Addiction is one of the most challenging things for a person to go through in life. It may feel good to use substances at first, but in truth, there’s nothing good about addiction.

Substance abuse creates a significant amount of emotional pain and physical problems. This goes for the addict in question and their loved ones, too. This condition affects over 21 million Americans every year in terms of addicts alone – and you may be one of them.

Maybe you know this in your core, but you aren’t sure how to bring up the subject of “my addiction” with other people. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to help you get better. You just have to make the choice to use them.

If you’re still in denial about your addiction, consider whether or not you’ve experienced any of the following. Here are a few signs you need professional help.

The Undeniable Signs You Need Help With Addiction

It’s one thing to drink socially and another to feel like you can’t function without alcohol. Then, there’s the matter of all illegal substances or prescription drugs that people can become addicted to as well.

Whatever your substance of choice is, you can choose to go to rehab and get help. If you’ve been brushing this off or the thought hasn’t crossed your mind, consider whether any of these things have happened to you:

You’ve Ran Into Legal Trouble

Have you been arrested for a DUI? Did you get a possession charge for something else? These are pressing matters; they aren’t ordinary life events, and they’re definitely not anything to take lightly.

While the legal system has its own ways of dealing with a problem – like jail time and fines – these things don’t get to the core of the issue. Only rehab can do that, and only you can make the choice to check yourself in.

You’re Experiencing Financial Instability

Maybe you haven’t done any jail time for your addiction, but you have had trouble making ends meet. You could have even lost your job due to the inability to pass a drug test or show up to work sober.

Such financial instability isn’t healthy. It puts a stress on your life and can cause you to turn to drugs even more, which is what you’re probably already spending most of your money on. Don’t give addiction another dime.

Instead, invest in getting better and rebuilding all aspects of your life.

You’ve Hurt Your Friends and Family by Doing Drugs

Some addicts can realize the way doing drugs has hindered their finances or landed them in jail. These are simple connections to make if you’re honest with yourself.

The harder pill to swallow, though, is when your addiction hurts the people around you. This could be in terms of painful words and violent acts. Whether you called your significant other a particular name, picked a fight you shouldn’t have, or swung a fist at someone, part of the reason you did it was due to being under the influence.

When you’re sober, however, you’re able to think clearly and prevent situations from escalating. Not to mention, you get better about making false promises and not following through on certain things.

People Tell You There’s a Problem

Maybe you’ve hurt your friends and family one too many times, and they’ve tried telling you so. They could have held an intervention or confronted you personally. But, chances are, your addiction is causing you to lose close friends and loved ones left and right.

No one wants to be around an addict. Yet, these people do want to support you emotionally. They’d love to be there for you during your recovery if only you’d let them.

Your Health is Not What It Used to Be

The final reason you have to consider is your health. Sure, you may feel good while you’re on a high and using whatever substance you’re addicted to.

But, if you take a moment to think about how being sober feels, it’s probably painful. Drugs have a way of doing that. They fool you to focus on the “good.” Meanwhile, they’re diminishing your health from all angles.

Drugs can affect everything from your weight to energy levels to mood stability and immune system. They make you prone to get sick, be irritable, and in some cases, contract an infection.

Don’t you deserve a better state of health than that? Yes, you definitely do.

The Pains of Addiction

If the reasons listed above aren’t enough for you to face your addiction, think about all the pain it’s causing. Remember, you’re not the only one who’s affected by this vicious cycle.

Problems Get Worse, Not Better

Maybe you started drinking heavily or using other drugs because of some sort of trauma that happened in your life. Did you lose a loved one? Get a divorce or go through an ugly breakup?

These things are painful enough on their own. They’re so painful sometimes, though, that addicts want to find a way to numb the pain.

The thing about this is you still have to work through your problems at some point. Once the drugs wear off and you’ve recovered from addiction, you still have mourning or healing to do. This can be much harder to face after putting yourself through so much.

Relationships Change

Maybe the pain of heartbreak didn’t trigger your addiction, but rather, happened as a result of it. As much as the people around you care for you, you can only put them through so much until they have to do what’s best for themselves.

In other words, they’re going to walk away at some point, and it’s likely a few people already have. Think about what matters more to you – your dependency on a drug, or good, healthy relationships with other people?

Go From Admitting “My Addiction…” to Getting Better

Admitting you have an addiction is not easy. However, it’s necessary if you want to get better. When you talk about “my addiction,” you start to peel back all the pain and suffering your drug use has caused.

This helps you see a better path clearly. With the support of friends and family and the guidance of recovery professionals, you can get better.

Click here to contact us and make the best decision of your life.