The act of self-medicating can become a vicious cycle and a habit that’s difficult to break, both physically, mentally, and even emotionally. And it’s not a healthy habit either. So, what exactly is self-medicating you might ask? More importantly, how can someone stop self-medicating? Read on to find out.
Self-Medicating as a Coping Mechanism
Simply put, self-medicating is an unsafe coping mechanism that people turn to, to help them- on their own without a medical professional. This method of coping involves drug and/or alcohol abuse as a way to escape or blur out pain or other difficulties the individual may be experiencing in life.
For example, Sandra may turn to alcohol every night to forget the fact that she’s struggling to put food on the table. Alcohol is her choice of weapon in her decision to self-medicate against the severe stress and anxiety she feels. Bobby, on the other hand, might abuse opioids to treat his chronic back pain, but now he’s hooked and can’t get enough.
Self-medication may be done in response to a life circumstance like divorce or financial troubles, a physical disability, or even due to a mental struggle like depression.
Why People Self-Medicate Instead of Receiving Professional Help
Ask someone why they self-medicate, and likely, they’ll tell you that they don’t know or that it’s complicated. Others know exactly why they do what they do. Simply put, there are multiple reasons why someone might choose self-medication over professional help.
The choice to self-medicate often is due to shame, a fear of admitting they need professional help, a bad financial situation making getting help difficult, or even due to a lack of professional help options in their area. Others might have been introduced to drugs and/or alcohol before they even had a chance or desire to seek professional help for their situation.
In the end, regardless of why someone chooses to self-medicate, they still deserve to receive professional help.
Rehab for Self-Medication
Even if self-medication has become a long-term cycle, there’s still hope. It’s not too late to get the help you or your loved one needs. But before one gets help for the underlying cause of their self-medication, it starts with getting help stopping the self-medication process to begin with.
Tricare Drug Rehab Center is one option for those wanting to get professional help with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Centers like these offer intensive treatment and different resources to help the sufferer get back on their feet and start back on a clean slate. The journey to a sober life and a life of healing begins with getting the help that’s necessary.
Conclusion
Self-medicating isn’t the best decision to do in response to a life situation, traumatic experience, or mental illness. While it isn’t easy to ask for help, getting the help you need from a professional is the best choice. A professional can prescribe you the right medication or offer you a form of therapy, for instance, that best helps you function, cope, and heal.
