Ask a person with a drug or alcohol addiction how they’re doing, and in many cases, their response will be some form of, “No worries… I’m OK.” In fact, that’s probably the answer you’ll get from people facing any health crisis. But, the truth is that the person who is struggling with substance abuse is most definitely not OK. And at our benzo detox, we encourage people to admit that fact as a first step toward recovery.
How Being Vulnerable Helps
We live in a culture where the focus is on being strong and independent, and where talking about the challenges we face has historically been frowned upon. But, there are many benefits to opening up and being willing to talk about our struggles, including:
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- No more delusions. It’s easy to convince yourself that you don’t have a problem, or that if you do, you can beat it on your own whenever you choose to. Letting go of those false beliefs opens the door to actual recovery, not just fantasies about it. .
- Honest interactions with family and friends. People with addictions get used to being untruthful with their loved ones — so much so that it becomes the “new normal.” But once you open up to them and admit you have a problem, you see all the guilt and shame that hiding your condition created. When you start being honest with your family and friends, the real healing can begin.
- A bond with others who are in the same boat. People like to think of addiction as an issue that others have. When you let down your walls and say, “I have an addiction,” you now are a member of a community that is sharing your struggles and can be a great source of inspiration and support.
- More effective guidance from your counselor. Your benzo detox counselor can only help you if you give them the unvarnished details about your drug use. It sounds strange, but they want to hear you say, “I’m not OK,” because that means you’re ready to start working toward a better life free of substance abuse.
- An accurate assessment of what’s involved in recovery. In order to be successful in recovery, you have to put in the work. And, until you are honest about how much work will be required in your particular case, your odds of getting and staying clean and sober or low.
A Safe Place to be "Not Okay"
At Diamond House Detox, there is, of course, no judgment. We all have our challenges in life. We help you address your substance abuse in a positive, encouraging, life-affirming way. Contact us today at (800) 205-6107 to find out about our benzo detox services.
Content medically reviewed by Vicky Magobet, PMHNP-BC, on September 1st, 2017.
Vicky is a board certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She began her nursing career in healthcare by working in the intensive care unit, and then an inpatient psychiatric hospital. After realizing the mental health needs of both the patients and the families she served, she became a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Throughout her experience working with clients, she has developed a passion for those with dual diagnoses and specializes in helping individuals recognize the issues driving their substance use. This recognition has been crucial to the individual’s success in treatment. Vicky opened Diamond House Detox so that she can address these issues early on in a therapeutic environment to allow clients to transition to the next level in their recovery.
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