Anyone with a drug or alcohol addiction must enter a professional rehabilitation facility with experienced counselors for treatment. Individuals fighting this battle on their own are typically not successful because the urge to use again is too strong. A rehabilitation center can provide medications that will reduce the physical and mental discomforts of detoxification. The counselors provided during your time at rehab can also provide you with someone to talk when your discomfort levels are high, which in the long run can provide relief. Group discussions of personal experiences during your rehab may also be helpful as you may be able to provide advice to others, including being able to receive helpful advice for yourself. In extreme cases, there also may be an onsite psychologist or psychiatrist depending on your mental, physical, and medical needs during your detox and rehabilitation periods. Listed below are some general tips to take into consideration that may help you during your rehab experience.
Tip One: Support System
Establishing a support system is your first step. Entering a structured rehabilitation program is a courageous decision that requires a strong support system for a patient. For most individuals this means needing emotional support throughout the recovery process from family members, including a spouse, parents or siblings. This may even include close family friends. Individuals without help from their family should seek out close friends who are willing to assist during and after rehabilitation.
Another route that you might consider is having someone who is not close be your support system. The reason for this is that sometimes those closest to you don’t have the heart to tell you when you are doing something wrong in your rehabilitation process which limits your accountability and can hinder your road to true recovery and rehabilitation. You might consider using a pastor or some other type of religious leader. If you are not at all religious, perhaps consider a co-worker or your next door neighbor. Be sure to ask the person or people you have in mind to help mentor you. This will give them the chance to either become comfortable with helping you or it will give them the chance to politely say no. If by some chance they do say no, don’t be offended. Some people may not feel it is an appropriate place for them and they may feel like they can’t help you in any way. However, if they say yes to helping you, be grateful and show them proper respect. Give them the proper time they need to come up with a game plan to help hold you accountable for your actions. Keep in mind, your mentor is not there to just hold you accountable, but they are also there to encourage you when you are doing good things as well.
Tip Two: Choose the Right Facility
There are numerous rehabilitation facilities that specialize in particular forms of treatments. Selecting a rehabilitation center that treats alcoholics to recover from a heroin addiction will probably lead to a bad outcome. Talk to a physician or mental health professional about the type of rehabilitation center that is best for your addiction.
Tip Three: Important Step Program
Every rehabilitation center has its own methods and steps that are followed on the road to recovery. Following a 12-step program closely helps to ensure a complete and long-term recovery for a patient. Most drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs follow a step system that has worked for many years helping previous patients.
Tip Four: Stay Focused on Home
Staying in a strange medical facility away from home can lead to feelings of loneliness. At the same, patients will experience intense physical and mental discomfort due to withdrawal symptoms that cause cravings for drugs and alcohol. To remain focused on recovery, bring something from home that provides comfort.
Tip Five: Realize Recover is Hard Work
Becoming an addict takes several years of uncontrolled use of alcohol, prescription drugs or narcotics. Going through addiction recovery is not an easy experience but is necessary to prevent the cycle of chemical abuse. While having access to a professional team of experts is essential for recovery, the process is still difficult.
Preparing for Leaving a Substance Rehabilitation Facility
Before entering a substance rehabilitation center, it is important to have a plan in place after finishing the process. Returning to old neighborhoods and work environments is often a bad idea. This is because the coworkers and friends in those locations will convince you to begin using drugs or alcohol again.
the coworkers and friends in those locations will convince you to begin using drugs or alcohol again.