Many people who struggle with addiction or alcoholism are hesitant to get help for fear of being stigmatized or judged. But the reality is that treatment for addiction and alcoholism is like any other medical treatment. It’s uncomfortable, it’s inconvenient, and you’ll probably go through some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, but the result is positive-you’ll be healthier and happier at the end of it.

When many people think of addiction, they think of someone covered in tattoos and piercings who can’t pass a sobriety test. Addictions are something people tend to associate with crime, violence, and disease, so it’s no wonder that people think addicts are dangerous. But addiction is not the same as a criminal act, and addicts can and do recover.

When seeking treatment for mental health, you might ask yourself: Could this treatment be dangerous? Should I be concerned? Will the medication do more harm than good? These questions might have crossed your mind, and luckily, you don’t have to worry about these concerns. Most mental health treatments, including medication, are relatively safe and well-studied, and the benefits of treatment are well-worth any short-term risks. Additionally, some medications are dangerous, so it’s important that you talk to your health professional to learn more about the side effects and how you can manage them if you have any concerns.

Treatment for mental health can be scary, especially for people who don’t really understand it. The people who are brave enough to seek treatment may find themselves facing scary risks. But don’t worry; we’re here to shed a little light on the risks you may encounter and the steps you can and should take to minimize them.

1. Not Getting the Help You Need: While seeking treatment, you may believe that you are receiving the right treatment, but you may not actually be getting what you need. Some treatment centers have more of a “one size fits all” approach, but it could be doing more harm to you than good. In a few cases, you might even get prescribed the wrong medication, which can further have a negative impact on your mental health. While dealing with such a situation, it could be helpful to discuss the details with a solicitor specialized in misdiagnosis claims (check out this service page for more information) to learn about legal proceedings. At any point in time when getting therapy or treatment for a mental health condition, if you feel that the treatment is not working in your favor, it could be wise to see another professional for a second opinion.
2. Being Placed on Medication: Medication is commonplace when seeking treatment. This is to be expected, as sometimes medication is the only way to provide relief from symptoms. However, people are often placed on medications without fully understanding the consequences of increased prescription drug dependency. This can lead to drug addiction, which can reduce the benefits of the drug and may cause increased mental health problems.
3. Not Thinking the Process Through: Many people believe that going to a treatment center for mental health will fix everything, but the process takes a great deal of time, and you shouldn’t expect to see results overnight.
4. You may feel worse while getting treatment: It is very likely that some people will expect to feel worse before they start feeling better. While this isn’t uncommon, it can happen. And if you do feel worse at first, you might be experiencing what’s called a detox, which can be uncomfortable. After detoxing, though, most people feel better. That said, you might find some centres that provide ibogaine treatment or similar courses of action as an effective rehabilitation method. This could ease the physical and mental symptoms of withdrawal to make the process easier for recovering addicts.
5. You may develop a new mental health problem: People often worry that worsening or new symptoms mean their symptoms are getting worse. However, what they are experiencing is most likely a reflection from the disorder that led them to treatment in the first place. Treatment can help stabilize symptoms so that they lessen in severity over time.
6. You may not be able to stick with treatment: Some people have trouble sticking with treatment because they need more structure in their lives. And they must keep in mind that treatment options like inpatient and outpatient treatment, hospitalization, and medication are proven to help reduce symptoms and improve mental health.

When seeking treatment for mental health, it is best to consider all the possible positive and negative outcomes. After all, you are trying to do something that could improve your quality of life, but you’re also doing something that could harm it. Always remember to reach out to a professional for help and advice before deciding on your own course of treatment.