Admitting you need help can be a difficult thing, let alone reaching out to another person to ask for it. However, if you are beginning to realize the negative impact of your addiction on your life and the lives of others, it could be time to reach out for help. Knowing how to do this can make the process less intimidating and more straightforward. Here are some tips on asking for help for active addiction.
Talk to Someone You Trust
If you are unsure of the first steps to take, contact someone that you trust immensely. What you really need at this moment is to get out what you are thinking and have someone listen to you without judgment. Even if this person has no experience handling addiction or treating it, they can help you get to that point by supporting you during this process. Together you can search for professionals or treatment facilities in the area to learn what to do next. Just having them by your side can make all the difference in the world.
Do Background Research
It’s understandable if you don’t know what to do or who to turn to when you are wanting to seek help for your addiction. Take a moment to do a Google search and see what reputable websites such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Mayo Clinic, and other trustworthy websites have to say. Reading even a quick summary of an article on these websites can help point you in the right direction.
Hotlines
There are numerous hotlines for mental health, addiction, and other concerns that you can reach out to. The people that work at these hotline centers are educated to handle whatever situations or questions may arise. They can send you resources, tell you about treatment centers in your area, and more to help you get to where you need to be. This is especially helpful if you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to someone you know. Also, if you feel uncomfortable talking on the phone, there are many hotlines and websites that have chat rooms that you can use.
Tell Your Doctor
Keep in mind that addiction is a chronic disease. This means you can talk to your doctor about what you are going through and they will know how to help you. Doctors are trained in addiction as a part of medical school, so you shouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed about talking to them. They are there to help you move forward in recovery and help you in the next steps if you are seeking help. They have most likely seen what you are going through, so there is no need to feel embarrassed. Be honest so they can help you the best they can.
Write to Someone
Even if you have someone you trust, it can be hard to talk about difficult subjects such as addiction. Consider writing a letter, an email, or a message to someone you trust. Writing lets you take a step back and really think about what you are saying, making it easier to express yourself and what you need from the person. Remember that once you send the letter or message, you cannot undo that action. This is a benefit because the person will realize what you are going through and can then help you take the next step in getting help.
Talk to Someone That Has Gotten Sober
A great thing about the addiction recovery community is that they are open to listening and helping others get help. Someone who has gone through active addiction and gotten sober will be able to empathize much better because they understand what you are feeling. They can give you advice, support, encouragement, and help you get connected to the proper treatment facility. It can be of great comfort to know that someone understands you, went through what you are going through, and made it out happier and healthier.
Go to a Support Group
If you don’t know anyone that has gone through addiction and gotten sober, consider going to a support group meeting in your area. You don’t even have to talk at the meeting if you don’t want to, but you will be able to ask for help if needed and be given the proper resources. Members of support groups are in different places of their recovery, meaning you can talk with a wide variety of individuals that can understand and give you different advice that has worked for them. Remember that support groups are there to, well, support you. You can discuss what you are struggling with and be given the appropriate resources needed to start your recovery journey.
At Hired Power, we want to see people succeed in recovery. However, you have to be willing to admit you have a problem with drugs or alcohol in order to make the decision to reach out for help for that problem. This can be a daunting task, but it is not impossible. Once you get over this barrier, a whole world of new possibilities will open up to you. Sobriety has so many opportunities to offer you that addiction never could. By following any of the tips above, it should make the process easier and more straightforward. The goal is for you to be comfortable reaching out and then receiving the help you need to get sober. Even so, if you are having difficulty reaching out and receiving proper help, you can always give us a call at 800.910.9299. We want to see you find the joy in recovery, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
