In our daily language, “hitting rock bottom” means reaching your lowest point. In the area of addiction and recovery, “rock bottom” may refer to a moment when you have come to your rope’s end as a result of your substance use habits. You might experience thoughts such as,  “my life is totally out of my control.” 

The good thing is, your “rock bottom” may be a time when you finally decide to “put the shovel down” and seek treatment. Let’s take a closer look into “rock bottom” and how to gain more understanding of this term so you can identify when you are reaching your lowest point and how you can act to get help. 

Do I Have to Hit Rock Bottom in Order to Recover?

It is essential to understand that “hitting rock bottom” is a common occurrence in the pursuit of many seeking treatment. However, this does not mean that you have to go through it to begin the journey towards recovery. The desire to want treatment is up to you. You don’t have to wait for things to get worse before seeking help from health professionals. 

Additionally, the idea that you need to hit rock bottom to bounce back may be detrimental to you pursuing help before reaching your lowest point. Such a mindset can encourage you to wait, thinking that you do not have the prerequisite for getting treatment, and it might prolong the duration of substance use and deepen the dependency. Therefore, if addiction is a long and progressive development, the desire for recovery should happen at an earlier stage. 

Hitting Rock Bottom Can Sometimes Help

Many psychologists and mental health professionals contend that people need to be self-motivated to be in treatment. Therefore, hitting “rock bottom” might be the wake-up call for you. Further, according to many 12-Step group philosophies, the first step is having a good sense of when your life needs some significant changes. It is a moment when you admit your powerlessness over addiction. Your humility and powerlessness is a good starting point. 

Although hitting rock bottom refers to a pivotal moment beyond which things are not supposed to get worse, you need to realize that continued substance use and addiction is threatening your life, which could be considered “rock bottom” in of itself. The looming danger of severe health risks or death is the bottom for most addicts. However, you don’t have to wait for it to happen.

 Does Hitting Rock Bottom Help with Lasting Recovery?

Substance use and addiction are a slippery slope. Reaching a low point by itself prior to seeking treatment does not guarantee a successful recovery. Recovery takes work. Therefore, reaching your low point is part of a journey that helps you face the reality of your addiction. It is a moment of self-awareness. While this experience of having survived a “rock bottom” moment is no guarantee for long-term success, it is a motivating factor. It helps you become aware that relapse is always a danger in recovery, which can help you stay focused and accountable in your recovery journey. 

How Do I Know If I Have Hit Rock Bottom?

“Rock bottom” may mean different things for people because people come from different backgrounds and experiences. Some examples of “rock bottom” may include; 

• The loss of a job
• End of a marriage 
• Mental health disorders
• Stress from managing the responsibilities of life 

When the pain or hurt of hitting “rock bottom”  is so great, you might begin to want change; therefore, when you identify the signs, you need to seize the opportunity and get help.

 How to Move on After Hitting Rock Bottom

Never assume that you are “safe” after hitting “rock bottom.” Seeking treatment and therapy should be a continual and persistent effort that sustains recovery. You are never truly immune to the lure of drugs and alcohol. The only difference is that your experiences, along with treatment and therapy, teach you the skills to fight off temptations and keep yourself on the right track. The battles are ongoing, and you should not lose your vigilance under any circumstance.

It helps to work on a positive outlook, such as what you have gained from your experiences. You can also find assurance knowing that you are living in a time where there are many more treatment and recovery tools available than ever before. Even if you have relapsed multiple times before, there is always a new therapy and approach that could work for you. way to try. Therefore, it is important to always seek treatment when you are feeling stressed in your recovery.  

Hitting “rock bottom” can occur at any point in your life and for various reasons. If you suspect that your substance use has got you on the verge of hitting “rock bottom” or you have reached your lowest point, then the time to get help is now.  At Laguna Shores Recovery, we can help you through the hardest moments of your life by offering you a safe and comfortable space to heal. Our full medical staff and pet-friendly facility strives to help you gain self-knowledge about your experiences. Our approach to treatment and therapy is not one-size-fits-all to ensure that you are getting the best care to meet your needs. Remember, you never have to go-it alone. To connect with other peers sharing similar experiences, then reach out today. Your path to recovery begins the day you ask for help. Find out more by calling Lagune shores Recovery at 954-688-5806.