If you or someone you know is having a hard time dealing with addiction, it is important to reach out to a professional who can help you. Addiction is something that impacts people of all backgrounds. It does not know boundaries, and anyone can develop an issue with drugs, alcohol, gambling, or some other vice. While you may think that you can tackle this on your own, it is critical to ask for help. That is why listening to someone with experience in this area, such as Dylan Maggiacomo, is beneficial. What are the first steps of addiction recovery?
1. Admit You Have a Problem
The first step in the recovery process is to admit you have a problem. You will not be able to truly start the recovery process if you do not feel like your drug or alcohol use is a problem. If your mind cannot fully embrace the addiction recovery process, you will continue to use drugs and alcohol. It can be hard for someone to swallow their pride and admit that they have substance abuse issues. Once you admit that you have a substance abuse issue, you can start the recovery process.
2. Ask for Help From a Professional
Next, you need to ask for help from a professional. There are several ways this can be done. You may want to talk to your immediate family to see if they can help you seek medical care. Or, you may want to talk to a friend who has been through a similar situation. You need to seek help from an addiction specialist, so you may want to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor. Your primary care physician might be able to refer you to an addiction specialist. You can also reach out to the SAMHSA helpline.
3. Start the Detox Process
Once you have reached out to an addiction specialist, you will start the detox process. According to Maggiacomo, this is the process of removing drugs and alcohol from your body. It is critical to go through the detox process in the presence of a medical professional. The withdrawal symptoms can be severe. The exact nature of the symptoms will vary depending on what you are detoxing from. The severity of the symptoms will depend on how long you have been using drugs or alcohol, how much you use when you use them, and how frequently you use them.
Trust an Experienced Treatment Professional
Even though recovery from addiction is a long road that does not necessarily have an endpoint, it always starts by reaching out to ask for help. Until you admit that there is a problem, you will not be able to embrace the recovery process fully. Remember that this is not something you have to go through on your own. You should reach out to a specialist who can help you, and listen to people like Dylan who can guide the way.
