From the outside, addictive behavior is baffling. Loved ones can often see that someone has a problem but that person refuses to admit it or seek help. Instead, she may be deceptive, evasive, combative, or just stubborn. Addiction can be a tough problem to face. Many people find it easier to pretend like it’s not a problem. To that end, they may lie to themselves in the following ways.
“I can quit when I feel like it.”
It’s easy to keep believing you can quit whenever you want if you never try to quit. The catch with this lie is that people with substance use disorders somehow never feel like quitting. Often, they will say they see no reason to quit, either because they don’t believe it’s causing problems or they just don’t care. Also, not every pattern of unhealthy substance use is the same. Binge drinking on weekends, for example, is unhealthy and can lead to accidents and health problems, but someone who blacks out every weekend can still point to her sobriety during the week to show she doesn’t have a problem.
“I don’t drink or use that much.”
People with substance use disorders are often deceptive about their substance use, even to themselves. It’s hard to argue someone has a substance use disorder if they don’t use substances very often. People often believe they don’t drink or use that much because they have a distorted frame of reference. Often, their substance use increases gradually over the years, and they may have a high baseline to begin with. And they often spend a lot of time around others who drink or use drugs at similar levels, so compared to their peers, their own substance use might look pretty normal.
“My substance use only affects me.”
Many people with substance use disorders feel like others should leave them alone because even if they do drink or use too much, it only affects them. However, a substance use disorder affects everyone who comes in contact with you in some way. It affects the people closest to you the most. Addiction changes your priorities and your personality. Some people start lying, borrowing money, or stealing to support their addiction. If nothing else, it hurts your loved ones to see you miserable and putting your life at risk.
“I’m not nearly as bad as other people.”
People with substance use disorders often gravitate toward people with similar habits and push away people who don’t drink or use drugs. As a result, there’s always someone in their circle the can point to has having a worse problem. This is specious, of course. Just because someone else is doing worse than you are doesn’t mean you’re doing well.
Arbor Behavioral Healthcare offers an integrative and holistic approach to treat substance abuse and a wide variety of addictions, as well as underlying mental health and psychological issues. All of the addiction recovery programs offered by The Arbor are designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit leading to a lifetime of sobriety, health and wellness. If you’re ready to find healing and restoration in a peaceful, loving environment, please call us today at 844-560-7269.