Crossing the Line: When To Enter Rehab as a Suffering Alcoholic

Do your peers, friends, and family members offer frequent gentle nudges that maybe you’ve had enough to drink? Does a decent chunk of your paycheck go toward your alcohol habit? Or maybe even you notice that you look forward to that alcoholic beverage a little too much each day?

These are all telltale signs that your innocent love for your favorite drinks is turning into a harmful addiction. And the longer you promise yourself that you can stop anytime, but you don’t, the more damage you’re doing to yourself and your relationships.

Substance abuse always leaves innocent casualties in its wake. Whether you’ve already crossed the line into alcoholism or you’re concerned you might be headed that way, it’s time to get help. No matter where you are, there’s a professional center to assist you. Alcohol rehab in Arkansas is as crucial as it is anywhere else.

When should you enter rehab as a suffering alcoholic? We’ll explain the warning signs here.

1. You Recognize There’s a Problem

As with every possible issue that exists, recognizing it is the very first step in finding a solution. Unfortunately, for many suffering alcoholics, this often requires hitting rock bottom.

The good news is that once you reach that low point, there’s no way to go but up — unless you decide to stay there.

Tens of millions of people over twelve years old have substance use disorders. Yet only 1.4% of those individuals will seek and receive treatment. In this situation, you do want to be a minority statistic. When you recognize there’s a problem, get help. Don’t wait until things get worse. Chances are, they will, and you may not be able to fix the damage that happens when it does.

2. Your Life Is Impacted By Alcohol

If you’re choosing alcohol over anything in your life, no matter how minor it seems to you, there’s a problem. You likely wouldn’t decide that a soda is more important than your marriage, children, or job. What does that tell you about your relationship with alcohol?

You may also notice a physical dependency on these beverages. If you’ve developed a tolerance and need more and more alcohol to achieve your goal state, your body is sending warning signs that you’ve become so used to the chemicals in alcohol that it doesn’t have the same effect. However, just because you don’t respond the way you once did doesn’t mean the alcohol isn’t doing internal damage.

3. You Know the Dangers and Still Choose to Use

There’s a saying that ignorance is bliss. While you’re still blissfully ignorant of the damage your drinking is doing to those around you, it’s easy to pretend there’s no problem. But once you know the dangers and have been confronted by your loved ones and peers, and you continue to use, you need to get help.

The first time you catch yourself drinking in an unsafe situation, whether behind the wheel, at work, or in a potentially risky environment, it’s time to enter rehab.

4. You Can’t Control Yourself

Do you find yourself lashing out at those around you in ways you’d never have done before you started drinking? Do you hurry home thinking about enjoying a nice, cold alcoholic beverage? Is it becoming more and more common for you to drink frequently or longer?

These are all warning signs that alcohol is controlling you. Maybe you’d like to cut back or quit, but you don’t feel like you can. Your body’s cravings are too strong to ignore, or you get anxious if you think about quitting entirely.

In all situations, you should have control of your mind and body. When you don’t, and alcohol becomes more important than other things around you, rehab is the step to take to regain control of your life.