Making the decision to quit substance use is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.
Perhaps you’re coming up with multiple excuses as to why you don’t need help. Maybe you’re telling yourself you have this under control or that now isn’t a good time to seek help because it’s the holiday season, so you’ll put it off until after.
There are many reasons why people are reluctant to choose and seek recovery during the holidays, but the disease of addiction doesn’t adhere to any agenda or timeline. It will dominate your life until you break the control it has over you. While it’s easy to come up with reasons as to why now is a bad time to start recovery, the harsh truth is that your life is at risk until you do.
The holiday season may be known as the most wonderful time of year, but it is also the most dangerous time of year for those struggling with substance abuse. The period spanning from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day is when overdoses and relapses are most common.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the importance of seeking substance use disorder treatment, the benefits and why you should seek treatment whenever you need it, even if it’s the middle of the holiday season.
Addiction recovery benefits
The benefits of substance use disorder recovery are clear. Lack of dependence on a substance, dramatically improved physical health, greater financial resources and stability, genuinely healthy and joy-infused mental state, positive relationships with loved ones, a longer life…
Since the benefits are so obvious, this section is less about explaining why recovery is important, and more about reinforcing why it’s worth it to keep trying, even when it doesn’t feel that way.
Recovery is worth it because your partner, children, family and friends deserve the best version of you, and you owe it to yourself to become that person, after all, you’ve been through. Recovery is worth it because you’ve been given the opportunity to start again, and you are worthy of a happy, healthy, rewarding life.
Recovery is worth it because as hard as life can be, it is still full of beauty, love and goodness. The fact you’re still here is proof you have a purpose here on earth.
Even if you relapse once, twice or multiple times, the life that’s waiting for you on the other side of recovery is always worth it.
How to approach the holidays and recovery
Sometimes an individual may clearly recognize and accept they have a problem requiring professional help, but they don’t seek recovery because it’s the holiday season.
The reasons people justify not seeking professional help during the holidays are vast. Some of the most common include:
- Not wanting to “ruin” the holidays for their loved ones
- Concerns about treatment costs in addition to holiday costs
- Not wanting to quit just yet (often because of pre-planned substance-infused parties)
- Fear of adverse reactions from loved ones
- Not wanting to admit your substance use disorder is that bad
- Reluctance to share the news with loved ones (many people manage to hide their use for months or even years before it’s revealed)
If you or someone you love is one of the millions of people fighting an addiction this holiday season, give yourself — or encourage them to give themselves — the gift of starting recovery.
Seek recovery support today
Figuring out where to begin or exactly what you need can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help.
Bluff is a premier addiction rehabilitation center near Augusta, Georgia. Our multidisciplinary team is experienced and compassionate and works closely with each ONE of our clients to help them foster sustainable positive changes in their lives. Our mission revolves around your recovery.
Submit a confidential form or call us directly at 844-242-0806, and we’ll be in touch shortly to learn more about you and help you better figure out what your next steps should be.