Why can’t some people just stop?

November 9th, 2015

Just about anyone who has had types of recovery support has a story of the person who, after hearing their struggles, says, “I know someone who did twice as much as you, every day, for twice as long and all they did to stop was decide to do it.” The message in that comment, and all the comments like it, is that addiction is just a matter of willpower, and if you can’t get or stay sober – you get the blame. The healthcare industry has learned much over the past few decades about addiction, but much of that knowledge hasn’t made it into pop culture yet.

Just the facts

The facts are that addictions are mental, and physical. Your genetics plays a role in how addictive substances affect your life, and how hard they are to give up.

There are addictive substances, and addictive behaviors. In other words, addiction is complicated and it will affect each person differently. That is why recovery care can take many forms. The goal of a rehab center isn’t to force people into one kind of recovery, but to help them identify the recovery that will work for them.

Different types of recovery support

There as many different types of recovery support as there are kinds of addictions. Not everything will work for everybody, but something will work for everyone. If you don’t respond to medication, a support group and acupuncture treatment may be effective. The most important part of deciding what will work for you, is to talk to people who are knowledgeable about recovery care. They can show you options you may not know exist. Recovery begins with the first step of deciding that you want a better life. The second step is to reach out and let those who know what to do help you regain control of your life.