Dangers of Quitting drugs or alcohol on your own
In some cases, addressing addiction via self-help resources is not advised. Recovery involves many aspects, including detox, therapy and aftercare. In certain situations, going about it solo can lead to failure or other dangerous consequences.
With certain drugs or even prolonged alcohol use, detoxing at home is considered dangerous. Someone who has been drinking heavily for a long period of time can’t easily quit “cold turkey” and this is not recommended – in some cases it can be life-threatening.. With drugs such as opiates or benzodiazepines, withdrawal is often lengthy and unpleasant. In these cases, they may require medical supervision or a substitute prescription.
One of the things to watch out for is developing a cross-addiction in the process of recovering from the first addiction. That means a person will trade one addiction for another. For example, somebody who tries to quit cocaine may turn to alcohol instead.
Those with a dual-diagnosis will likely find it harder to quit on their own. In professional treatment programmes, psychological problems should be treated along with the addiction. If you’re going about it solo, you may not be able to address both issues at the same time.
Although relapse is quite common regardless of the treatment approach, trying to quit on one’s own can result in higher failure rates. The person may use justification, such as, “I’ll have just one more drink” or “I can minimise my use” and end up falling off the bandwagon instead.
Getting professional treatment
If you’re reading this article, you may be looking for self-help addiction treatment because you want to avoid professional treatment. However, you have to ask yourself why you’re doing this.
Shame and stigma often come to mind when people think about drug or alcohol addiction. You may not want to publicise that you are going into an addiction treatment programme because it’ll make you look bad. You have to realise that the potential damage caused by not getting sober will likely outweigh the short period of embarrassment.
In addition, you may not want to go to inpatient facilities because of a fear you will lose their job or forgo time spent with family. Inpatient treatment may force you to take some time off to get better, but because the programmes are more intense, you will ultimately spend less time in treatment than in an outpatient or day-treatment programme.
Many people also avoid residential treatment facilities or even professional treatment programmes because of cost, thinking that these options are expensive. This is not necessarily true. There are a number of community programmes offering counselling and therapy that are free to access. Even residential rehabs don’t have to cost much, or they can be covered by either the NHS or private insurance.
Self-Help Guide on How to Quit Addiction
It is possible to quit substance use or an addiction on your own, but it is not always a plausible choice for everyone. While you’re in a self-guided recovery, it is wise to look into alternative options, and maybe contact a rehab centre or two about their treatment programmes. That way, when you’re ready for serious treatment, you will know what to do and where to go.
In the meantime, if you are determined to try to quit on your own, try following these recommendations:
- Find friends and support:
There is nothing more important than having support during recovery. You will need someone (or somewhere) to go to when you have a craving, and you’ll need someone you can depend on to steer you away from temptation. Fellowship meetings and sponsors are very helpful in this aspect.
- Strive for a goal:
Have a large goal to strive for. For example, once you get sober, you can finish your degree and one day get your dream job! Or maybe, once you stop using, you can spend more time with your family.
- Find your “higher power”:
It’s helpful to have a role model or something that gives you powerful inspiration. Someone you want to impress or don’t want to let down. For example, if you have children, you can always remind yourself that they’ll be disappointed if you continue to use.
- Build a self-care routine:
Most people who quit on their own first started eating healthier and exercising. Taking care of yourself is a great motivating factor because it feels almost like immediate gratification. With an organised routine, you will start to feel better quickly, and distract yourself from cravings or withdrawal. Plus, exercise acts as a natural antidepressant.
Replacing bad habits with good ones is always a positive step.
- Learn and educate yourself:
Learning more about excessive drinking or the substance(s) that you’re using can motivate you to quit because you’ll be aware of the potential risks involved. Also, reading or listening to other people’s stories about recovery can not only get you in the right mindset but also show you that you’re not alone in your journey to recovery.
- Create your backup plan:
Plan how long you will allow yourself to try to quit on your own, and decide what you will do if it doesn’t work out. Perhaps you’ll decide that if you relapse more than three times, you will immediately seek professional help. Or if your cravings are unbearable after one month, you will join an outpatient programme. Make a promise to yourself, and ideally to someone else, and stick to it.
If you do think that you need help to quit your addiction, and can’t do it on your own, give us a call and we can talk about your options. We have 30 years of experience helping people overcome addiction and get into successful recovery. With our team of medical experts and professional therapists, we can help make your recovery a reality.
Substance abuse is often a mask to cover other underlying issues, such as PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder. Finally being able to get appropriate help for your specific needs is one of the key advantages of staying sober.