Making the decision to go to rehab is never going to be an easy one.
For a person who has a substance abuse problem, it is rare that they will just wake up one day and decide to find a drug or alcohol addiction treatment center “just because.”
Key Takeaways
- Unlike many diseases, it is difficult to know whether a person’s alcohol or drug use is abusive by just looking at blood, urine, or other diagnostic medical tests.
- Not only that but if two people in a relationship are both struggling with substance use disorder, determining whether or not they need to seek a couples rehab center is going to be even more challenging.
- Learning the signs associated with having an alcohol or drug addiction is an important part of beginning to admit you have a problem and that help is necessary.
Admitting and surrendering to the fact that you might have a real problem with a drug or alcohol addiction can be incredibly difficult.
And for a couple to make the decision together to find an addiction treatment center is even more of a challenge. There can be so many moments where you think that your drinking or drug use has become problematic, but then find reasons to change your mind or talk yourself out of it.
So when do you know that it’s time to go?
When do you know that couples rehab is the only solution left for you?
Though making the decision to start an addiction treatment program is going to be a very personal one, and is going to vary from person to person, there are some specific signs that can help a person determine if they have a substance abuse disorder and whether or not a couples inpatient rehab program is going to be the necessary next step for them.
What are Signs That a Person Needs an Alcohol or Drug Addiction Program?
For many people who struggle with the relationship with a certain drug or alcohol, participation in a structured drug or alcohol rehab program may be a necessary next step for many individuals seeking to find recovery from substance abuse.
Though many people will try to quit on their own without the professional care that rehab provides, this often proves to be extremely difficult for many people.
Breaking free from a drug or alcohol addiction without help, especially once substance use has progressed to a certain level, can be nearly impossible.
Unfortunately, unlike other diseases and disorders, there are limited ways for your medical professional or other healthcare provider to be able to tell that your alcohol and drug use has become one that is no longer something you can control
According to the Mayo Clinic — one of the most respected voices in the medical community on alcohol and drug addiction — diagnosing any sort of substance use disorder will require a thorough medical evaluation as well as an assessment by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
Blood tests, urine tests, and/or other lab tests can be used to help assess the frequency or severity of a person’s alcohol and drug abuse, but none of these are capable of being diagnostic tests for substance abuse addiction.
That said, often these tests can be useful when individuals first enter addiction treatment programs to get an idea of where a person is in their substance addiction and they can also be used throughout the recovery process as well.
Luckily, there are some telltale signs that a person’s drug and alcohol use has gotten out of control and that they need help.
The more of the following signs that you find yourself identifying with, the more likely it is that you are ready for an inpatient alcohol and drug rehab program.
Your Drug and Alcohol Use Has Become a Top Priority
One of the first signs that most people recognize when they start to question their relationship with drugs and/or alcohol is their increasing desire and dependence on it.
If you find that your substance of choice is beginning to consume your thoughts throughout the day and you spend an increasing amount of time, effort, money, and other resources attempting to acquire it, you may have a problem that only an addiction treatment facility is going to be able to help you overcome.Let’s say, for example, that your family or friends want to grab some tacos at a new food truck in town. When you realize they don’t have a liquor license, you may find yourself suggesting you all eat somewhere else.
Though you might not specify why (another potential sign of addiction) your lack of interest in that specific taco truck may have a lot to do with the fact that there won’t be any alcohol served…a concerning sign that your desire for a drink has taken precedence over your desire to eat good food or spend time with your loved ones.
As a person’s addiction to alcohol or drugs progresses, it is common for their interests, activities, and involvements all begin to revolve around their ability to engage in their drug or drink of choice while participating in a given event.
An addict may also begin neglecting their home, work, and/or school responsibilities, often without even realizing it.
If any of these behaviors sound familiar to you and your partner, a couples rehab program may be the next step to help you both break the cycle of addiction.
Your Physical Health Has Begun to Suffer
Though it is hard to test for drug or alcohol addiction, both will begin to take a significant toll on a person’s mental health and/or physical health…often eventually both.
Drug and alcohol misuse is associated with a myriad of ill health effects, depending on the substance that is being abused.
For example, excessive alcohol use is linked to long-term liver problems and various types of cancer.
In addition to that, alcohol abuse is also believed to contribute to many forms of mental health issues, like dementia and increased anxiety, agitation, depression, and even symptoms of psychosis.
Drug and alcohol addiction can take a serious toll on a person’s body and on their mind. Though some of these effects won’t be seen for years, it’s important to pay attention to even minor symptoms that you may begin to experience.
One of the greatest advantages of entering a structured addiction treatment program is that you will receive ongoing physical and mental health assessments as well as monitoring and care as you move through the process of your recovery.
In this way, you can focus on getting and staying sober knowing that your physical and mental health will be safe in the hands of qualified professionals.
Your Substance Use is Causing Problems in Your Life
For someone who is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, problems in your personal life will become increasingly obvious.
Whether it’s missing time at work, dealing with withdrawal symptoms or irritability around family, or forgetting about family and work obligations, alcohol and drug use can wreak havoc on your personal life and cause real strife in your relationships, personal as well as professional.
Not only that, but oftentimes relationships can be damaged before the person with the addiction truly realizes it. If you or your partner are still in some denial about your problematic drinking or drug use, the relationships around you are most likely being affected even when you aren’t aware of the trauma that’s being caused.
Sadly, by the time you realize what has happened, some relationships may be beyond repair.
As with medical and mental assessments, it can be hard to quantify how much a person’s substance abuse is causing problems in their life.
But if a person or couple starts to notice some issues with their interpersonal relationships, it’s worth exploring those problems carefully.
Having others start to talk to you about your substance abuse should also be a sign of some problematic behavior. Even if those discussions make you uncomfortable or make you feel defensive, it may be worth exploring them further.
Relationships are easily affected by drug and alcohol abuse. Addiction treatment programs can help heal these types of issues and help get you not only begin your recovery process but get your relationships back on the right track as well.
You Have Tried to Quit Before…But Had Little to No Success
It is not uncommon for someone who believes they have a problem with alcohol or drugs to have tried to deal with the problem at least once with no success.
Drug and/or alcohol addiction is a chronic condition that is often marked by periods of relapse and recovery. There are many people who are struggling with substance abuse who have tried multiple times to quit and found themselves back to where they were before, or sometimes, even worse off after trying a program of abstinence in the past.
Some people have tried to quit drugs or alcohol on their own. They may have decided that their sheer willpower can help them fight off the cravings and stay away from situations where using a favorite substance may be tempting.
Others may have tried a more formalized approach, enrolling in self help groups or attending various types of behavioral therapy or group therapy sessions. For the couple that is struggling together, attending couples therapy is often the first step toward trying to live a life without alcohol or their drug of choice.And there are even people who decide to commit to an outpatient rehab program, hoping that the intense structure of an outpatient treatment facility will provide them with the support and resources they need to start their journey toward a substance-free life.
While there are certainly people who are able to maintain a life of sobriety using one of the above methods, there are plenty of individuals and couples who find that none of the above methods work for them long term.
They may have been in and out of therapists’ offices, AA or NA meetings, group therapy sessions, and behavioral couples therapy.
They may have spent tons of time and plenty of financial resources trying their best to beat their addiction, but still find themselves again and again back to square one.
If you and your partner have tried to stop using drugs or alcohol and have been unsuccessful, this is a sign that you may truly need an inpatient couples rehab center.
In a situation where nothing else has worked, no matter how hard you have tried, a couples rehab program can provide both of you with the safety, structure, medical services, mental health resources, and stability you both may need to finally fight your addictions once and for all.
Do You Think You and Your Partner Need Inpatient Treatment? We Are Here to Help!
When you and your partner have done the hard work and made the brave decision to seek treatment for your addictions, The House of the Rising Son is ready to help.
The House of the Rising Son is a state-of-the-art couples rehab program located just outside of Los Angeles. Our beautiful locations attract the finest medical and mental health experts from across the country and their commitment to your recovery is second to none.
At The House of the Rising Son, we’ve worked hard to streamline our admissions process and we offer 24-hour assistance to anyone calling to inquire further about what we can provide.
As soon as you reach out to us, our skilled intake counselors will begin to design a program that will best work for both you and your partner.
Let us help you start your final journey toward recovery.
