Addiction is characterized by denial. People who are struggling with a substance use disorder will often make excuses to justify their behavior. Unfortunately, these psychological defense mechanisms keep you stuck in a holding pattern. When you’re unable to fully acknowledge the problem, you’re not going to be able to take the steps necessary to build a better life for yourself.
In this post, we’ll look at the most common excuses people use to try to justify their addiction and discuss why they’re not based in reality.
Excuse #1: I’m Not Hurting Anyone But Myself
While it’s only your health that suffers the negative effects of substance abuse, you’re hurting those around you in countless ways. For example:
- Your spouse or partner feels the tension in your relationship and wonders why you’re no longer acting like the person they fell in love with.
- Your children suffer when you place substance abuse before their needs.
- Your parents worry about your health and how addiction is hurting your life.
- Your friends feel left behind when you cancel plans to spend more time drinking or doing drugs.
- Other people could be hurt if you drive while drunk or high and cause an accident.
Excuse #2: If I’ve Never Been Arrested or Fired, I Don’t Have a Problem
Comparing yourself to others is a slippery slope. Addiction doesn’t discriminate, and it’s a progressive illness. You may not have been arrested or fired due to your substance abuse yet, but you have no idea what tomorrow will bring. People who are able to hold down jobs and maintain relationships while abusing drugs or alcohol are sometimes referred to as high-functioning addicts. They are skilled at hiding their substance abuse from others, but this doesn’t protect them from the negative health effects or the mental trauma that addiction causes. Eventually, their condition will progress to the point where it will become impossible to hide.
Seeking help before you hit your personal “rock bottom” will make your condition easier to treat. Waiting will only make the problem worse.
Excuse #3: This Is Who I Am
If you’ve been abusing drugs or alcohol for a long period of time, you may honestly believe this is true. You may feel like the person you are when you are drunk or high is the “real” you and that sobriety is just a temporary distraction from that. However, you are so much more than your addiction.
The people in your life who are urging you to seek help know that you have much to offer the world. They want you to share your kindness, compassion, creativity, and sense of humor with everyone around you. With their support, you can get back to being the best possible version of yourself.
Excuse #4: I Need to Drink or Use Drugs to Function
Often, substance use disorders start as a way to self-medicate the symptoms of a legitimate medical condition. For example, someone may drink to excess to deal with anxiety or abuse opioids to cope with chronic pain.The problem with self-medicating is that the body eventually develops a tolerance to the abused substance. You’ll need a higher dose to achieve the same effect, which increases the risk of dangerous side effects or a potentially fatal overdose.
An evidence-based addiction treatment program can help you stay sober by addressing the conditions that caused you to start self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. This might include counseling for co-occurring mental health disorders or physical therapy and holistic treatments for chronic pain.
Excuse #5: If You Had My Problems, You’d Be Drinking or Using Drugs Too
This excuse paints the person with an addiction as a victim of tragic circumstances. They justify their behavior by pointing to stress at work, a failed marriage, the death of a loved one, or childhood trauma.
Substance abuse doesn’t solve problems. It provides a temporary escape but creates new problems in the process. Dealing with your struggles head-on is the only way to make your life better.
Excuse #6: It’s Genetic
There is some truth to the fact that struggles with addiction tend to run in families. However, biology isn’t destiny. Having a parent, grandparent, sibling, or another close relative who is addicted to drugs or alcohol doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to suffer the same fate. Studies have shown that only half of the children raised in homes with a parent who suffers from a substance use disorder go on to struggle with addiction issues of their own.
No matter what your family does, you are free to make different choices. By reaching out for the help you need, you can break the cycle of addiction and ensure that your children have a brighter future.
Excuse #7: I Relapsed Once Before, So I’m Not Cut Out for Recovery
Addiction is a chronic illness, and no two people are exactly alike when it comes to managing their condition. This means that relapse is considered a normal part of the process. If you’ve relapsed, it only means that you have yet to find a treatment approach that fits your needs.
At Mountain Laurel Recovery Center’s Pennsylvania drug and alcohol addiction treatment program, we provide holistic, evidence-based care based on the belief that all people have an inherent potential for change and growth. We’ll perform a detailed intake evaluation and design a personalized care plan that helps you create the foundation for a lasting recovery. With our support, you can be on your way to enjoying a happier, healthier, and more productive life.