Seeking help from a professional is essential to healing from a substance use disorder (SUD) or a mental health disorder. However, it can be scary to admit that you have a problem and challenging to take the first steps on the road to recovery. In the beginning, recovery can look like a series of unknown and daunting steps. Fortunately, as you start on the road to getting help, it may get easier. Getting support from a professional can provide the structure and community you need to learn how to live a life free from SUD.
There are many challenges in seeking help for SUD and mental health disorders. It is common to feel shame regarding both or either issue. Shame is an emotion similar to guilt. It is the feeling that something you have done makes you wrong or bad. When it comes to SUD or mental health disorders, it is the feeling that struggling with either or both makes you a bad person—that they define your worth as an individual.
Researchers have found shame is common for those struggling with SUD. Individuals who struggle with SUD are frequently negatively treated or judged by others, and others find many ways to justify this behavior. The fear of receiving negative attention from others is a major barrier for those who need treatment.
Many people with SUD also feel internal shame, judging themselves for struggling. If you feel shame, that is okay. However, you shouldn't let that stop you from getting your needed help. Taking steps to seek treatment can help you to understand the nature of addiction better and learn to live your life in recovery.
Seeking help for SUD or your mental health can also be scary. While you may not be happy with many parts of your life, change means facing the unknown. Getting help means taking steps to make changes in your life. It can sometimes feel too big, too much to do. This feeling is completely normal.
Whether an individual is getting out of a bad relationship or seeking help for SUD, the reality of change is that you must take a step out of your normal. This change can feel daunting, but it can help to focus on the first step, knowing that the rest will come with time.
When you know, it is time to seek help. It is common to feel like there is too much. This is because there are so many unknowns, and you don't have ways to see through them. However, being honest with yourself and utilizing resources can lighten your load on your road to treatment.
Honesty is an essential part of treatment for SUD and other health issues. However, it takes practice to learn. In the first step toward recovery—seeking treatment—it is helpful, to be honest with yourself about your needs. This includes your need to get help, which requires honesty because there is an issue you cannot face alone. SUD and mental health disorders require professional help. Be honest with yourself regarding the level of help you need.
When seeking help, you have many resources available. Reaching out to trusted family members or friends is a great place to start. They can support you by helping you find the right treatment services for you. This may include researching treatment facilities or helping you call them and understand what you need to get help.
While trusted friends and family are great resources, not everyone has a community to lean on or is comfortable doing so. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a free and confidential 24/7 helpline for those looking for another option. When you call, they will help you find treatment options that suit your needs. Additionally, they offer assistance to help you learn about SUD and mental health disorders.
Seeking help is understandably a challenging task. It requires admitting there is an issue or multiple issues you must address. But, while challenging, it is the first step to helping you find a better life—one where you can feel satisfaction and joy without drugs, alcohol, or addictive behaviors taking over.
There are many aspects of addiction and mental health disorders that you can help yourself with. However, they are complex diseases that impact the decisions you make and how your brain functions. Therefore, getting professional help is an essential step. You will also learn tools to maintain life-long recovery as you get the treatment you need. This will often include stress management tools, self-help tools, and community support.
While seeking help can feel like a massive step, it is important. In getting assistance, you are helping yourself by increasing the resources you have available to you when you need them. This includes mental health professionals, peers who can support you, and others with whom you connect and who become your community.
When you are struggling with addiction or mental health, seeking help can be very hard. It is scary, but seeking help is the first step in healing. Being afraid does not mean you cannot do it. There are many resources available to you that can help you take this first step. At NorthStar Transitions, we understand that the time of change is intimidating. We work with individuals to learn how to live a real-life recovery. We provide individuals with the skills they need to care for themselves and seek help along the way. While we value independence, we understand community can help to heal. Call us today at (303) 558-6400 to learn more.
