A Comprehensive Guide to Rehab In 2020, a total of 91,799 people died in the United States due to overdosing on drugs. Drug and alcohol addiction remain serious problems in the country. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, you’ve likely experienced some of the addiction’s consequences. In fact, you may have already started considering rehab. Whether you’ve thought about rehab before or not, learning what the experience is like can convince you to make this potentially life-saving move.
Each person has a unique experience in rehab, as your program will be tailored to your individual needs. Understanding some general information about rehab can give you a feel for what to expect.
Who Can Enter Rehab
Rehab is for any person suffering from an addiction. Your addiction could be to a drug like cocaine or heroin, or you could be suffering from an addiction to prescription pills. Rehab is also for you if you’re suffering from alcoholism. Many people with a dual diagnosis go to rehab too. For example, you might be struggling with both depression and an addiction to a substance.
Mental Health Component
You can expect your program to have a significant mental health component. For example, you will generally have one-on-one counseling sessions with a mental health professional. Depending upon the type of treatment you choose, these sessions could happen in person or virtually. You can expect to be asked questions about your background, your family when you started using substances, the type of situations in which you use drugs or consume alcohol, and the circumstances that led you to abuse drugs.
Daily Schedule
Each inpatient treatment program is going to vary. However, you can typically expect to be served three meals per day. Then, you will have different types of therapies, such as individual counseling and group therapy, throughout the day. If the treatment center is a religious or spiritual facility, time for prayer or meditation will likely be built into the schedule as well. You can also expect to have some free time during the day. During this time, you might explore a healthy hobby or get to know the other clients at the center.
Step-by-step Approach
You’ll go through different stages in rehab. For example, many people start by enrolling in a medically supervised detox program. Then, clients go on to either outpatient or inpatient treatment. After inpatient treatment, you might choose to continue with an outpatient program. The staff members will also provide support for you after your main treatment program.
Supportive, Caring, and Understanding
During your time in treatment, you can expect to be surrounded by supportive, caring, and understanding staff members. You don’t need to feel embarrassed about your addiction. Many treatment centers are staffed by people who are recovering addicts themselves.
How to Start
Remember that the staff members at treatment centers are used to working with people who struggle with addiction. These nurturing professionals are waiting to help individuals such as yourself. In order to get started with treatment, call a center. All you have to say is that you want to get help. The experts will know where to take the conversation from there.
Types of Rehab
Learning about the different types of programs available can help you to choose the one that’s right for you.
Medically Supervised Detox
Choosing medically supervised detox is a decision that many people make before starting their official treatment programs. In order to have a productive experience in treatment, your body and mind must be free from drugs. Therefore, detoxing from the drug is a necessary first step.
Trying to detox without medical assistance can be challenging, and you might quickly relapse. Medically supervised detox provides you with a safe and supportive environment in which to withdraw. Going through withdrawal can produce a number of physical effects. You might experience aches, nausea, and insomnia. Medical supervision helps to monitor and control these effects. For example, the doctor could prescribe medication to assist with the side effects.
Detox also comes with a number of mental side effects. You could feel anxious or have thoughts of suicide. A supervised program is typically staffed with mental health professionals who can talk you through these situations.
Outpatient Treatment
After your detox program, you can choose between outpatient and inpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment means that you’ll typically go to a program in or near your community since you will continue to live at home.
Outpatient treatment can connect you with therapists, counselors, and other programs. For example, you might attend a weekly support group where you share your experiences with other people who are struggling with addiction.
You have to speak with a counselor about which type of treatment is right for you. However, outpatient treatment might be more appropriate for individuals who have responsibilities that they can’t move away from. Also, if you are further along in your recovery, outpatient treatment could be the right fit for you. Some people choose to continue receiving support by going to an outpatient program following inpatient treatment.
Inpatient Treatment
If you move into a treatment center, you’ll be getting inpatient treatment. The amount of time that you spend in an inpatient program is a decision that you’ll have to reach with your counseling support team.
An inpatient program can be most appropriate for individuals struggling with severe and prolonged addictions. Also, if you have tried to get sober before and relapsed with an outpatient program, giving inpatient treatment a try can be a smart move. Inpatient treatment is beneficial for many individuals because you don’t have to worry about certain responsibilities, such as going to work, and you can focus entirely on yourself.
You could choose to go to a treatment center that is close to your home, or you might opt for inpatient support located across the country. If you have a supportive environment at home, you might want to stay closer to relatives and friends. However, keep in mind that people who genuinely support you will understand your decision to seek treatment farther away. In fact, being in an entirely new environment can motivate and inspire your recovery.
Religious Programs
Now that you know about the main types of treatment available, you can learn some more about the specific approaches that centers take. Incorporating faith into addiction treatment is a fairly common move. Some programs are religious, and others take a more general spiritual approach. Of course, you can also find secular treatment programs.
Religious Recovery Programs
If you are a member of a certain religion, you can select an addiction program based on that faith, but you are not required to do so. Programs can take different approaches when it comes to incorporating religion. For example, some treatment centers might strictly adhere to the rules of a particular religion or denomination. Other centers bring religious components in more generally. Prayer or the discussion of religious texts could be included in the daily happenings of the center, but you won’t necessarily be required to follow a specific doctrine.
Spiritual Recovery Programs
Other centers will take a general spiritual approach to treatment. These programs may be similar to centers with a general religious approach. However, a spiritual approach could be more inclusive of all faiths instead of focusing on the practices of a specific religion. You might be asked to offer up a prayer to your own personal higher being, and you may participate in activities such as meditation. Each program is different, though, so you should speak with a representative at the centers in which you’re interested.
Specific Approaches
Treatment centers could take other types of specific approaches to rehab. For example, some treatment centers may use art therapy to help you heal, and other rehab programs will use a holistic approach to your health. Keep in mind that not all centers use these approaches and that these strategies are also not the only ones that exist. Art therapy and holistic treatment are simply two of the options that you might encounter when conducting research on treatment centers.
Art Therapy
Using art therapy to help people struggling with addiction is one common strategy. A broad definition of this approach could include music therapy as well. Art therapists can encourage you to express your feelings through drawing, painting, or other mediums. Engaging in these practices can help you to identify certain issues or simply enjoy a new hobby.
Holistic Therapy
Some programs will dub themselves as holistic therapy programs, and others will incorporate these approaches into daily activities. Keep in mind that recovering from addiction is one part of living a healthier lifestyle overall. Therefore, learning about the proper foods to eat and the ways in which to exercise your body can also aid in recovery. Going to a program that employs holistic approaches can help you to better love and respect your own body.
Daily Life
You are also likely wondering what your daily life in a rehab will entail. Each program is different, and you should speak with a representative to get a sense of what a typical schedule looks like. However, you can generally expect certain features to be present in the top programs.
Individual Therapy
An important part of recovery is getting individual therapy. These sessions can help you to identify the cause of your addiction. In sum, your therapist can help you to determine the reasons why you abuse drugs. For example, you might learn how to manage certain triggers. Also, you can work with your therapist to uncover any issues in your personal life that might have led to your addiction.
Individual therapy sessions can also uncover other issues with mental health that you might be suffering from. For example, you might also have depression or anxiety. A dual diagnosis can allow the support team to treat both of your conditions.
Group Therapy
The thought of opening up to a group of people about your addiction might seem overwhelming at first. However, interpersonal relationships can be seriously powerful. Talking with a group about your addiction can help you to realize that you’re not alone. Other people are going through similar struggles. Further, you can form friendships with the other clients in treatment. These supportive bonds can last even after your time at the center is over.
Activities
You will also likely have the opportunity to participate in activities, particularly at an inpatient treatment center. For example, you might be encouraged to engage in exercise routines or to explore a new hobby, such as journaling or going on nature walks. Joining in on a new activity might seem overwhelming or uncomfortable, especially at a vulnerable point in your life, but consider the potential benefits. Acquiring a new hobby can help you to be distracted from addiction.
Privacy and Comfort
The best addiction treatment centers will value your privacy and comfort. Find a center where you have a private room and where you will share a bathroom with only one or two other people. You may even find a center with entirely private facilities. Research centers provide you with certain comforts and amenities of home, such as the ability to wear your own clothing and to launder your clothes.
Visits and Communication
You may wonder if you’ll be able to have loved ones visit you and how often you will get to speak with relatives and friends. Ultimately, each center is going to have its own policy. Keep in mind that if visits and communication are limited, it’s because the goal is for you to focus on yourself. Constantly having visitors or spending time on the phone with loved ones can distract you. Typically, though, treatment centers do encourage healthy relationships with loved ones.
How to Choose the Right Treatment Program
Now that you know about a number of the options, you’re likely wondering how you can narrow down the choices and select the right program.
Speak with Professionals
A good way to start is by having a conversation with your primary care doctor and therapist if you have one. These individuals likely have a strong sense of your current condition. Further, experts in the medical and mental health fields can typically provide you with both local and more distant recommendations. Your doctor and therapist may also have suggestions about the type of therapy that is the best fit for your needs.
Contact Programs
The thought of directly contacting a representative at a treatment program can feel overwhelming. However, the team members are waiting for your call. These compassionate individuals understand how difficult taking the first step can be, and some of the team members may be recovering addicts themselves.
Contacting a treatment center means that you can ask specific questions and request material. You can find out if a tour of the grounds is possible or if the center can send you a brochure.
Speak to Relatives and Friends
Your family and friends may already be aware that you’re struggling with an addiction. People who truly care about you will be supportive of your decision to seek help. If you want to opt for inpatient treatment, you can also ask your loved ones for help with responsibilities at home while you are getting treatment.
Evaluate Your Options
Waiting too long to seek treatment isn’t an effective approach. However, it would be best if you took the time to weigh the pros and cons of different possibilities. For example, if you’re trying to decide whether outpatient or inpatient treatment is the right fit, make a list of both benefits and drawbacks. Review this information with your therapist, a counselor, or a trusted loved one.
Rehab is a truly personal experience. You won’t know exactly what treatment is like until you start the program. However, you can get a strong sense of the possibilities available and what a day in the center might look like. Speaking with a caring representative can help you to learn more details and to get answers to your questions.