Finding Motivation to Go to Rehab

Many people have difficulty deciding to go to rehab. Learn about ways that rehab can benefit your life, both now and in the future.

Change is scary for most of us, and it can be incredibly easy to come up with reasons why we shouldn’t do something ⁠— even if it can change our lives for the better. Rehab is no different, and the numbers prove it: It’s estimated that 90% of people who have an addiction do not receive treatment. After all, just the thought of giving up something you’ve become addicted to can be overwhelming in itself. When facing addiction, how can someone work up the courage to ask for help or find reasons to get sober?

Whether you’re willing to reach out to addiction specialists yet or not, if you’ve thought about seeking treatment, you’ve already taken a critical first step by acknowledging that you may need help to overcome an addiction. 

It’s possible that friends, family members and loved ones are also aware of what you’re going through. Addiction affects all aspects of life, and even if you haven’t hit “rock bottom,” it might already be time for you to get help for drug abuse and addiction.

Reasons to Seek Treatment

Addiction is a long-lasting disorder, and it can be very difficult to overcome alone. People who use substances experience chemical changes in their brain, making it difficult to function without drugs in their system. When someone stops taking drugs, they can experience withdrawal symptoms and extreme cravings that often lead to relapse. Becoming sober does not guarantee lifelong recovery — lifelong recovery requires new ways of thinking, coping and addressing issues and triggers. Rehab programs provide necessary therapy, knowledge and strategies to help prevent relapse and avoid drug use.

If you are unsure about whether you need a rehab program, it can help to look at how it can change your life for the better. There are many reasons to go to rehab and here are just a few.

1. Repair Broken Relationships

A person’s behavior can change because of addiction, and relationships are one of the first things to suffer. With an addiction, people are more likely to engage in negative behaviors, such as lying or cheating. You may have hurt loved ones and people you care about, but recovery can help to heal these wounds. Many rehab programs offer couples counseling or family therapy sessions, helping you to fix past mistakes and move on with those who care about you. Going to rehab can also show loved ones that you are serious about recovery. 

2. Access to a Safe and Supportive Environment

Ending drug use can lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, which often causes people to start using drugs again for relief. At a rehab facility, patients can undergo a safe detox to help relieve this discomfort while being monitored for life-threatening symptoms. Afterward, patients have access to medical professionals, peer support and other therapeutic treatments to help them overcome addiction. All of this is done in facilities that are free from triggers that may be present in patients’ personal lives. Even after rehab ends, many centers provide patients with aftercare planning or alumni programs to help ensure long-term recovery. 

3. Discover the Root of Your Addiction

For many, the root cause of addiction isn’t a drug itself. Instead, substance use may have stemmed from other undiagnosed disorders, such as anxiety or depression. People may have turned to substances to self-medicate symptoms of an unknown or unacknowledged mental health condition or some trauma in their lives. At rehab, medical professionals can treat these co-occurring mental health issues in addition to substance use disorders. Treating all issues is important for long-term recovery. 

4. Gain Financial Stability

The cost of addiction is higher than many people think. For example:

• The estimated annual cost of alcohol addiction is $5,000
• The estimated annual cost of marijuana addiction is $7,000
• The estimated annual cost of prescription drug addiction is $32,850
• The estimated annual cost of heroin addiction is $18,250

Though rehab can cost anywhere from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands, treatment is much cheaper in the long run than continuing to use drugs. Most centers work with insurance providers, which helps to greatly reduce the cost. Public-funded centers cost less compared to private centers, and many facilities are willing to create payment plans to help patients with out-of-pocket costs. Addiction can also impact employment, which also plays a role in long-term financial stability. 

5. Avoid Serious Consequences

There are many negative consequences of addiction, including legal, financial, relationship, physical and mental problems. Though someone may be able to avoid legal issues, nobody can avoid the long-lasting effects that drug use creates. By seeking treatment, people can help these problems from happening later in life. Even if damage has already been done, rehab can help people to rebuild their lives and create a better path for the future. 

6. It Can Save Your Life

In 2017, drug overdoses alone caused 70,237 deaths in the U.S. Many more die each year from the indirect effects of drug use, such as respiratory problems or heart issues. Withdrawal symptoms can also be deadly, and rehab facilities help patients avoid these life-threatening conditions. Rehab helps people stop using drugs, which eliminates the chance of overdose and helps reverse the damaging effects of addiction.

The Misconception About “Hitting Bottom”

Many people believe that their addiction isn’t severe until they’ve hit “rock bottom.” However, it’s impossible for someone with an addiction to know what this bottom point truly is. Substances often alter a person’s perception, preventing them from seeing how bad things actually are. You do not need to hit rock bottom to go to rehab. Admitting you may need help and agreeing to go is more than enough to start the process.

Ready to Change Your Life?

Substance use can rob you of your relationships, self-worth, health and freedom. Consider all the ways that drugs or alcohol has negatively affected your life. You cannot take it all back, but rehab offers the next best thing: A path to a better future.

The Recovery Village offers a wide range of addiction treatment options that are customized to fit each patient’s needs. We can help you begin a lifelong journey of recovery, equipped with the tools and support needed to help you avoid substance use in the future. Contact us today to learn more about programs that can work well for your situation.

Editor – Jonathan Strum

Jonathan Strum graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha with a Bachelor's in Communication in 2017 and has been writing professionally ever since. Read more