When you\’re struggling with addiction, it can be difficult to have the motivation to work hard towards sobriety. You may continue to tell yourself that you\’ll only use drugs or alcohol for one more day before you quit. Over time, you may find that it\’s been several months or years that you\’ve suffered from an addiction. Most people wake up and develop more self-awareness once they hit rock bottom. Unfortunately, rock bottom can be extremely traumatic and painful. There are a few instances that indicate you\’ve hit rock bottom and need to make changes.
The Breakdown of Your Marriage
Addictions to drugs or alcohol can often result in divorce due to how much it affects marriage and the family unit. Substance abuse can lead to a lack of trust in marriages, especially when it involves lying. If your spouse leaves you, it can cause you to feel abandoned and isolated. You may feel as if you\’ve lost everything. Addiction can also strain other relationships in your life and can cause you to lose loved ones. Some of your friends may no longer make an effort to spend time with you when they know you\’re always under the influence. Your children may lose their respect for you and refuse to communicate with you. The devastating effect of losing the most important people in your life may be the motivation you need to seek professional help.
Legal Trouble
It\’s common to break the law when you\’re using drugs or alcohol consistently. Many people make the mistake of driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You may find yourself in jail or have your license revoked. Legal trouble can also include jail time due to theft if you\’re attempting to obtain more money to buy the substances you need. Some people resort to stealing in a desperate attempt to continue to fuel their addiction. You may even lose custody of your children and are deemed to be unfit to care for them. Your visitation rights can be revoked if you continue to use drugs or alcohol.
Financial Difficulty
Most people cannot afford to maintain an addiction long-term due to the high cost of purchasing alcohol or drugs throughout the week. As a result, you may find that your money starts to dwindle, and you become financially strained. This can lead to accumulating a lot of debt or even selling sentimental items or personal belongings in an attempt to buy more drugs or alcohol. You may find yourself losing access to your utilities as you get behind on paying your bills. In severe cases, it can lead to foreclosure of a home or eviction of a rental property. Some people even lose their jobs and careers as their addiction begins to take over their lives. It can be hard to maintain your responsibilities and obligations if you\’re always under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Many people end up homeless and on the streets because of how much their addiction has robbed their finances.
Overdosing
Rock bottom can also look like overdosing when you consume too much alcohol or drugs. You may begin to blackout and require medical attention, which puts your life at risk. Overdosing is a red flag that you\’re pushing the limits of your addiction and have built too much of a tolerance to the substances. In severe cases, overdosing can take a significant amount of time to recover from and can affect your ability to function properly. The effects can often last a lifetime and prevent you from participating in the activities you once enjoyed.
The Problem with Hitting Rock Bottom
Although hitting rock bottom can make you wake up and change your perspective on your situation, it\’s important to avoid waiting until you lose everything to quit using drugs or alcohol. There may be restoration and healing that comes after you lose everything, but it doesn\’t mean you always get back what you once had in life. You can risk losing your family, your health, and even your life. It can take a lot longer to regain what you once lost rather than quit your addiction and work towards sobriety before it\’s too late. Some people even make the mistake of thinking they\’ve hit rock bottom but continue to fall deeper into the pit of addiction. If you want to learn more about what it means to hit rock bottom, you can reach out to our counselors today. Call us at 833-820-2922.