8 Reasons to Recover From a Substance Use Addiction

Recovering from substance use disorder takes a lifetime of work. It requires significant effort, energy, motivation, and a personal commitment to maintaining your sobriety.

When you’re in the throes of addiction, recovery may seem scary or even impossible. You may be under the illusion that continuing your current behavior is easier, even at the cost of your relationships, career, home, or your life.

Breaking the cycle takes more work than continuing the addiction. But the cycle of substance use disorder can be destructive to you and to the people you love. There are many reasons to pursue treatment. Through the process of recovery, you can begin to regain aspects of your life that you had lost, improve your health, and find meaning once more.

Let’s explore the top eight reasons you should consider starting your recovery journey today. If you need motivation, these may give you the inspiration to reach out for help.

1. Heal Relationships with Your Loved Ones

Relationships often suffer or end when substance use disorder takes control of your life. Your friends and family may step away from your relationship if they feel powerless to help you or if they’ve experienced negative repercussions.

You can repair your relationships with your loved ones. It’s an intrinsic part of the recovery process. It can help you make amends for any damage done and allow your loved ones to heal and move on. You will regain the support network you’ve lost, improving your chances of maintaining your sobriety in the future.

Treatment can help you heal your relationships through therapy, including family or couples therapy if your loved ones wish to participate.

2. Improve Your Physical Health

Substance use can deteriorate your physical health and have long-term consequences. If you continue the cycle of addiction, you may develop health issues that wouldn’t have presented otherwise. Prolonged substance use can damage many of your organs, including the kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs.

You raise your risk for developing health issues such as:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis B and C
• Lung disease
• Dental problems

Recovering from substance use disorder can allow you to heal your body, prevent further damage, and improve your health both now and in the future. Sobriety can also improve your energy levels, allowing you to engage in healthy habits such as preparing nutritious meals, exercising, and creating a positive sleep routine.

3. Rebuild Your Career

You may have lost your job or seen your productivity and interest in work decrease as your substance use disorder worsened. Recovery permits you to reenter the workforce or pick up the threads of a career you used to love.

Once you’re sober, you’ll discover you have much more mental clarity, focus, and energy to put into your work. It’ll be easier for you to show up, get things done, connect with coworkers, and get a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

You might find this article interesting: Keeping Your Career While Seeking Addiction Recovery

4. Restore Your Mental Health

Not only does substance use disorder detract from your physical health, but it also wreaks havoc on your mental health. Studies from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) show that about half the people who experience substance use disorder will also experience mental illness, and vice versa.

Mental health issues associated with substance use disorder include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Treatment for substance use disorder will also tackle any mental health issues that have arisen for you. Trained therapists and mental health professionals will help you unpack what you’ve gone through and start the healing process.

5. Avoid Life-Threatening injuries

Substance use can put your life at risk. It affects the parts of your brain that control decision-making, coordination, and vision. You may put yourself at a higher risk than you normally would, resulting in accidents such as falls, car crashes, or fires.

Your risk of experiencing or inflicting violence also increases due to substance use disorder. If you want to protect yourself and others, seeking treatment is the best possible choice.

6. Stabilize Your Financial Situation

Substance use is expensive. Not only does the substance and its associated paraphernalia run a high cost, but the impact on your income sources can also be devastating. You may find yourself drying up your savings, asking your friends to lend you money, or selling property and items you previously valued.

Recovery allows you to stabilize financially and start making a steady income stream again. You’ll save money on the cost of the substance itself, but you’ll also have money coming in and the presence of mind to deal with it thoughtfully.

Some people cite the cost of attending treatment as a reason not to pursue recovery, but the cost of staying in the cycle of your substance use disorder far outweighs the price tag on your treatment.

7. Rediscover Passions and Hobbies

One of the most painful things you can lose is what you used to love. The passions, hobbies, and interests that formed part of your identity often fall by the wayside when you become entrenched in your addiction.

But it doesn’t have to be like that forever. Recovery will help you clear the cobwebs, giving you the time, mental space, and energy to return to your passions. You’ll also receive treatment for any mental health issues that might have come up for you, such as depression, which can act as another barrier to engaging in activities that once brought you joy.

Your passions and hobbies can be instrumental in your healing journey. A creative outlet for self-expression, such as art, writing, or music, can help you understand yourself better and guide you out of a dark time.

8. Find Your Purpose

Substance use disorder can make you feel lost, hopeless, or worthless. Nothing could be further from the truth.

You deserve to heal and live a life of meaning. You have valuable self-worth to contribute, whether to society at large or your circle of friends and family. As you recover from addiction, you may rediscover what it means to feel a sense of purpose and to find meaning in even the small things.

Recovery sets you on a path to a positive future. There’s no telling where that path may take you. You may find yourself reinvigorated to return to your past career and interests, or you might find purpose in something new.

But you won’t find out unless you try.

Start Your Recovery Today

This list is only an abbreviated selection of reasons why you should recover from a substance use addiction. You might find your motivation in these reasons, or in many others. No matter the cause, seeking recovery is always a positive decision.

You’ll never regret recovering from substance use disorder. Don’t delay; reach out for help and seek treatment today. The sooner you do, the sooner you can rediscover who you are and start rebuilding your life.

Start your healing at Jackson House. Our customized treatment programs see you for who you are and who you can be again. Contact us today to learn the steps you need to take to start your recovery.