incident. So, they decide to redefine “rock bottom.”
Now, the limit is getting pulled over for driving under the influence. If they don’t get picked up, they must be doing fine, right? They are able to convince themselves that they have not reached rock bottom.
But, of course, each and every time they drive after drinking, they are putting themselves and others at grave risk. They may well have a horrific accident before they are ever picked up by law enforcement, and the result may be truly tragic.
Our message here is simple: “Rock bottom” is not the right standard for deciding when you need help for a substance use disorder. The right time to seek out treatment is the very moment you suspect you have developed an issue with drugs or alcohol. Putting it off means more suffering—for you and possibly for others as well.
If You Get Sober, You Won’t Ever Have Fun Again! WRONG
Maybe you started using drugs or drinking alcohol as a way to break down your inhibitions or enhance your good time. After a while, you might decide that drugs or alcohol are essential for you to have fun—especially if the ingestion of substances is a key part of your social scene.
You might come to believe that you need drugs or alcohol to fuel your fun. You might also associate using drugs or drinking with spending time with your friends. It might feel as though fun, friends, and drugs or alcohol are wholly intertwined.
At some point, you will certainly realize that you need to reclaim your sobriety. But you might be reluctant to pursue treatment because you are afraid a sober life will be an endlessly boring life.
Even after treatment, you may struggle to overcome the notion that you can only have fun when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. And that puts you at ongoing risk of experiencing a relapse.
That is why it is essential to nip this notion in the bud. A sober life can be a vibrant life, filled with supportive friends, engaging activities, and many, many things to be grateful for. Making a conscious choice to redefine the way you think about fun is a powerful way to protect your sobriety.
Something You Can Count On: We Can Help
There is a lot of misinformation in the world, but there are things you can truly count on. One of those things is that French Creek Recovery Center—located in Meadville, Pennsylvania—can help you reclaim and maintain your sobriety.
We offer medically supervised detoxification that allows you to get sober in a safe environment that is free of temptations that might set you back. Getting through the rigors of withdrawal is a challenge best faced in a treatment facility where your well-being is paramount.
We follow detoxification with a rehabilitation program that includes both individual and group therapy sessions as well as treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. This is important because mental health disorders and substance use disorders are often entangled.
Once you have completed residential treatment at French Creek Recovery Center, you will have access to our continuum of care, which is designed to ensure you have the support and resources you need to launch your recovery journey with confidence.