There are a lot of people who try to get sober and fail. Just looking at the statistics can really make you feel like there is no home. However, it is important to realize that a lot of the people who fail never got any kind of addiction treatment. The small step of getting professional help can literally make or break your decision to get sober.

Think about addiction treatment like building the foundation of a great house. Of course, you want your foundation to be strong and to be able to withstand rough weather and years of wear and tear. Well, your recovery is the same thing. You want your sobriety to be strong, able to withstand rough times, and to last many years… ideally forever.

Why Addiction Treatment Works

How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t need rehab”. Or, maybe you are the person saying it. Take a good look at why you think that. Have you successfully maintained sobriety on your own? If you have, great. That is a huge accomplishment that not many people can succeed at. However, the vast majority of people cannot succeed and they end up in a cycle of trying to quit, relapsing, getting sober for a little while, and relapsing again. It is like a never-ending carousel of ups and downs. And, it isn’t pretty or fun.

Before we go any further, there is one thing to set straight. Addiction treatment is not a cure-all and does not guarantee you a successful sobriety. You have to want to get sober and work really hard to make it happen. Rehab will, however, lay the groundwork for success. By going to treatment for drugs and alcohol, you will up your chances of success immensely.

During addiction treatment, you get to do a lot of self-exploration that is really rare for anyone to have the opportunity to do. You’ll be able to learn about your addiction, and more specifically why you do certain things and how you can change them. You’ll attend group and individual therapy during which you can process old events and learn how to handle future events. In a nutshell, it is a time devoted completely to healing yourself, with no outside distractions to get in your way.

By going to treatment, you’ll be given a toolbox full of ways to live a sober lifestyle that you can take with you once you leave treatment. You’ll also have a built-in support system made up of your counselors and case workers, not to mention all of your peers who often end up becoming lifelong friends. Addiction treatment is the first good step to take to lead to a successfully sober future, but it is only just the beginning.

The Journey Continues After Addiction Treatment

Many people, especially those new to rehab, think that they can go to rehab for a month or two, and that will fix everything. Then they are surprised when they go back to business as usual and relapse within a few days, weeks, or months. It is always important to slowly wean yourself off of treatment rather than stopping cold turkey. Going from a rehab back to the real world is pretty shocking, and it is vital to have some support while you make the transition. Support can come in the form of living in a sober home, attending 12 step meetings, getting a sponsor, going to therapy, or continuing with outpatient rehab. Any combination can work, depending on your own personal needs, and what your schedule allows.

No matter how busy you are, always remember that putting your recovery first is fundamentally important. Without your sobriety, you don’t have anything. Addiction treatment is vital to starting your recovery off right and having the best possible chance of success. After that, the ball is in your court, so it is important to make your decisions wisely!