All You Need To Know About What Happens In Rehab

Are considering joining a rehabilitation program? If you are, then you might be wondering what to expect on the first day of rehabilitation. You might feel anxious and blindsided, but this read will help you have a clear picture of how your rehabilitation program will go. There are numerous drug abuse treatments and this read does not outline the basic form. It merely gives an outline of what to expect. Thus, some things may work for you, while others may not.

 

Various rehabs have varying schedules, but the usual practices include:

1. 1. Physical examination or assessment: At the beginning of the rehab process, you will meet a physician. You will spend some time with him or her to examine your addiction status and map out a detoxification plan. This plan will vary depending on the drugs you were using during the addiction phase. Therefore, it is mandatory that you are very honest at this stage. Giving the wrong information will not help you get through your rehabilitation efficiently. You might also be asked to identify the recent drugs that you ingested. This could be prescribed or not. Thus, you might want to acquaint yourself with the names of those drugs. At this stage, you will be given various legal documents such as consent forms to fill. This stage takes a few hours, but it could spread out through a couple of days.

 

1. 1. Psychological examination/evaluation/assessment: A psychiatrist who has experience and expertise on addiction will examine various issues such as bipolar, depression, anxiety, or any other psychological or emotional issues. The first examination you do will not be conclusive. This is because you are still under the influence of drugs and at the peak of your addiction. This may taint the results significantly. A good example is some people exhibit schizophrenic properties when they are under the influence and after they are done with their rehabilitation, these symptoms end.

 

1. 1. Detoxification: This is the part of the program that addicts hate most. However, if you check in to a high-end rehabilitation centre it might be extremely comfortable for you. Withdrawal symptoms are inevitable. They will use medication like valium and suboxone to ease your pain. Since they do not want to create a dependency to this drug, they will only use it when necessary and for a short period. The aim of using them is to make sure that the addict is completely free from mood-altering drugs. The potential side effects include decreased appetite, amnesia, blackouts, and feelings of paranoia, aggressive behavior, panic attacks, tremors, blurred vision, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, seizures, convulsions, respiratory issues, high blood pressure, motor impairment, and even dilated pupils. A doctor will definitely be on standby to help you get through all these side effects. The side effects you experience are dependent on the drugs you used. Thus, make sure you enquire so that you do not go into shock ones the side effects start showing. Mental preparation goes a long way when it comes to this form of treatment.

 

1. 1. Therapy: The most effective form of therapy is done in a group setting. This does not single out individual therapy. It is still effective. Additionally, some people prefer to have individual counseling because of their status or other personal reservations. By talking and connecting with other people who feel the same way you do, you develop techniques that help you stay free from drug consumption.

 

1. 1. Fitness: Drugs make the body system deteriorate. It derails all health aspects making it hard to get through the addiction. Thus, through fitness, you can uplift your mind, soul and body. This is essential for their healing process. Exercise helps the addict get through the withdrawal symptoms since it helps the body produce endorphins that make the body feel good. You might need the help of a trainer to get through this stage. The rehabilitation centre could provide one unless you have reservations about a specific one and want to hire your own personal trainer.

 

1. 1. Good nutrition: Dieting goes hand-in-hand with fitness. In order to recover, you have to feel good and eat right. If you eat too much-processed carbohydrates, you will feel sleepy and sluggish. On the other hand, too much sugar will affect your moods. Thus, you will need to consult your nutritionist to plan your balanced diet and help you get in better shape.

 

1. 1. Alternative treatments: Many rehabilitation centers offer numerous alternative treatments. These treatments have been shown to help ease the withdrawal symptoms and make the addicts’ rehabilitation life more comfortable. These include acupuncture, equine therapy, yoga, massage, and meditation among others.

 

1. 1. Planning for aftercare: What is your plan after you leave the rehabilitation centre? How are you planning to stay on track with the treatment? How will you plan your home regimen to keep up with the treatment? What will you do if you get the urge to use drugs? All these questions are catered for under this part of the treatment. The plan caters for all the strategies that you need o address to remedy any situation you phase and the various relationships you are likely to phase when you get back home.

 

1. 1. Discharge from treatment: Your treatment is complete and you are at about thirty days free from drug or alcohol use. This day could be terrifying, joyous, or exciting. Follow the aftercare plan and all the tips and advice that you have received from the specialists. If you stay away from the triggers, you will have a better chance of long-term recovery.

 

Rehabilitation centers offer inpatient treatment and are organized in such a way that most of them offer the same therapies and activities. They are in-patient to prevent the person from relapsing when they leave the centre every day. These centers realize that most addicts are ready to do anything to feed their addictions even lie and have thus taken extra precaution to make sure that this need is met. They provide a safe environment for recovery and healing.

 

A typical day in rehab consists of the following activities:

• • Early meetings and healthy breakfast: Expect an early morning compete with a very healthy breakfast. This is standard for most. Others go an extra mile of offering meditation and yoga to help relax and soothe the mind before the treatment programs commence. This will help you maintain a positive mindset, which makes it easier to receive treatment. This helps you form a morning routine that gets you focused throughout the day after you leave the centre. It helps create a new habit. Some of them offer group sessions that are managed by therapists or counselors. The manager of the program lays out a discussion plan that focuses on the relevant topics relating to the treatment. This part follows the breakfast and it helps the addict view life from a different angle. The drug affects the normal mode of thinking and it is thus necessary that the addict is counseled back to their normal self so that they can mend any relationship they broke during their addiction. They get t see life from the eyes of their loved ones. This will help you through the aftercare stage as you relate to the public after receiving treatment.

 

• • Therapy in the afternoons: During the afternoon, most rehabilitation centers offer intense treatment. This is when the mind and body are at its peak of alertness and effectiveness and the rehabs take advantage of this. After the lunch break, most offer therapeutic sessions that might include:

 

• • Individual behavioral therapy: It includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is very effective. This therapy focuses on your responsive behavior to various triggers. Once they are pinpointed, the therapist helps you toward a healthier response. The fact that it is personal therapy, it makes it easier for the person to share and open up about their issues and fears. This allows the therapist to get to know more about you and alter your response to these anxiety triggers.

 

• • Group therapy: Group sessions are insightful and comfortable. Everyone who participates in this has experience with drug abuse. Expect to share your experiences and listen to those of others. This helps you to heal emotionally by accepting your situation and learning how to move past it. It creates a sense of accountability between the participants since when a person relapses they feel like they let the entire group down. As time passes, the members become more open and tend to create lasting relationships even after the treatment in the centre. It also helps the addict learn how to assimilate back into the society by learning how to form new relationships with people.

 

• • Specialized sessions: This is not a standard form of therapy. These sessions are more customized. They deal with the individual attributes of the person such as grief, stress, and anger. They help the recovering addict develop coping mechanisms that will prevent them from being triggered back into a relapse. The recovering addict will handle issues better rather than turn to drugs to help them cope.

 

• • Family therapy: It is very important that the patients get all the support they need from their friends and loved ones. They might have caused some strain in their relationships during their addiction phase, thus it is good to know that their loved ones still care about them regardless of the past. It helps them maintain their focus and take better care of their health. This therapy allows issues to be resolved between family members and various negative feelings are addressed.

 

Some rehabilitation speakers may host speakers who have experience with addiction. They might call in a celebrity or alumni of the centre to help motivate the recovering addicts. Some of these talks escalate further and address issues such as career after the treatment or religion to help the patients know that there is life after addiction. It helps the focus and plans to be better during their aftercare treatment. Other rehabilitation centers offer alternate and supplementary forms of therapy such as equine therapy, exercising, neuro feedback, biofeedback, dance therapy, and music or art therapy.

• • Free time: You might have some time to yourself during the afternoon to be discretionary. This could be a good time to perform activities such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, ping-pong, swimming or pool. Use the amenities within responsibly. Most people prefer to relax by meditating r praying, while others just like reading books and journals.

 

• • Evenings: After dinner, the rehabilitation centre might offer a group session. Normally, most rehabilitation centers offer a twelve-step program during this period. This helps in making the patient feel safe within their environment. They are able to fellowship, which makes it easier for them to participate in long-term treatment. They set a standard sleeping time to help normalize your sleeping habits, thus expect to have a set sleep program. This ensures that the patient is more alert and energized to get through the activities of the next day.

 

Now that you a have an idea of what goes on a normal day during rehab, you will not feel blindsided and will be able to put your guard down. Prepare yourself mentally to help you get through the therapy sessions especially if you are an introvert. Speak to a professional to help you find the best treatment centre for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do rehabilitation centers offer outpatient treatment?

Yes, they do. However, this is not common. Most people prefer to have inpatient treatment. The outpatient treatment is different from the inpatient one in that the person only attends the individual and group addiction therapy sessions for a few hours on a daily basis. When these people are not attending the therapy sessions they are around safe drug-free environments that help them meditate. This treatment method is best for addicts who want help but still need to take care of their daily responsibilities such as school, work, or other serious commitments.

2. What is the estimated duration period for rehabilitation treatment?

One cannot really estimate the period, but it takes about twenty-eight to thirty days. However, it could last longer than this. The short treatments usually take about thirty days, while there are other programs that cater to sixty, even ninety days or more. The specialist has to examine your dependence on the drug, which then helps to estimate the period you will frequent the facility for treatment. Expect your mental and physical health to be thoroughly assessed.

3. What rules should I expect when I go to rehab?

Rehabilitation centers have strict rules that aim to make your life better during and post-treatment. Thus, expect very strict rules and guidelines that aim at making your treatment effective. These rules include:

• Strict attendance to meetings and therapy sessions
• Strict compliance with the drug testing procedures
• Staff permission when leaving the premises
• Refrain from any violence or violent threats
• Refrain from conduct that is inappropriate with staff or clients
• No alcohol, drugs or related paraphernalia within the vicinity
• Complying with the searching procedures upon entry to the vicinity
• Maintain good conduct with the other patients

 

4. Are there any rewards for completed tasks?

The reward system is used to enforce good traits. Some rehabilitation offers gifts and tokens to their patients when they complete various tasks to help them feel a sense of encouragement and pride in their efforts. However, this is not standard. Some of these privileges manifest in unsupervised weekends with family and friends. This creates an incentive of becoming better and achieving ultimate sobriety.

5. What do I need to prepare for rehab?

Apart from your obvious luggage, make sure you pack the following items:

• Writing and reading materials
• A detailed list of your close family and friends including the name, phone numbers, and their addresses so that if anything happens you can contact them or you could call them when you feel discouraged to help you get through the tough nights and days
• List of the drugs you have abused and the current medications that you might be ingesting at the time
• Pictures of anything you treasure. It could be your loved ones or a favorite piece of art. This will motivate and support you.
• Laundry soap
• Clothing
• Toiletries
• Alarm clock to help you get through the strict sleeping schedules
• Past medical records and insurance information
• A form of identification and your driver’s license
• Activities to pass time for example painting materials, puzzles, books, or even musical instruments

Before you carry any electronic devices, make sure that you consult with the facility. Some facilities have a strict no electronic device policy. You could also consult if the following things are allowed mouthwash-containing alcohol, chewing tobacco, cigarettes, razors, and nail clippers, among others. Make a list so that you consult everything at the same time. Do not carry expensive items and ask a family member to send you money regularly during your stay.

You might also want to take care of any responsibilities that you will leave unattended. This includes:

• Informing family members and friends about your whereabouts and the duration
• Giving your family member or spouse account information and passwords to help them oversee your finances as you get your treatment
• Set up automatic bill payment systems
• Arranging for help for your children or pets as you get treatment
• Arranging to take a medical leave of absence from work or school

 

6. How can I reduce temptation during aftercare?

There are two main ways of trying to reduce the chances of relapsing. Firstly, make sure you cut connections with all your drug dealers or people who have the potential of influencing you to relapse. Take note that peer pressure is very real and most recovering addicts tend to relapse because of the friends they choose to keep after they are out of rehab. Thoroughly sweep through your house and throw away any paraphernalia that can cause a relapse. This includes full or empty alcohol bottles and ashtrays, among others. Check through all your secret hiding spots and make sure you get rid of them.

7. What should I expect after my rehabilitation treatment is complete?

Most people believe that after the treatment completes, they are automatically recovered. This treatment merely transitions you into the recovery stage. Thus after the treatment s compete is when the recovery begins. It takes a lot of effort and time, thus you will have to be very disciplined and focused. Most centers provide aftercare treatment that helps the recovering addict cope after the treatment is done. This will increase your chances of staying sober for a longer period and eventually achieve ultimate sobriety. Some aftercare treatment plans offer the following to help you cope after the treatment:

• • Outpatient treatment – This is optional. Some clients like to transition out of their rehabilitation session by enrolling for this. It gives them the right amount of daily support. Expect individual and group meetings for some hours on a weekly basis.

 

• • Recovery meetings – These are self-help groups of people who are struggling with drug use. These include narcotics anonymous, Secular Organization or sobriety, LifeRing Women for Sobriety, SMART recovery or alcoholics anonymous. In these groups, the members share their experiences and foster accountability partner relationships with the other members.

 

• • Halfway homes or sober living homes – These homes provide drug-free environments for people who do not feel safe enough to go back to their past environment. These are not like the outpatient rehabilitation systems. They are freer with fewer rules. The patent is able to leave and come as they please. However, they may have curfews and compulsory drug tests. This helps the resident feel more focused and prevents relapsing.

 

• • Counseling or psychotherapy – This is provided mainly by a counselor, social worker, or psychologist. You might have about one or two sessions with him or her on a weekly basis. The meeting number depends on your needs.

 

• Medication management – A specialist, normally a psychiatrist or physician, prescribes medicine and monitors the recovering addict. This helps suppress any craving or health complications that the person might experience expect to have regular meetings with your doctor about this.