You have probably heard the old saying, “Good things come to those who wait.” It is a good reminder that patience is often an important part of achieving goals. After all, many situations require a step-by-step approach. Getting ahead of yourself because you are impatient can actually slow you down in the end.
Still, when it comes to substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery, waiting can be a real problem. Let’s take a look at some situations when good things come to those who do not wait.
Do Not Wait to Get Treatment
Let’s start with the obvious. If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, you should not wait to get treatment.
That said, plenty of people do put off getting the help they need for a variety of reasons. Maybe they do not yet believe they really have a problem. Maybe they know they have a problem, but they are convinced they can handle it on their own. Maybe they know they have a problem, but they are too embarrassed to ask for help. Or maybe they have picked an arbitrary future moment when they will get help—a “rock bottom” moment. Those rock bottom moments have an unfortunate way of shifting farther into the future as a person continues to put off getting help.
None of those reasons—understandable though they are—stand up to scrutiny. The longer you let drugs or alcohol chip away at your life, the worse the damage will be. That damage includes terrible physical and mental health impacts, broken relationships, financial issues, and more. In addition, the longer one uses drugs or alcohol, the more likely one is to be involved in a tragic incident—a car accident in which someone is hurt or killed, a life-threatening overdose, neglect that leads to trauma for a child, and more.
Given all of those potential negative outcomes, the time to get help for a substance use disorder is always right now. This is an emblematic case of the truism that sometimes good things come to those who do not wait.
Do Not Wait to Go to a Meeting
One of the foundational practices of the recovery journey is regular attendance at 12-Step or other recovery meetings. These gatherings are important because they provide an opportunity for you to get support from individuals who truly understand what you have gone through—and are going through now—because they have had similar experiences. Equally important, recovery meetings also provide an opportunity to support others. This mutual support system can see you and others through the difficult moments that inevitably arise in recovery.
It is all too easy, however, to fall out of the habit of going to meetings regularly. We are all busy all of the time, and keeping recovery meetings in the schedule can be difficult—or even seem unnecessary when your recovery is going well. And once you fall out of the habit, it can be hard to convince yourself to go to a meeting, even when you are struggling and could use the support on offer at recovery meetings.
We recommend making meetings an ongoing pillar of your recovery—and we definitely recommend not putting off getting to a meeting anytime you need some extra support to see you through a difficult time with your recovery intact.
Do Not Wait to Build Healthy Habits
One of the best ways to shore up your recovery after treatment is to work on building healthy habits that support your physical and mental health. When you are physically and mentally well, you are better positioned to keep your recovery journey on track.
Three areas we might suggest focusing on include healthy eating, regular exercise, and restful sleep. When you make positive food choices, add activity to your routine, and set yourself up for getting the rest you need, you are giving your body and brain the tools they need to build a strong foundation for your ongoing recovery.
Trying to make big changes in all three areas might feel overwhelming, so the key can be to start small. Replace a sugary drink with a piece of fruit. Take the stairs instead of the elevator if you are only going up a flight or two. Get in the habit of powering down your screens an hour or two before bed.
Do not wait to make small changes just because big changes seem hard. In recovery, slow and steady progress beats no progress every time.
We Can’t Wait to Help
At Bel Aire Recovery Center, located near Wichita, Kansas, we are passionate about helping individuals put drug or alcohol use behind them. We create individualized treatment plans built on evidence-based practices and supported by our high levels of expertise, years of experience, and spirit of empathy. Treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders—like depression, anxiety, or issues grounded in trauma—is also central to our approach because good mental health is a key factor in sustaining your recovery after treatment.
If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, do not wait to get the help you need. We are ready to help right now—and right now is the right moment to start turning your life around.
