Most people enter drug treatment with some sense of ambivalence, reluctance, or desperation. You may be excited about the possibilities that treatment offers, but we’ve yet to encounter a client who is free of fear, doubt, and anxiety over the prospect of withdrawal, treatment, and recovery. There’s nothing wrong with that, and you need feel no shame or embarrassment over your sense of doubt. But before you do enter a residential treatment facility (or even an outpatient program) you should ask yourself some hard questions about your readiness for, and commitment to, this life-altering experience. Here is a list of the questions we feel you should ask yourself before seeking treatment.
1) What about COVID-19 and Social Distancing Protocols?
The COVID-19 crisis has complicated the processes involved with accessing effective addiction treatment recently, there’s no doubt about that. However, many in the addiction treatment field have been hard at work making sure that those who need addiction treatment can access it safely. Here at Tabula Rasa Retreat, we’ve developed a path to ibogaine treatment that adheres to current COVID-19 best practices to ensure that safe treatment is available to all those who seek it. You can read all about our COVID-19 policies and procedures here.
2) Why Am I Doing This?
If the answer comes down to pleasing or placating another person in your life, you probably aren’t ready. The demands and pleas of parents, partners, and children can be a powerful inducement to change, but if you are doing this simply to repair a strained or broken relationship, you probably aren’t ready. Wanting to change yourself in order to be present, loving, and supportive for the people you care about is a great reason to enter treatment. But wanting them off your back is not enough. If your imperative to pursue sobriety comes from within, your chances of success and your willingness to work through adversity will both be immeasurably greater. If someone else is pushing you into treatment against your will, you aren’t ready yet.
3) Am I Willing To Listen And Work?
Knowing that you want to quit, but feeling unsure of what the next step ought to be is a common feeling for those contemplating treatment. If you feel this way, it can be helpful to examine how much you’d be willing to follow the directions of treatment professionals. If you’ve already experienced treatment and relapsed, asking yourself this question before seeking help can dramatically improve your attitude and outlook as you embark on this journey. If you’re serious about getting sober, you’ll need to open yourself up to facing your own failings and completing unpleasant tasks. Recovery isn’t going to be easy, but it will be worth it.
4) What Am I Afraid Of?
As we’ve written before, everyone entering rehab is overcoming fears, whether they’re fears of withdrawal, sobriety, or facing the trauma and pain that’s inside. By examining your fears, you’re beginning the process of facing up to them and moving forward. Attempting to ignore and avoid fear and anxiety will actually give these destructive forces more power over you. And you may find that once you look directly at them in the clear light of day, they don’t look nearly so scary.
5) Is Using Still Fun For Me?
When people start experimenting with substances of abuse, it’s generally to enhance experiences, or create pleasurable, euphoric sensations. Maybe you loved music festivals, or clubs, or partying with friends, and using drugs made these experiences feel better. But if you’ve arrived at the point where you’re contemplating treatment, it’s time to get real with yourself about what substances are adding to your life, and what they’re taking away from you. If you honestly examine your recent use and realize that the pleasure has been replaced by a sense of relief from withdrawal symptoms, you’re probably ready for treatment.
6) Do I Feel Bad All The Time?
Addiction doesn’t feel good. Addicts are tired, depressed, and anxious almost all of the time. They neglect nutrition, exercise, and all of the other things that need to be done to maintain good health. If you get to a point where you’re finally sick of feeling sick or tired of feeling tired, it’s time to make a change!
7) Am I Contemplating And Imagining A Future Without Drugs And Alcohol?
In our experience, this is a great indicator that you’ve reached the point where you’re ready for a change. Many people with substance use and misuse issues are very reluctant to envision a sober future. They’re holding out hope that they can get their habit under control, cut back on substances, and live a meaningful and productive life while occasionally partaking in intoxicants. Some of them may be disciplined enough to pull this off. Others are deluding themselves and prolonging their struggles. But all of them aren’t ready for addiction treatment yet. You need to realize that you’re working toward a better future to get the most out of addiction treatment.
8) Am I Ready To Be Honest?
Addiction is a long series of deceits, of lies that you tell yourself and everyone around you. Recovery on the other hand, requires a sincere and profound commitment to honesty, to discovering, exploring, and confronting truths about yourself, your relationships, and the nature of your life. Some of these truths will be difficult to reckon with, while others will be beautiful and life-enriching. But refusing to acknowledge and deal with the past and the present will make lasting recovery impossible. Acknowledging the reality that you are sinking and that you need help to escape the clutches of addiction is the first step on the path to becoming honest.
If you found yourself answering yes to most of these questions, it’s probably time to start exploring treatment options. At Tabula Rasa Retreat, Europe’s leading ibogaine treatment center, we are happy to discuss your options with you, whether you’re interested in ibogaine therapy or a more conventional method of treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all model, and taking the time to find the right program can be a crucial factor in determining whether you succeed. “Is this treatment center the right one for me” is the final, and perhaps most important question to ask yourself before beginning your recovery journey.
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530