The Dangers of Postponing Treatment During the Holidays

The holiday season is right around the corner, with many families making plans to celebrate together as safely as possible in the midst of a global pandemic. With so much focus on family, friends, and doing for others in our lives, it can be easy to forget to take care of our own needs. For people living with addiction, choosing to postpone treatment until the holidays are over or waiting for the new year may seem like the best idea. We reason that we don’t want to ‘ruin’ the festive season or come up with other excuses to put off addressing our drug or alcohol abuse problem. However, delaying treatment for addiction could be a fatal mistake.

Addiction and the Holidays: A Dangerous Combination

The holidays are a highly emotional time for everyone. While some are filled with joy and excitement for the coming festivities, others feel anxious, stressed, or experience depression during this time. Difficult family situations, holiday-related trauma, and exasperated mental illness all contribute to a challenging holiday season.

Between the prominence of alcohol use during holiday celebrations and the use of drugs and alcohol to cope with difficult emotions, substance use is on the rise during this time of year. In fact, the last few months of each year are dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. Nearly one-third of all driving fatalities (10,511) were caused by a drunk driver. While the nationwide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign aims to reduce these numbers and save lives, for people struggling with addiction, more intervention is necessary. Seeking addiction treatment during this time of year can prevent a tragic turn of events.

Beyond driving-related dangers, the holidays create a perfect storm for dangerous binging, risk taking behaviors, and bad decisions. Swept up in the celebration, it’s easy to allow things to go a bit too far without much thought for the consequences. However, those consequences still exist, and can be life-changing. On the opposite end of the spectrum, drug and alcohol use can deepen negative feelings, putting you in a scary, dangerous mental space.

You don’t have to struggle through the holidays. Niznik Behavioral Health has nationwide resources for helping you begin the journey of recovery.

Three Reasons to Seek Addiction Treatment During the Holidays

Seeking drug or alcohol rehab during the holidays may feel like a selfish decision. In reality, choosing not to postpone addiction treatment puts you on a path of healing to allow you to be more present and active in the lives of those you love. Seeking help through Niznik Behavioral Health gives you the support, guidance, and knowledge you need to get back to you. No more living in a haze or hiding behind a shield of drugs and alcohol. With the help of our compassionate recovery specialists, you can discover life beyond substance abuse.

Knowing you should seek treatment and actually following through are two very different hurdles to overcome. Making the leap into recovery can be an intimidating step to take — here’s three reasons you should, anyway.

Cost Savings

One of the most common roadblocks to recovery is the cost of care. While moving through the full continuum of care offers the best chance at long-term sobriety, costs can make that inaccessible. Luckily, the end of the year offers a unique opportunity to potentially get into rehab with no out-of-pocket costs. How? It depends on your insurance policy.

Most insurance policies have a limit on maximum out-of-pocket expenses. Near the end of the year, if you’ve paid your deductible and hit your out of pocket maximum, your insurance company could cover 100 percent of treatment costs. This extends to the cost of drug and alcohol rehab, including medically assisted detox, inpatient and outpatient treatment. To find out if you have reached your out-of-pocket maximum for the year, contact your insurance company. Our admissions experts are also available to answer your insurance related questions and can confidentially check your benefits coverage. Call (xxx) xxx-xxxx for help understanding your options.

New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Always Work

We know a lot of people plan for 2021 to be the year they finally get back on track. Whether through a fitness transformation, taking control of their finances, or quitting drinking or drug use, the new year always inspires us to strive for self-improvement and other goals. However, when it comes to substance abuse and addiction, a New Year’s Resolution is rarely enough to make a difference. In fact, most Americans give up on their resolution less than two weeks in, with many giving up by January 12th.

Reducing something as important as addiction recovery and sobriety to a resolution makes it all too easy to fall back on old habits with little guilt because everyone else has failed, too. Long-term sobriety requires more than just a half-hearted commitment. Addiction is often a symptom of deeper lying issues rooted in trauma or mental illness. They require the help and support of a treatment team who understand the depth of substance abuse disorders’ affect on the mind, body, and spirit. As a national provider of addiction treatment services, Niznik Behavioral Health is prepared to help you on your recovery journey now, not later.

Recovery Now, Celebration Later

The holiday season is a time for celebration, but drug and alcohol abuse can take the fun out of the festivities. Though it may be difficult to spend this time of year away from family members and friends, having something truly worth celebrating after you complete treatment will make your reunion that much sweeter. Going into the new year with a new mindset and approach to life is refreshing and more rewarding than waiting until then to seek help.

You don’t have to wait to get better. Start the conversation about your recovery options today — we’re here to help.