Admitting that you have a problem can be a difficult task and it can feel very shameful. When it comes to substance use disorder (SUD), you may not even realize that it has become a problem in your life at first. Here are some of the questions you may have to ask yourself when determining if you have a substance use problem.
One of the first warning signs you need to be aware of involves the type of substance you are using. Do you consider this substance a “party favor”? Is its use illegal? Is it something the majority of people would consider dangerous? Noticing these red flags can help you get a better understanding of SUD and if you may be suffering from one.
Do you feel like you “need” to use a substance, though it started as something you did on the occasional night out? Do you feel like you “need” this substance to continue with your daily life? This can be a sign that there is a dependency on a substance.
Has the use of this substance impacted your financial situation? When it comes to getting your substance, have you noticed that you spend a significant amount of money on it? Do you find yourself asking others to spot you the money? Are you selling things to get the money? Substance dependence and addiction can hurt your finances and even put you in debt.
Have you noticed physical changes in your body and behavior since you began using? When you are not using, are you more paranoid, irritable, or stressed? Do you notice that you are also dealing with physical symptoms like sweating, itching, shaking, or irregular sleep patterns?
These are just some of the few questions you should be asking yourself. If you answered yes to any of them, you may have SUD.
Have you lost relationships with people in your life due to your substance use, like close friends or family members? On the other hand, have you gained friendships with people who only want to drink and/or use substances when you hang out? SUD can cause you to alter your normal relationships depending on who you feel is judging you versus who you feel “gets” you and why you are using.
The other way your relationships can be affected by substances is you constantly feel strain in the relationship. You may feel tension with people like your parents, spouse, or romantic partner. Financial hardship, lying, and changes in behavior due to substance use can all impact your relationships.
Look back at your life before you started using substances to see how things have changed. Have these changes in relationships affected your substance use? How has your substance use created changes in your relationships?
This may be the hardest question to answer honestly. Substance use usually stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes it is to cope with trauma or depression. Perhaps it is from excessive partying. Other times it is a way to self-medicate another mental disorder like depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Whatever the reason, it can be hard to identify. Try to notice when you feel the most like you “need” to use substances and what triggers it, and you may come close to your deeper reasoning.
If you have a problem with substances, seek professional help. It can be difficult to ask for help, but there are many resources available. You can try to get sober on your own but your chances of maintaining sobriety that way are less than likely. This is not to discourage you but to inform you.
At the very least, if you want to get sober without going to a treatment center, find a support group. A support group is helpful because there is no one way to treat SUD. Everyone's experience is unique, so talking to lots of people who can share their stories is a good way to get tips and resources. Yet, treatment facilities are the best way to get help with withdrawal symptoms, accurate diagnoses, treatment for co-occurring mental illnesses, and tools that will prevent relapse in long-term recovery.
When you are in active addiction, you lose some of your coping skills and you become unable to handle problems without the help of substances. Getting professional help is the best way to relearn coping skills and ways to rebuild relationships you have lost.
It can feel like there is no way out when you are deep in the trenches of addiction. Know that there is always hope. Places like NorthStar Transitions can help you. There is a way to live a life free of addiction. It is not always easy, but it can be done.
When determining whether you are struggling with SUD, it can be hard to see the red flags, and even harder to accept them. You may experience all sorts of emotions but remember that determining whether you have a problem is not meant to attack you but rather to help you. The sooner you recognize the red flags of SUD, the sooner you can seek help. In recovery, one of the many things you will learn is self-acceptance. Taking the first steps toward recovery is difficult but there are places out there to help, like NorthStar Transitions. If you are seeking help to achieve sobriety or are questioning whether you may have SUD, do not hesitate to call NorthStar Transitions today at (303) 558-6400. Recovery is not a journey that you need to tackle alone and we are here to help.
