Treatment Centre vs. Quitting Cold Turkey
I think the question of whether treatment center vs quitting cold turkey on their own, rattles around in the mind of almost everyone who’s looking for help. It’s a hard question to answer because you see examples on both sides. Some people go to treatment and it works. Others relapse shortly after, or even years later. The same is true for people who quit cold turkey. Some have been sober for forty years and never look back, while others relapse within days, weeks, or months.
After everything I’ve been through in my life, I think the answer to this question is actually pretty simple. Yes, you can quit on willpower alone. But quitting on willpower doesn’t teach you the wisdom, insight, and tools that come from professionals whose entire job is to help people stay sober long-term. Willpower might get you through the initial phase of quitting, but it doesn’t necessarily prepare you for what comes after.
Why Willpower Alone Isn’t Always Enough
Whether it’s a 12-step program or a treatment center like the Claresholm Centre for Mental Health and Addictions, counsellors and doctors provide information you’re very unlikely to seek out on your own. One of the very first exercises I had to do while I was there was a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) exercise called reattribution. The purpose of this exercise is to challenge irrational thoughts and replace them with more rational ones.
The irrational thought I was dealing with was that I didn’t belong there. After spending a few days at the center and hearing other patients’ stories, I felt like my problems were insignificant compared to theirs. I thought maybe I was wasting a spot that someone else needed more than I did. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
By working through that exercise, I was able to come to more rational conclusions. For example, addiction isn’t a competition, and there is no “right” or “wrong” reason to be there. Everyone is struggling in their own way, and pain doesn’t need to be compared to be valid.
During my three-month stay at Claresholm, I learned an incredible amount of information that I was completely unaware of. When I went to my first treatment center at sixteen years old, none of this was taught to me. That program was strictly 12-step based, and while the steps can be helpful, there was far less focus on the science behind addiction and how to change distorted thinking patterns. There wasn’t much emphasis on learning how to deal with irrational thoughts and beliefs when they inevitably show up.
Years later, when I moved away from Chatham, Ontario, trying to escape the life of despair I felt I was sliding into, I relocated to Fort McMurray, Alberta. It only took about a year before I was back to using hard drugs and going nowhere fast. Eventually, my girlfriend at the time—now my wife—decided she was going to move to Fort McMurray as well. That was the moment I knew I couldn’t continue living the way I was.
I quit using hard drugs cold turkey, and that decision lasted ten years. But looking back, I realize something important: the life I was living in Fort McMurray didn’t really allow for relapse. I worked night shifts, slept during the day, and when I was awake, my wife was home. There simply wasn’t much opportunity, and because of that, I didn’t always have cravings at the forefront of my mind.
That all changed after the wildfires of 2016. We moved to Calgary shortly afterward, and my drinking became a serious problem. My life circumstances shifted completely. I was now working a day job, while my wife worked nights and attended school full-time during the day. The structure that had kept me in check was gone.
One night, in a drunken stupor, the opportunity finally presented itself. The moment I had that phone number in my hand—the one that could get me exactly what I wanted—I was done. I truly believe that because I quit cold turkey ten years earlier, I never developed the tools needed to process my childhood trauma, manage cravings and temptations, or challenge the irrational thinking that had compounded over the years.
When I went to Claresholm, I finally learned how to use those tools for my recovery journey. I learned how to compartmentalize my life and break overwhelming thoughts into manageable pieces. I gained the ability to take something as frightening as the urge to use and flip it on its head—examining why the urge was there and what the real consequences would be if I acted on it.
Treatment centers also provide something else that’s incredibly valuable: community. Many programs involve living at the facility for thirty days, three months, or even six months. During that time, you’re surrounded by people who genuinely understand what you’re going through. Addicts often tell their families, “You don’t understand,” and as harsh as it sounds, that’s usually true.
During my stay at Claresholm Centre, my wife was able to attend sessions with a psychologist. For the first time, my struggles were explained to her in a way that made sense. That understanding strengthened our relationship in ways I don’t think would have been possible otherwise.
Sure, it’s possible to go online and learn about CBT, or try to work the steps on your own. But without a professional guiding you through the process, I don’t think those concepts truly solidify in your mind. Having someone walk you through the work, challenge your thinking, and hold you accountable makes a massive difference.
So yes, I believe a treatment center is far more valuable than quitting cold turkey. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to quit on your own. It is possible. But partnering with professionals makes recovery far more likely—and far more sustainable. So, treatment center vs quitting cold turkey doesn’t have to be a question. If you’re reaching out for help than allow a professional to assist you in your own journey.
Learn more about “My Journey”.
