Think Things Are Too Tough in Meth Addiction Treatment? It’s Time to Let Go of “Why Me?” and Treat Methamphetamine Abus
Every single person in meth addiction treatment is going through a rough time. This sort of challenge leads many people to see the effort to treat methamphetamine abuse as more bleak than beneficial. You have intensive therapy to attend, nutrition to learn, routines to establish, isolation to overcome, and attempting to forge ahead can be overwhelming.
For some people, seeing the glass half empty comes a lot more naturally than seeing it half full. Other people can’t get past how much hard work is required to recover from meth addiction. If you find yourself feeling like this, it’s time to let go of the “why me?” feeling and get on with your new, sober life.
Gain Some Perspective
It’s time to look at things on a macro level, get the big picture. Where you are in meth addiction treatment is very different than where you were when you were most actively using meth. You have made real progress. That is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Be thankful.
Talk It Over with Someone Who Is Helping You Treat Methamphetamine Abuse
You aren’t the only person thinking that meth addiction treatment is hard. There are people who understand how you are feeling because they either experienced it themselves or spent the better part of their education studying it and their entire professional career helping people through it. These people are committed to helping you and they want to be there for you when you need to get your head on straight. Don’t worry that you are troubling them with your feelings. They want to help you work through your ambivalence.
Consider Other Causes of Your Feelings
As you have recently stopped using meth, it is definitely possible that you are experiencing depression or depressive symptoms. If what you are feeling is more than simple sadness and it has persisted for a few weeks or more, you should let the people on the rehab staff know. You may have a comorbid condition, the presence of one or more additional disorders on top of addiction. Drug addicts are twice as likely as the general population to also suffer from a mood or anxiety disorder. Don’t get worried or second guess yourself. Get help.
It’s Time to Stop Making Excuses to Avoid Meth Addiction Treatment; You Need to Treat Meth Abuse as Soon as Possible
It’s not at all uncommon to make up excuses to avoid doing something you want to avoid. You might tell people you feel unwell to get out of a social obligation or you might say that you can’t get a babysitter. Sometimes you need a day off of work, so you call in sick. It might be time for a diet or exercise routine but you tell yourself you are too busy at work. We all make them. To ourselves. To others.
When it comes to meth addiction treatment, it’s no different. You have probably become really good at rationalizing why you can treat methamphetamine abuse right now. They likely aren’t super original; people all tend to make the same sorts of excuses. See if you recognize any of the reasons you have given in the list below.
“I Can Manage This.”
You might think you have it all under control because you have a job. You are functioning. It can’t be that much of a problem. This is a popular excuse when the veneer of normalcy is still in place, before it cracks and falls away.
Deep down, you know that there is no level of regular meth use that is normal. No amount that allows you to remain fully in control.
“Treatment Doesn’t Work.”
There are a couple different reasons people come to this conclusion. Maybe you have decided that meth addiction treatment is stupid or ineffective because you simply don’t want to look into it or attend it. Maybe you have watched someone else go through rehab only to relapse. Or, you may have simply moved into a state of despair and decided there is nothing anyone can do to help you. You are beyond redemption.
Are You Really Fooling Anyone?
What you need to realize is that all excuses are lies. Deep down, under all of the complicated, painful emotions you are fighting to avoid, you know that you are lying to yourself.
There is help and you aren’t doomed to continue using until your life falls apart. There is hope and you can share in it. Stop repeating these excuses to yourself and face the truth. Only then will you be able to accept the help that you need and deserve. Treat methamphetamine abuse now. Don’t wait.
After Meth Addiction Treatment, You May Make Excuses That Allow You to Relapse; You Must Treat Methamphetamine Abuse Vigilantly
When people relapse after meth addiction treatment, there is a tendency for them to make excuses. They want to justify their return to meth use after they treat methamphetamine abuse. But, there are no justification for a recurrence of drug use and making them isn’t productive. Usually, the people who make them know that they are weak. Often, they are made when people aren’t able to think clearly. However, people who are honest with themselves will admit that they have remorse about the relapse, but may not feel up to returning to meth abstinence.
Relapse Will Happen
Firstly, this isn’t meant to excuse a recurrence of addiction symptoms. If you start using meth again after you treat methamphetamine abuse, you can’t shrug and say that “things happen.” It is crucial to expect a relapse so that you are prepared and you don’t make excuses that allow you to continue backsliding. Instead, you want to be ready to resume treatment, change treatment, or get new treatment as soon as you find yourself falling back into drug use. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates between 50 and 70 percent of drug abuse addiction results in relapse. Be prepared.
Some Common Excuses
The reasons people use to rationalize their relapse include:
- Being dissatisfied in recovery
- Intense, consuming anger
- Resentment that their progress isn’t being acknowledged
- Overwhelming stress
- Inability to cope
- Romancing their former substance abuse
- Mismanagement of fluctuating emotions
You Must Fight Relapse
When you feel you are going to relapse after treating meth addiction, don’t make an excuse to give yourself permission. Instead:
- Develop effective strategies for coping
- Build a support network of people with similar goals
- Find meaningful things to do with your time
- Think of things as challenges, not obstacles
- Find a healthy outlet for your emotions, like exercise or journaling
- Develop realistic expectations
- Learn as much as you can about relapse and remain in touch with your thoughts and feelings