Addictive Errors In Thinking

Excuses, excuses! We’ve all heard them, and family and friends of those with substance abuse problems are exposed to more than most people. It’s more than just an annoyance, though. It’s a serious problem that those suffering from addiction share.

Addicts Avoiding Help

Below are 10 of the top tactics users employ to avoid getting help. By understanding them, it gives loved ones a glimpse into the deeper issues that lie beneath addiction and it may help them spot a problem earlier. That won’t cure addiction, but it will give friends and family the strength to end the enabling behavior that makes the substance use easier to continue.

Excuse Making – This is a way of justifying behavior: “I keep using because my wife nags me” or ‘my parents treated me unfairly.” No matter the circumstances, they don’t justify substance abuse. Instead, the addicted individual needs to get help for the underlying issues.

Blaming – A close cousin of excuse making, this allows the addicted individual to believe that someone else’s actions are at the root of their substance abuse so they are not responsible for the results.

Justifying – It’s a popular method among dieters and others. “I worked out today so I deserve this hot fudge Sunday!” When applied to substance abuse, this can be very dangerous.

Superoptimism – A positive attitude is certainly helpful, but believing you can get clean simply by wanting it (rather than seeking professional help) is a misguided thought process that usually leads to a quick relapse.

Ingratiating – Those with a substance abuse problem rely on others for many things and to keep those who enable them willing to continue do so, they often make sure they are rewarded for their efforts with plenty of attention.

Minimizing – “I only had one beer,” may seem minor, but for someone who’s addicted and needs to avoid alcohol altogether it’s a sign of relapse. There’s no unimportant substance use for someone in recovery.

Victim Playing – The victim gets those around them so busy trying to rescue them that the actual substance use fades in importance.

Intellectualizing – A little knowledge is a dangerous thing in this instance. Instead of seeing a positive drug screen as a sign of a problem on their part, this individual deflects by questioning the equipment, the person administering the test or the process itself.

Vagueness – Probably. Maybe. More or less. Possibly. This personality is a master at using quite a few words to admit nothing at all.

“I’m Unique” Thinking – The rules don’t apply here. “In others, this behavior might indicate a substance abuse problem, but I’m special.” This also applies to treatment methods, relapse dangers, etc. None of them apply to this person who insists they need special treatment because they’re different from other users.

Substance Abuse Help

If you or someone you know is using any of these tactics to avoid confronting a substance abuse problem, it’s time to come clean so you can get clean. Contact La Paloma at our toll-free number, 877-345-1887. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have.