Have you decided to enter a rehab treatment program? If so,
you are probably wondering what to expect from this new experience. If you have
not yet made the decision to go to rehab, you can benefit from learning more
about the process to help you make an informed choice about whether or not to
pursue this course of action. There are countless rehab centers spread
throughout the United States, and there is enormous variety in the different
types of programs and facilities which are available. It would be impossible to
use generalized statements to provide an accurate picture of exactly what to
expect during your stay in rehab, but there are certain things that most have
in common:
The first thing to know about rehab is that it is entirely
voluntary. You will not be locked into the facility, and your continued
participation is fully up to you. This aspect is key to the success of any
rehab program, since you cannot get clean and sober on another person’s
determinism; you have to be fully engaged in the program, and in the end your
success depends on your own decision to get sober and to quit being addicted to
drugs or alcohol. Rehab addresses not only the physical aspects of addiction,
but also the emotional dependence on chemical substances.
Your first step in rehab is the period of detox. Many
programs now require participants to complete their detox at separate
facilities which specialize in this stage of the process, though others
continue to offer detox in house. Depending on the nature and scope of the program,
detox may take a few days or longer, and it may run concurrent with other
aspects of the rehab. Some detox programs are relatively simple, essentially
providing a drug- and alcohol-free environment where the individual can ride
out the withdrawal symptoms while quitting cold turkey. Others take a more
proactive approach, with exercise, time in the sauna and nutritional
supplements to ease the withdrawal symptoms and give the body a boost in
recovering from the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse.
As mentioned above, there is tremendous variety in the
different types of rehab facilities. Some are very much like communal living
houses, while others are similar to retreats in the outdoors, located in the
country, in the woods or in the mountains. Many of the higher priced rehab
programs are delivered in facilities which are almost indistinguishable from
luxury resort spas, with poolside patios and massage for the participants. Your
choice of facility depends in some measure on your preference, though your insurance
coverage, your available financial resources and how much you are willing to
pay will also be major determining factors.
Addressing
The Mental And Emotional Side of Addiction
Of primary importance in any rehab program is the educational
component. As with the other aspects, this varies depending on the nature and
focus of the program, but you can expect to spend a considerable amount of time
learning about the physiological and emotional aspects of addiction, how drugs
and alcohol work on the body, and about tools which you can use to better cope
with the stress and pressure which lead people to turn to drugs and alcohol in
the first place. In addition, there will usually be some form of counseling,
whether this occurs in one-on-one sessions or in group therapy. You may also be
participating in drills and exercises to equip you with techniques and skills
for handling people and stressful situations in life.
Some rehab programs incorporate family participation, in
which your loved ones would be invited in to take part in classes or in
counseling. This can be effective in helping your family members to better
understand what you have been going through, as well as preparing them to
assist you in your life after rehab. Following release from the facility, you
may continue to be involved in an aftercare program, such as living in a
halfway house for a month in order to transition back into the outside world
with the assistance of others who are committed to sober living. Some programs
urge graduates to join a 12-step group or to attend ongoing counseling to
further address the underlying issues which lead to addiction. While there may
be a finite beginning and end to the program, your rehabilitation is an ongoing
process and one which you should never stop working on even once you have
achieved recovery after treatment.
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