Addictions don’t just happen overnight. It is always a slow process that develops over time until which time it is obvious that there is a problem. Nobody starts out looking to develop a substance abuse problem, either. Life circumstances play a large role in how to deal with the accessibility of substances like drugs and alcohol.
One thing is certain when addiction isn’t addressed on time, it can lead to a lifelong struggle. Overcoming addiction is a very difficult thing to do and is best to nip in the bud very early. In this article, we will go over how you know that your substance use has turned into abuse and needs to be dealt with.
Difficulty at work
There comes a point when your work is affected by your partying or using recreational drugs or alcohol. When you can’t get to work on time because you are hungover, or because you are having withdrawals from a drug that you are now addicted to then this is an obvious sign.
It may still be difficult to spot since your addiction is making you very good at coming up with excuses. If your co-workers and managers are noticing that your performance has been suffering and you are frequently missing work then they might stage an intervention.
Don’t think that your addiction needs to be hidden because you can lose your job. If you need to go to treatment then there are laws in place like the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the Family Leave Act that allows you to take time off to get better without losing your job. If you were to get fired by going to management and requesting time off so you can go into a recovery problem then you would have a lot of wrongful termination claims to make.
Lifestyle changes
At one point in time, your substance use may have been simply recreational. Social drinking is perfectly acceptable, after all. You’ll know when you crossed a line and need help when your substance abuse is the center of your life and your lifestyle revolves around it.
For instance, you may have been a very keen tennis player and enjoyed playing a couple of times a week. Now, you see your tennis playing as getting in the way of the time that you want to use drugs or alcohol. If you have stopped doing the activities you used to enjoy so you have more time to use substances then this is a sign.
Negative consequences are ignored
Substance abuse makes it difficult to maintain habits that you once had or to balance your responsibilities. For instance, if you find yourself consistently missing a train because you are tired from the excesses front the night before that should be concerning. Yet, you brush it off and say it isn’t a big deal to catch the next one.
Maybe your friends have stopped inviting you out because you overdo things. If you say that it doesn’t matter because you prefer to spend time alone then this is a way to ignore a negative consequence.
