Your friends drink but never develop an addiction. You know people who can casually use marijuana and other drugs but never really seem to develop an addiction to it. You may know that you do have one. You’re afraid to get help, though, because of addiction stigmas. There are numerous stigmas of addiction that can cause you to fear getting help. Yet, at TruHealing Centers, we encourage you to overcome those limited thoughts and achieve better recovery.
What Are Common Addiction Stigmas?
Learning about the stigmas of addiction can help you to see how wrong they are. Until a person lives in your addiction or tries to manage your cravings and withdrawal symptoms, they cannot understand what addiction really is. Take a look at some of the most common addiction stigmas and why they are wrong.
- Not being able to hold your liquor means you’re weak.
- Your addiction means you just don’t want to get healthy and live a sober life.
- Using drugs means you can just take advantage of the symptom.
- Addiction is easy to stop. You just need to stop using.
- Addiction is a disgrace to the family.
What other stigmas of addiction do you face? What does that do to you knowing that you need drug and alcohol addiction treatment?
How Can You Overcome or Reduce the Stigmas of Addiction?
While you cannot change other people’s minds, you can take action to help improve some of these stigmas yourself. It starts with helping to educate people about what addiction really is. It’s a disease that, like any other, needs professional treatment to overcome. It is also important for you to talk about what you’re going through to others who may have an addiction so they know they are not limited, weak, or otherwise a disgrace.
It’s also essential to get an education about what addiction is so you can help others to prevent it. Many times, people start using drugs and alcohol because of stigmas as well. For example, they may not want to feel weak in front of friends, or they may feel they can use alcohol because everyone else is. Yet, that could be the start of an addiction. Education can help to avoid this.
It’s also crucial to control the words and phrases used. When you use terms such as “druggie” or “user” when speaking of a person with addiction, that’s discrimination and derogatory. It also perpetuates an image that a person who has an addiction has the ability to control and choose what’s happening to them.
Getting Help for Yourself for Addiction Is Powerful
As you face these addiction stigmas, remember that your health is your responsibility. You know what you’re facing and the challenges that come with it. You also recognize just how essential addiction recovery is. When you take the time to get help for your addiction, you’re changing the course of your life. That in itself is empowering for other people who have an addiction as well.
Take the time to reach out to our team. Let us help you to find the right way forward so you can start healing and overcoming these limitations:
- Drug and alcohol detox
- Residential addiction treatment
- Partial hospitalization programs
- Intensive outpatient program
- Outpatient treatment programs
- Community housing services
Invest in Your Future – Turn to TruHealing Centers for Immediate Help
Addiction stigmas do not have to limit your ability to get help and overcome your dependence on drugs or alcohol. If you are facing the stigmas of addiction and wondering if you can get help and really overcome these challenges, we invite you to connect with our team at TruHealing Centers online or by calling [Direct]. Addiction is real, but therapy is even more effective.