Have you been asking yourself, “Do I need rehab?” or “How do I know if I need rehab?”
If so, this is an encouraging sign. The latest SAMHSA data shows that while 40 million U.S. adults had substance use disorders in 2020, less than 10% engage with professional addiction treatment.
At Gratitude Lodge, we are here to help.
NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) defines addiction as a chronic, relapsing, and incurable brain condition. Fortunately, both alcoholism and drug addiction typically respond positively to evidence-based treatment.
Recovery is a lifelong process but admitting that you have a problem and considering the question, “Do I need to go to rehab” is the first vital step on the road to recovery.
You might still be uncertain, though. Perhaps you feel that your addiction to drink or drugs is not severe enough to justify treatment at rehab. Maybe the perceived cost of rehab is stopping you from exploring treatment options. Today’s guide will help to clear up any confusion, starting with a glimpse at the most common warning signs that indicate rehab would be worthwhile.
When Is Rehab Needed?: Understanding the Warning Signs
If the way you use prescription medications, alcohol, or illicit drugs is triggering adverse effects in your personal and professional life, you may have a substance use disorder.
Substance use disorder (drug addiction) and alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) are diagnosed according to the criteria in DSM-5-TR (the most current edition of APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). These are the eleven criteria:
- Have you tried and failed to moderate or discontinue substance use?
- Do you often use substances for longer than intended or in greater quantities than planned?
- Are you spending lots of time obtaining and using addictive substances?
- Is your substance use causing problems in your closest relationships?
- Have you experienced powerful cravings for the substance?
- Are you giving up or cutting down on social and recreational activities due to your substance use?
- Is substance use causing you to neglect personal and professional responsibilities?
- Do you continue to use substances even though you know this is causing or worsening a physical or mental health condition?
- Has tolerance formed so you need more of the substance to achieve the same effects?
- Do withdrawal symptoms present when the effects of the substance wear off?
- Do you frequently use substances in potentially dangerous situations?
Substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder are diagnosed as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the number of symptoms that present in a twelve-month period.
5 Signs That You Need Rehab
If you are still unsure about whether or not you need rehab, consider the following warning signs that indicate the need for addiction treatment:
- You have tried and failed to moderate or discontinue substance use
- Using addictive substances is a central component of your life
- Tolerance has formed so you need to use more of the substance than before
- You have a mental health disorder co-occurring with substance abuse
- Substance abuse is triggering problems with your overall health
1) YOU HAVE TRIED AND FAILED TO MODERATE OR DISCONTINUE SUBSTANCE USE
Alcoholism and drug addiction are both chronic conditions characterized by recovery and relapse.
One of the criteria for addiction, as outlined above, is the inability to control alcohol intake. If you have tried and failed to stop using substances without outside assistance, it might be time to rethink your approach and to consider rehab.
2) USING ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES IS A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF YOUR LIFE
If you spend most of your time using substances or thinking about using substances, this is indicative of addiction developing.
The more time you spend using substances, the less time you devote to your preferred hobbies and interests, another diagnostic criterion for substance use disorder.
If substance use is your overriding focus in life, it might be time to shift that focus to rehab and recovery instead.
3) TOLERANCE HAS FORMED SO YOU NEED TO USE MORE OF THE SUBSTANCE THAN BEFORE
The sustained use of any addictive substance will cause tolerance to form. When this happens, you will need more of the substance or more frequent doses to achieve the same effects. Tolerance often leads to physical dependence.
If you find yourself more tolerant to the substance you are using, think about taking action before the problem gets worse.
4) YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER CO-OCCURRING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Data from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) shows that 17 million adults in the U.S. experienced co-occurring addiction and mental health conditions in 2020. This is known as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder.
NIDA reports that one of the main drivers for substance abuse is self-medication, a strategy often used by those with undiagnosed mental health disorders. Regrettably, self-medicating symptoms tends to worsen those symptoms over time without addressing the root cause of the problem.
If you are experiencing anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition at the same time as an addiction to drink or drugs, you should strongly consider heading to residential rehab for integrated and coordinated treatment to break a vicious cycle.
5) SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS TRIGGERING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR OVERALL HEALTH
Long-term substance abuse typically triggers a variety of negative physical and mental health outcomes.
If using substances is impacting your health in any way, it’s perhaps time to head to rehab.
Do I Need Rehab for Alcohol?
If you’ve been asking yourself “do I need rehab for alcohol?” or “am I an alcoholic” these are both strong signs that you are dealing with an alcohol addiction problem.
Alcoholism is not something to take lightly, it is a drug that affects nearly every organ in the body and leads to major problems including increased risk of cancer, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, and more.
If you’ve been worried about your alcohol use and think that you may need alcohol rehab, contact our team today and learn more about how Gratitude Lodge can help.
Rehab Options at Gratitude Lodge in Southern California
If you have an addiction to alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription medications, engage with inpatient rehab at one of three Gratitude Lodge locations throughout Orange County.
Our luxury residential rehabs provide you with a secure and distraction-free environment where you can build a strong foundation for ongoing recovery surrounded by peers undergoing similar experiences.
Residential rehab is ideal for even the most severe addictions and also for those with co-occurring mental health disorders. Our dual diagnosis treatment program allows you to tackle both conditions simultaneously.
For those with alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder, medication-assisted treatment can be effective during detox and throughout recovery. At Gratitude Lodge, you can also engage with the following therapies:
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Family therapy
- Psychotherapy like CBT and DBT
- 12-step immersion program
- Daily meetings
- Holistic therapies
If you require outpatient rehab, we can connect you with local partners offering a variety of outpatient programs. To get immediate assistance and inpatient rehab in Long Beach, and Newport Beach, call 800-994-2184 today.
