Author Tennessee Williams in his iconic work, The Glass Menagerie, eloquently and simply stated that “Time is the longest distance between two places.” Much of philosophical inquiry and scientific research of various disciplines has sought to define, manipulate, or even stop time. At once time is permanent and time is elusive. Time can be incredibly long and intolerable to endure or time can fly by without a chance of keeping up. A currency of life, time determines so much of what we do and how we do it. We are often told not to take time for granted and to make the most out of every moment.
It is Never Too Late
In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, author and screenwriter Eric Wroth asserts, “it’s never too late or…too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it.” Roth has Benjamin continue to give his hope to the audience for the way they live their lives. If that way, Benjamin postulates, isn’t satisfactory, he says, “I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”
Take the Time
Time is often a deterrent in the decision to seek treatment for a substance use disorder or a mental health disorder. Treatment takes time– it can take weeks, months, or even a year if it is a long term program. Life runs on time. Taking the time to essentially stop time and seek treatment puts a lot of other things which require time at risk; for example, children, payments, a job, etc. It is important to recognize the illusion of time because of the way that addiction, alcoholism, and mental health disorders distort the reality of time. There is no grand philosophy in stating that continuing one more minute of substance abuse or harmful behaviors shortens life or at least puts it at risk for ending prematurely. When it comes to seeking treatment for these issues, time truly is of the essence.
It is because of that essence of time that treatment itself becomes essential. For a short amount of time to endure therapy, nutritional guidance, spiritual support, and holistic healing, a lifetime is saved. What has taken a lifetime to try and heal out of self-will and self-knowledge will be made better by leaps and bounds within just a few months time. Compared to the rest of one’s life which will be lived in health and happiness, such an amount of time is merely chump change–or a worthy investment.
The time is now to seek treatment if you or a loved one are suffering from drug addiction, alcoholism, or a mental health disorder which is putting life at risk. Avalon By The Sea of Malibu, California, is the premiere dual diagnosis treatment center in Southern California. For more information on our programs of treatment for both substance abuse and mental health disorders, call 1 888-958-7511.
