If you’ve been considering going to a couples rehab treatment center, but are struggling to make a final decision, you are definitely not alone.
Deciding to go into rehab is a big decision and one that you most likely are not making lightly.
In fact, most people will try just about anything else to try and get sober before they begin thinking about enrolling themselves into a substance abuse treatment center.
Recent studies suggest that even though there are almost 20 million people in the United States that are currently suffering from some sort of substance abuse, that less than 4 million people actually made the difficult decision to enroll into some sort of addiction treatment program.
Clearly, getting treatment for a substance abuse issue isn’t as straightforward and simple as it should be. And for a couple – the odds of both people recognizing they have a problem and being willing to go is even lower.
What is the Definition of Substance Abuse?
According to the Mayo Clinic, substance use disorder – also known as alcohol addiction or drug addiction – is a disease that will affect a person’s brain and their behavior because of their uncontrollable use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine.
Substances that can be abused and lead to adverse consequences include alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine as well as legal and illegal drugs.
To put it simply, a person who has a substance abuse disorder will continue to engage in alcohol or drug abuse even when it’s clear the alcohol or drug abuse is causing harm to their health, their relationships, their career, or other parts of their everyday life.
What are Some Factors that Prevent a Person from Getting Substance Abuse Treatment?
When we look at the staggering numbers of Americans who are currently wrestling with a substance abuse issue but aren’t getting the proper addiction treatment they need, it begs the question.
Why?
What is preventing most Americans from getting the adequate medical and mental health care they need in order to help them deal with their drug or alcohol addiction?
Though research has been conducted to try and answer this very question, there is still much that the medical and mental health professionals don’t understand about addiction and the processes associated with it.
That said, there are some clear reasons that have been discovered that keep a person from seeking addiction treatment when they need it.
Learning what these roadblocks are and how to navigate them may help you and your partner realize that you aren’t alone in the struggles you are experiencing while trying to make this incredibly important but difficult decision.
Remember – you are not alone. By understanding and recognizing some of the most common reasons that you or your partner may still be unable to go to a couples rehab center, you may be able to begin to shed some light on the process and make it easier for both of you to finally commit to seeking the addiction treatment you deserve.
1. Denial
Perhaps one of the biggest factors that keep a person from considering going to a treatment center for their drug and alcohol addiction is simply their belief that they don’t actually have a problem.
Research tells us that – out of the 96% of people in the United States who are currently experiencing an active addiction to drugs or alcohol do not believe that their drinking or drug use is problematic.
They may say that they’ve had issues at times, or in certain situations, but that overall, their relationship with their drug or alcohol of choice is under control.
Even when larger issues arise – a job loss, a family member leaving, or a confrontation with the law – many people who are struggling with a substance abuse issue will continue to claim the problem isn’t really a problem and that they “can quit anytime they want to.”
If you or your partner are experiencing feelings of denial around your alcohol and drug addiction, it will be even more challenging for the two of you to find the right couples inpatient rehab program and fully commit to it.
2. Fear of Failure
Similar to denial, the fear of failure is another very common reason why a person with a substance abuse disorder may not consider seeking treatment for their drug and alcohol abuse.
These people have come to terms with the fact that there is no more denying that a problem exists. Maybe they’ve even begun researching some of the factors associated with substance abuse disorders and have come to terms with the fact that they may indeed have an issue that is no longer “controllable” on their own.
But, for these people, the big hurdle to committing to a treatment program may have nothing to do anymore with denial, but may instead have alot to do with fear.
They’ve accepted the fact that there is a problem with the way in which they engage with drugs or alcohol.
But their fear of maintaining sobriety after the alcohol or drug rehab program is complete is what keeps them from going.
Anyone who is letting fear hold them back from choosing to go to an alcohol or drug rehab program need to know that this is a very normal and understandable reaction.
Perhaps rehab hasn’t worked in the past. Or, maybe it worked for a substantial length of time, but then a relapse caused the person to believe that they are never going to be able to really get and stay sober.
If fear is preventing you or your partner to consider going to a couples rehab center, know that you are not alone and that this can be a substantial roadblock for many people to get past before they can truly commit to the recovery process of freeing their lives from alcohol and/or drug addiction.
3. Concern Over “What Comes Next”
Similar to denial or fear keeping an individual or couple from committing to an addiction treatment program is the concern over what will happen after the addiction treatment program is over.This is a common worry and should not be dismissed or taken lightly.
For those people who have come to terms with the fact that their substance abuse is a problem and have dealt with their fear of addressing it, the next roadblock in their desire to seek treatment may be their anxiety surrounding what will happen once the treatment program has ended, and they must go back and engage in “real life.”
This is particularly a concern for those who choose to attend an inpatient rehab program, where they will spend time away from their home, their work, and their family and friends.
Most inpatient rehab programs last anywhere from thirty days to ninety days, depending on the severity of the person’s substance addiction issues, whether or not they need a dual diagnosis treatment process, and what length of program is suggested.
With the help of highly trained therapists, physicians, and mental health services administration, a timeline for treatment will be proposed to the individual along with a plan for their individual addiction treatment success.
Many people who choose this type of inpatient treatment program feel relieved when a timeline and a plan are suggested. There is a sense of surrender once they know that there are professionals and addiction treatment specialists involved in helping them accomplish something they haven’t been able to accomplish on their own – rid their lives of substance abuse for good.
But…for those same individuals, there is often an underlying concern that may be one of the reasons they eventually decide not to seek treatment.
Once they have a timeline and a plan for their recovery process, the relief they feel surrounding these actions may quickly turn to anxiety when they begin to wonder how they will stay clean and sober after the timeline and plan have expired.
The concern surrounding whether or not they can stick to a life of sobriety on their own will often paralyze a person into deciding not to take any action at all.
Talk to your partner about this concern before the two of you decide to go to couples rehab together. Make sure you research and find a treatment center that understands this valid worry and has ways to ensure that your recovery process will extend way beyond the time you spend in the inpatient facility.
4. Insurance Issues and Treatment Center Costs
Some people will never get to the point of considering going to rehab.
The denial that they have a problem, the fear of failing, and the worry surrounding what will come after are all viable reasons that many people who are struggling with addiction will never get to the point of seeking treatment and help with their substance abuse.
But for those who do overcome these hurdles and commit to going into an inpatient rehab program, oftentimes one of the biggest hurdles they encounter next has nothing to do with their emotions, but has everything to do with the system itself.
Treatment options for drug and alcohol addiction can vary widely in cost.
Depending on what type of program you are interested in attending and where you live, your costs could be substantially higher or lower.
For example, an inpatient rehab facility is going to obviously be considerably more expensive than an outpatient program.
A program that provides individual counseling along with behavioral couples therapy and even family therapy will involve more professional help and therefore increase the costs over a program that may simply focus on group therapy sessions.
Fortunately, many insurance companies now see alcohol and drug rehab centers as a viable and legitimate medical expense and most will cover at least some of the cost of treatment for drug and/or alcohol dependence as well as mental health issues that often need to be addressed at the same time.
That said, figuring out if an insurance company will cover the costs associated with the treatment facility that someone chooses can be a daunting task for anyone.
Not only that but even if a person’s insurance company does cover some of the costs, there is oftentimes a portion that will need to be paid out-of-pocket.
The ability to pay for the services provided at a treatment facility can be a reason that keeps a person or a couple from seeking treatment. And, though some treatment centers will help when it comes to sorting out an insurance policy and determining what they will and won’t cover, at the end of the day, it will still be on the individual to be responsible for any expenses that aren’t covered.
For a couple who is ready to commit to a specific substance abuse treatment facility, it’s best that you check with your insurance providers as to whether or not that facility is in their network and what parts of the program they will be willing to pay under the details of what is covered under your plan.
It is also a benefit if you can choose a couples rehab center that understands how overwhelming and confusing it can be to navigate your insurance policy, and has staff on hand to help you through the process.
5. Time Commitment
Finally, another often-mentioned reason that keeps a person or a couple from being ready or able to commit to an addiction treatment program is the time involved in such a decision.
As discussed earlier, the time commitment can vary a great deal, depending on what length of program a person chooses, whether or not they have to travel in order to get there, and if a couple wants to go to rehab together at the same time.
Clearly, inpatient treatment programs will require more of a person or couple’s time than an outpatient program will.
Longer lengths of stay will also mean longer periods of time away from work, family, and other personal responsibilities that will need to be dealt with accordingly.
Programs that are located in a different city or even different state may mean that the individual or couple has to factor travel time into their plans, which can also make it challenging to commit to a particular treatment program.
And, perhaps most importantly, each individual and couple will have to factor in what sorts of responsibilities they will be leaving behind when they choose to seek treatment for their addiction issues.
For a couple, the multiple time constraints may be one of the biggest factors that keep them from entering into a couples rehab treatment program together.
This is especially true when there are children or other individuals who depend on the couple for their livelihood and/or care.
In a situation like this, the couple may decide to seek treatment as individuals, not as a couple.
Or they may decide to start with family therapy or behavioral couples therapy before they fully commit to an inpatient couples rehab program.
They may also find the whole decision-making process too overwhelming and will continue to avoid making any decisions at all.
If you and your partner are struggling to commit to a couples rehab treatment program in large part because of the time you would have to both spend away from work and family, it may be time for you both to sit down and figure out what sorts of resources you have available to you in order to make it possible for both of you to be able to attend a couples rehab program together.
The House of the Rising Son: Could it be the Right Treatment Center for You?
We know there are plenty of roadblocks that are in the way of you and your partner achieving the sobriety you both need.
And we also know there are ways to navigate around those roadblocks as well.
At the House of the Rising Son, our dedicated and highly skilled staff has spent years helping individuals and couples identify the reasons they are unable to seek treatment for their drug and alcohol abuse.
Thanks to countless case studies, research studies, and other couples, we know the challenges faced when a couple wants to commit to an alcohol and/or drug abuse program but is still struggling to do so.
If you and your partner think that a couples drug rehab or alcohol rehab program may be the next step for you, please reach out to us today.
We have staff available 24/7 that can answer any question you may have, whether it pertains to insurance coverage, behavioral couples therapy options, what sorts of mental health services we provide, and even what type of residential living arrangement you can expect when you arrive.
We will also reassure you that the House of the Rising Son has plenty of resources available to both you and your family during the early recovery stages after your stay with us ends.
Our excellent mental health services administration is on hand to also ask the appropriate questions that can help us determine what sort of program is going to be best for both you and your partner.
Deciding to seek treatment for your substance use can be hard. We know this and are here to help you get past those roadblocks and onto the clear, open road to recovery.
