Lately, I have been hearing about a wide-spread media coverage on the heroin crisis. I often ask myself, how and why it's so hard to recover. What are the barriers to treatment? From a first person perspective, one whom has been in recovery with an Eating Disorder, there are so many reasons that can be close to impossible at times. There are so many internal and external barriers to treatment.
One of the biggest internal barriers to treatment is the readiness and the ability to seek help. It takes a lot of courage to admit that what may have been working at one time, is no longer working anymore. Sometimes it can feel like a sense of defeat; a sign of weakness. But in actuality, the opposite is true! It takes strength, bravery, and courage to admit something has to change before it's too late. Realizing this can be very hard and can be a different way of thinking for someone struggling so much.
Often, when people suffer with the notion of seeking help, they have burned a lot of bridges. We can be such master manipulators when we are in the thralls of our disease. We tell people what they want to hear but do the complete opposite. We burn bridges that have been built once with trust. We often struggle with the ability to keep close, real friendships and often don't trust anyone. A very key component to recovery is a strong support system. Building healthy relationships again can be so hard, but it's a very important part of treatment.
Once, one is faced with needing or wanting to seek help, the availability of treatment facilities can be non-existent. They are stressed to the maximum and there are waiting lists too. Then you are faced with another external barrier such as INSURANCE. One may or may not have insurance, which leads to the ability to pay. Insurance companies dictate your length of stay, often leaving people to be discharged to soon. People may be sober,"not-using" or eating healthy at time of discharge but the skills to recover are non-existent when thrown back to the same environment. A tight network of supports, treatment providers, and will-power is needed before discharge. Often, people don't get that in a few days stay. People are discharged way to soon once they are "stabilized." often there are not enough skills in place to help one fight the battle. The comfort zone is still strong and leads to a false sense of failure.
Does it sound impossible to recover at times? The internal and external barriers seem overwhelmingly high, but the answer is no. The revolving door syndrome may happen multiple times during your recovery where you go in and out of facilities and treatments, but it is always a forward motion. Recovery is two steps forward and one step backwards. Having patience, understanding, and knowing relapse happens can be key to recovery. I never recovered in one stay in a hospital. The battle is every day and can seem like failure to others. Educating yourself and understanding the course of recovery can be very helpful to one who is struggling.
May it be a heroin crisis or any addiction, loved ones need to take the time to educate him or herself and have lots of patience, Sometimes, tough love is needed while other times it is not. Open your hands and heart to realize that it's a process. Tragically it all can end in death. For those of you struggling, please know you are not alone. Recovery is possible.
Often life seems impossible
even when it's possible.
Know you are not alone
even when you feel lost.
Take the time to listen
and follow your heart.
-A.N.T.
-A.N.T.
