It is probably unavoidable. If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, you are likely going to receive a lot of advice—whether you seek it out or not. Friends, family, coworkers, clergy—heck, sometimes even strangers on the street—are going to have something to say and won’t hesitate to say it.
Generally speaking, these folks will mean well. The problem, however, is that so many people are so very misinformed about substance use disorders. As a result, their desire to help is likely to be undermined by the bad information they feel compelled to share with you.
If you or a loved one is in recovery or need to enter residential treatment for your substance use disorder, it is essential that you can separate harmful myths about addiction from the helpful realities of treatment and recovery.
Don’t Stand for the Moralizers
Some people are absolutely convinced that addiction is a moral failing. These individuals are likely to invoke God and suggest you could kick your habit if only you had more faith. They may encourage you to attend church (or another house of worship) more frequently—especially if they think you are hanging out with a bad crowd of people who have had a negative influence on you. Spending time with better people, the argument might go, will lead to better behavior.
This argument about moral behavior can be especially devastating if it convinces someone that they are being punished by a divine power for their lack of faith. While 12-Step programs often include the suggestion that you connect to a higher power, that advice is never framed in a punitive way.
And while it is important to surround yourself with people who will support your sobriety, it is not automatically the case that people at the local house of worship will provide that support—especially if they are overly judgmental. Joining a community of faith can be a wonderful thing, but only if that community is about lifting you up rather than tearing you down.
Don’t Fall for the Willpower Argument
Willpower is certainly an important part of our day to day lives. We turn down a second helping of something delicious because we want to avoid the added calories. We take a walk instead of just binge-watching our favorite show. And so it might seem to be the case that we should simply be able to exert our will and avoid the temptations of drugs or alcohol.
To be fair, we may, in fact, have the ability to resist our desire to experiment with various substances or to use them to excess—especially in the early going before a full-blown substance use disorder is in play.
That said, research demonstrates that the use of drugs and alcohol can cause changes in the brain. Those changes may, in fact, make it impossible for a person to simply decide they won’t use drugs or alcohol anymore. Additionally, a range of co-occurring disorders, a history of trauma, genetic predispositions, and more may well be in play. Suggesting that all of this can be overcome by willpower alone is a significant oversimplification of the factors that contribute to addiction.
Don’t Listen to the Rehab Naysayers
There are those who, for whatever reason, are convinced that rehab facilities are ineffective at helping people address substance use disorders. That attitude is dangerous—and wrong.
When a person enters a recovery center, they are offered both safety and expert care. Those factors create the conditions necessary for them to overcome addiction and begin their recovery. By focusing on each individual and creating personalized treatment plans, recovery centers are able to effectively establish a foundation for a person’s long-term sobriety. Such centers—like Bel Aire Recovery Center—are also prepared to address the co-occurring disorders that may be contributing to someone’s struggles.
Don’t Let Anyone Convince You Relapse Ends Recovery
It is undeniable that many people relapse after leaving rehab. Many people cite those statistics to bolster their belief that rehab doesn’t work at all. But relapse shouldn’t be mistaken for a permanent failure. Relapse is a setback, but it is not the end of the story.
When a person relapses, a return to rehab can lead to well-informed adjustments and modifications in their personalized treatment plan. This fine-tuning can, in fact, strengthen the chances that recovery will be more successful going forward.
Some people will, of course, relapse more than one time. Even so, it would be a mistake to suggest that these relapses indicate a person will never manage to achieve long-term sobriety. Setbacks are frequently part of the recovery process—but the process continues.
Don’t Get Talked Into Going It Alone
All of the myths above feed into this one—the idea that recovery is a solo activity. If you need better morals and more willpower, if rehab doesn’t really work and a relapse is the end of the story, then it follows that the person with the substance use disorder must go it alone in the quest to improve their life.
But that isn’t how it works at all. Those in recovery truly must have support from their family and friends. That support increases the likelihood of long term sobriety. To be truly helpful, a person’s support system must avoid promoting any of the myths considered here. Instead, friends and family need to offer compassionate encouragement that will build up a person’s ability to stick with his or her recovery.
Do Get the Help You Need
At Bel Aire Recovery Center we are fully equipped to offer help that is both realistic and hopeful. Put misinformation and stigma about substance use disorders behind you, and let us help you move forward. Lasting sobriety is possible. We are ready to support your efforts to achieve a sober lifestyle.
