How to Talk to Your Doctor About Getting Help for Addiction

If you’re struggling with drugs or alcohol and are ready to ask for help, talking to your doctor about it is a great first step. However, sometimes people fear approaching the conversation because they don’t know what to say or expect, or because they feel shame. Understanding how to talk to your doctor about addiction can help you to overcome this fear.

When It’s Time to Ask for Help

If you think you need help, you do. It’s a personal conclusion that you’ve come to because you know you can’t battle your addiction alone. If you are not sure if you need help, you can do some self-evaluation by looking at the 11 criteria for addiction, clinically known as substance use disorder, from the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. These are:

1. Using drugs or alcohol more than intended or for longer than intended
2. Wanting to reduce or stop alcohol or drug use but not being able to
3. Spending excessive amounts of time using drugs or alcohol or recovering from using
4. Feeling cravings for drugs or alcohol
5. Failing to live up to responsibilities due to drug or alcohol use
6. Having relationship problems because of drug or alcohol use
7. Giving up activities that you enjoy in order to drink or use drugs instead
8. Engaging in risky behaviors like driving while under the influence
9. Continuing to drink or do drugs in spite of negative consequences like health issues
10. Needing more alcohol or drugs to get the same effects
11. Having withdrawal symptoms when you are not drinking or doing drugs

Having two to three of these symptoms indicates a mild substance use disorder, four to five is considered moderate, while six or more is severe. Any level of substance use disorder is difficult to overcome without treatment.

Why It’s Hard to Ask for Help with Addiction

Asking for help with addiction is difficult for many people for several reasons. Many stigmas surround addiction, which cause people struggling with drugs or alcohol to feel shame. They don’t want to admit that they have a problem and need help because they are afraid that they will be perceived as weak or defective. However, addiction is a mental health disorder that needs treatment, just like health conditions need treatment. Asking for help is a courageous act.

Another reason that asking your doctor for help may be difficult is that it feels like you are committing yourself to getting treatment, and the thought of treatment may be frightening. It’s a major disruption in your life, and you don’t know what to expect. However, you’ll find that addiction treatment may be the best thing you’ve ever done. It can change your life, so it’s worth the time.

Finally, some people fear repercussions from talking to their doctor about addiction if they are addicted to illegal drugs. However, privacy laws prohibit doctors from sharing that information, even to the police. Their job is to get you the help you need, not to have you arrested.

How to Ask Your Doctor for Help with Addiction

First of all, when you make an appointment to talk to your doctor, you don’t have to tell the receptionist the reason you are coming in. You can tell them it’s personal. When you go in for your appointment, usually you’ll see a nurse first, and you don’t have to tell them either. You can just say that you want to have a personal conversation with the doctor alone. For some people, this can make the visit easier because you’ll feel more of a sense of privacy.

When you talk with the doctor, you should be direct. Tell them what you’ve been struggling with, whether it’s drugs or alcohol, and that you believe that it’s out of control and you’re ready to get help. They will ask you questions about what you use, how much you use, and how often, and about the consequences you’ve suffered due to substance use, particularly any health consequences.

Be completely honest with your doctor and don’t hold anything back. They need information to be able to recommend the best course of action.

Your doctor will refer you to a mental health professional or to a treatment facility. In either case, you will be assessed so that a personalized treatment plan can be created for you. Your doctor will also provide resources and information about the types of treatment available for addiction.

Treatment Options for Addiction

You’ll have several treatment options to consider. A mental health professional can recommend the best option for you based on their assessment, but the choice is ultimately yours.

Inpatient Treatment

A 30 to 90 day inpatient treatment program includes a detox period and intensive therapy, both individually and in groups. You’ll also be treated for any co-occurring disorders that you may have, such as anxiety and depression. Medication may be part of the treatment.

Most of your time will be spent in group therapy. Group therapy is central to the treatment process, giving you the opportunity to learn and to interact with peers. You’ll likely form mutually supportive relationships with some of these peers, which can be invaluable.

The type of therapy most commonly used in substance use disorder treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT teaches you to recognize your irrational thoughts and to challenge and change them to more reality based, positive thinking. It also teaches healthy coping skills and strategies to avoid relapse.

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) allows you to live at home while attending treatment for four to six hours per day, usually five days a week. The program may last anywhere from four weeks to ten weeks. The treatment consists of therapy similar to that of inpatient treatment, both in groups and individually.

More often than not, a PHP program is a transitional step that occurs after inpatient treatment, although it can be an alternative to inpatient treatment.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) consists of two to three hours of therapy five days a week for eight to twelve weeks. Often, sessions are held at convenient times so that you can still go to work or attend school.

An IOP can be a standalone treatment, or it can be attended after inpatient treatment, a PHP, or both.

Comprehensive Treatment

The most effective treatment plan for addiction is a comprehensive treatment program that consists of an inpatient program, a PHP, and an IOP. Research shows that recovery success rates increase the longer you stay in treatment. After IOP, you can receive continuing support from individual therapy or a program like AA or NA. Recovery from addiction is a lifelong process that requires dedication, work, and a strong support network.

In Closing

Asking your doctor with help for addiction may seem like an overwhelming step, but it’s the best thing to do for your physical and mental health and for your future. If you don’t have a primary care doctor or would prefer to skip that step, Bridges of Hope is here to help. We can do a thorough assessment and offer treatment options. We are committed to providing comprehensive, compassionate care so that you can move forward to a healthier future. Give us a call today to learn more.