Talk of opioid abuse is everywhere.
We hear it on the news, we read about it online, and most of us know someone who struggles with it today. That person could be a close friend or family member, someone you have just recently become acquainted with or have known for years. You may even think to yourself, “I wish there was something I could do to help them”.
There is a lot you can do to help them, but that IS NOT what this article isn’t about.
This article is about YOU.
Yes you, the mother. We know what you have going on. Many people don’t know or even see it. You’ve tried so hard to keep it a secret, to keep it hidden from your spouse, your children or maybe even yourself. Possibly thoughts of, “these pills are prescribed so they are fine to take”, “It’s ok, I am a mom, I work hard to take care of my family, I need this”, “Nobody can know”, “What if somebody finds out?”, “It’s too late to turn back now…”.
Please please please don’t let any of those thoughts stop you from getting help. You are a strong woman and you are worth every ounce of help you can get. So this article is for you. We hope these 3 tips for learning about what you can do to make your current situation much better will brighten your day.
#1 Educate Yourself
First and foremost understanding the process of opioid abuse is a good place to start. Knowing the different stages and whether or not you are a mild abuser or a severe abuser will help you determine where to go from here.
Now that you have assessed what is going on. Take a moment to think about it. Can you see yourself getting worse? Or do you think you are on your way out of opioid abuse? Chances are since you’re reading this, you know it is getting worse.
This is the point where people would love to tell you how wrong you are for abusing drugs or how bad you are for damaging your body.
Well, we are not going to go over that in this article.
We are about practical, functional advice that is possible to apply in your current situation…as a MOTHER!
So to recap the above-referenced article. Drug abuse is categorized as using pain pills (or other forms of drugs) for more than it was intended for. Drug abuse is also categorized as using somebody else’s opioid prescription. Even though that may not seem like it will cause much harm, we are here to tell you it can and will. Once pills are shared, it is that much easier to do it again and again until you are practically stealing them from your friend.
Drug abuse also comes in stages. Using your friend’s pills once doesn’t categorize you as an addict, but once your life starts revolving around taking opioids (you know what we are talking about) then you can safely say you’re an addict and that my dear is a serious condition.
So, now that we have established the parameters of your condition. It needs to be fixed, and soon. Death is inevitable if you keep going down the addiction road, seeking help is a much better choice.
#2 Find Support
Next, it is vital that you find support. Having a strong support base will make or break your journey through recovery. Many women find it nerve-racking to confide in someone about what they are going through for fear of being judged. Well, if anyone were to judge you for seeking help, then they aren’t worth speaking to. Don’t waste your time on judgemental people. Find someone who will try to understand your situation. Even if they haven’t gone through what you’re going through doesn’t mean they won’t love you and support you. The world is full of good people, you just need to find the inner courage to go out and talk to someone.
If finding support on a local level isn’t easy for you (like it was for Whitney) then we would recommend visiting the link listed below. There are a lot of websites and social forums like the one listed below that can provide you with support as you go through your journey to recovery. Remember that you are worth it and making this change in lifestyle will prove to make you happy. We promise.
Once you have found someone to support you then you need to begin sharing with them your desire for change. You need to include them in what you are planning to do. Your support system will stick with you through it all.
#3 Reach Out To A Facility You Can Trust
Finally, our last bit of advice is to go out there and find a program that fits your goals, needs and wants. There are many options for rehab available in today’s marketplace. We will save you the trouble of looking for all of them by providing you with yet another link. Here you will learn the 7 most common types of rehabs available today https://whitetreemedical.com/2018/08/10/addiction-care-which-type-of-rehab-do-i-choose/
After reading the above article, you would have learned about outpatient treatment services. Well, that is what we are! White Tree Medical specializes in outpatient services. We created our program to help individuals who don’t have time in their busy lives to check themselves into a hospital or inpatient rehab facility. We know our program isn’t for everybody, but it sure has proven to be very effective for a lot of women. During our recent survey, we found that 60% of our patient base are women. Yeah, you read that correctly. Most of our patients are women. Which makes sense given where we are located in Utah. So many women struggle with opioid abuse but have fear to speak out about it and be judged. We keep our services 100% confidential and everything we do is entirely on an outpatient level so you can make it home each night to attend to your family’s needs.
Conclusion
Addiction is serious. Don’t let any form of media or person tell you otherwise. If you have found yourself caught in its grasp then make the choice TODAY to make the change. Remember, YOU aren’t the problem, the addiction doesn’t define you. You are special and you have fought hard to make it this far. As a mother, you work hard every day to do your best. Keep up the great work in making this world a better place and do us all a favor…
Make today about you and strive to live a more happy and full life.
We are here to help if you need us!
Good Luck!
P.S. If you would be so kind as to share the article or leave a comment below. We would love to hear your thoughts or feelings on the subject.