It often takes a long time to become addicted to drugs or alcohol. It’s rarely something that happens overnight. Despite what after-school specials tell you, taking one swig of alcohol at a party will not automatically set you up for a lifetime battle with alcoholism. If you have a family history of alcohol, it may make addiction more likely, but there’s almost always a ramp-up effect behind-the-scenes with addiction. Take a person who starts taking painkillers for an injury, for instance. Sometimes, he or she keeps taking them even after the injury heals. Or, maybe a person starts binge-drinking on weekends in college, and by the time he or she is twenty-five, he or she needs to hide a flask of alcohol in his or her laptop bag, just to get through the workday. Even when someone like this reaches that point, it often takes years before he or she realizes just how far he or she really is. He or she may develop a sense of learned helplessness that allows him or her to think, “Nothing can be done, so I might as well keep doing what I’m doing.” That’s simply not the case!
“I can’t afford it”
When a person uses the word “afford” in this sense, he or she usually mean that he or she lacks the financial ability to pay for either inpatient or outpatient rehab. That’s more likely a problem if you live in America, which has an incredibly complicated health system. It’s so confusing that it often baffles doctors and patients alike. There might be a way to make things simpler, but that’s going to be a tough sell in the current political climate. However, for now, it’s important to know that there’s a way to figure out if your treatment will be covered, before you begin receiving treatment. For example, you can call your insurance company and ask. Find a customer service phone number, and say, “Does insurance cover drug and alcohol rehab?” You may also be able to ask the rehabilitation center itself. More and more facilities have staff members dedicated to speaking with prospective patients about the ins and outs of insurance coverage. It can be scary to ask questions, but remember that your health is at stake here! The sooner you resolve your insurance situation, the sooner you can start a treatment program and get the help you need.
“I don’t have time”
Many people have jobs that offer them paid time off, but sometimes it’s not enough to cover a few weeks spent at a rehab facility. It’s worth checking to see if you’re covered under the Family Leave Medical Act. If not, that simply means you’ll have to focus on outpatient rehab near me, instead. It’s easier to take a day or two off work than it is to take a week or two off. If you’re scared about telling your boss that you need rehab, then don’t. Find another way to explain your absences. White lies are OK in some cases, and this might be one of them. If you don’t get help, you risk being less productive, and if you’re less productive, you risk losing your job, anyway. Get help before things get that far.
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