A drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre is a facility that many people turn to when they need help in overcoming an addiction. Deciding to get treatment at a rehab takes a great deal of strength and courage. It is one of the best choices that anyone suffering from an addiction can make. However, with the decision to enter a rehab there may also be fear of what to bring or what will take place while there.
Perhaps you or a loved one will be entering a rehabilitation centre for treatment; if so, it can be very useful to have an understanding and general idea of what to expect. Listed below are some tips to take hold of before checking into rehab. These tips will better equip you with knowledge that can help to ease any pressure or fear in taking that first step.
Tip 1: Understand Why You are Going to Rehab
Before you check into a rehab centre, you should have an understanding of the reason on why you are going. Perhaps you have an addiction to alcohol or benzodiazepines; maybe it is a combination of drugs. While you do not need to understand everything there is to know about addiction, it will help to understand the reasons for getting treatment. Once you enter the centre, a therapist can help you to further explore the reasons for your using, provide excellent coping skills, and teach you relapse prevention strategies.
Tip 2: You Must Put Effort into It
Sometimes an individual wishes to get clean and sober and makes the effort to get treatment at a rehab centre, but once at the centre or when they leave, the person is unwilling to put any further effort into their sobriety. While the rehab will be full of staff members who care about each person and their wellbeing, it is ultimately up to the individual to stay sober. You must be able to put effort into treatment during and after rehab.
Tip 3: Stay Focused on Yourself
Leaving home for treatment can be hard for some people. Not focusing on their loved ones at home can be even harder; however, it is important for recovery to stay focused on yourself and not worry about what else may be going on outside of the centre. It may help to understand that while at the centre, at any time, you can open up and talk about your feelings to a therapist or counselor or to your peers during a group meeting. This kind of communication can be very useful and may allow you to receive the support and advice you need.
Tip 4: The Rehab Staff Care about You
Going to rehab can be an experience that can arouse many different kinds of emotions in you. You are likely to not know the other people there, or what to expect during your stay, but that is normal. However, what is important to understand before checking in is that the staff of the rehabilitation centre care about you and your wellbeing; they are there to help you. These people often have years of experience in treating addictions; with some being addicts in recovery themselves. They want to see you succeed and become sober. It is okay to open up, to make friends, to smile and even laugh!
Tip 5: Stay POSITIVE!
Addiction is no joke and recovering from one will take time and include many ups and downs. You have made the decision to get help and take back your life, this is great; however, you must be ready to try hard and use everything that the staff t the rehab will teach you in your daily life. Even when you have some down days it is important to stay positive and keep going.
