Understanding that you have a problem is the first step in the right direction toward getting sober. Understanding that you can’t do it on your own is the next step. You will need to find the right rehabilitation center to continue on your road of recovery.
Discovering What You Need
A rehab facility isn’t a one-size-fits-all environment; you need to consider what you want in choosing a rehab. Some places don’t offer detox at their facility. You might have to do this at another facility before you go in. It might be easier to get all of your treatment at one center so that the staff is intimately familiar with your needs and you can get acquainted with everyone.
It’s wise to conduct searches, but keep in mind that there are a lot of rehab facilities out there with different specializations. Rehabilitation centers are required to be licensed, so look for that information. You can check your state to discover how facilities in your state are regulated.
You’ll need to read testimonials in addition to thinking about how long you’ll be in rehab, how long you think you need and any commitments you have outside of rehabilitation. If you have a family, you might not be able to go far away. It all depends on your individual needs. However, because there are so many options available, you should be able to find one to fit your needs.
If you have an underlying mental condition, that will need to be addressed. You need to know if the rehab center you choose can treat this along with the addiction because these issues often tend to compound one another. Look for a rehab center that offers dual diagnosis if you need treatment for depression, anxiety or another mental disorder. It can be difficult to separate the two on your own. At times, there can be multiple conditions that need treatment, so don’t be afraid to ask questions to get the help you need.
You might consider taking a tour of the rehab center you’re interested in. Observe the staff and the people in the rehab center to get an overall idea of how it would be to stay there. If you don’t feel good about going there, listen to your gut feeling. You can visit other rehab centers to make an informed decision.
Truly Caring Rehab Centers
At the end of the day, you need a rehab center that focuses on your individual needs, and you need one with a staff that truly cares. You want to be overseen by specialists who will take time with you and who won’t be too eager to push you out their doors in an effort to label you as a “success” when you clearly need more guidance, counseling and treatment.
Physical Withdrawal
During and after a detox, the body goes through tremendous trauma. You need to be in a safe environment to detox because withdrawal can be extremely unpleasant when unsupervised. The facility overseeing your detox should be equipped with knowledgeable staff and carefully administered medication to keep you safe. Detox can last for up to three weeks or even longer in some cases.
Withdrawal symptoms range in severity. People can experience headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, nausea, sweating, shakes, difficulty breathing and other symptoms. Severity and types of symptoms depend on how dependent a person is on drugs or alcohol. You might expect withdrawal from alcohol to be less severe, but it can be dangerous. Withdrawal from alcohol can cause a stroke, a heart attack, seizures, hallucinations and other severe symptoms. Rehab centers that are medically supervised will be able to make withdrawal symptoms less severe for you.
Psychological Withdrawal
Getting off of drugs and alcohol can mean a decrease in natural dopamine production. Dopamine is the feel-good hormone. Drugs and alcohol can cause an increase in abnormal dopamine production. Once you quit drugs and alcohol, it can take a while for your brain to relearn how to make dopamine naturally again.
You might suffer from depression, a lack of motivation, mood changes, stress, irritation or insomnia. It can take up to two years to produce dopamine naturally at normal levels, but these levels significantly increase in the beginning and taper off as time goes on. Just understand that it’s temporary, and the right kind of care will make this transition easier to go through. Rehab centers that have cognitive behavioral therapy and self-help groups can help with psychological withdrawal.
Emotional Needs
Becoming sober can be rough. When you see people who have come through the other side, you typically see smiles and indications that their life is on track. What you don’t see is the mess they went through. If you’re fortunate enough to talk to individuals in recovery or hear their stories, you’ll find there were days they wanted to give up, and things might have looked hopeless at some point in their recovery. This will help encourage you on tough days.
What you should know when you go to rehab is that there is a great deal of dysfunction that surrounds addiction. Many individuals who develop addictions grew up in dysfunctional families. People suffering with an addiction to drugs or alcohol usually have dysfunctional thinking and behaviors. Getting sober means dealing with dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors to live a free life. The right rehab center will help you to make sense of all of this.
Being sober also means facing painful emotions, regrets and more at times, but you don’t have the drugs and alcohol to distract you from these painful emotions. This is a good thing, but it doesn’t feel good at the time. You may feel like you want to run; you need a rehab center that can walk you through the painful times.
Success Stories
You need real life success stories to determine whether a rehab is likely to be beneficial. Any facility you go to should be able to tell you their success rates. However, you need to know what they consider to be a success.
You want to be able to walk out of rehab with a plan for attending meetings, understanding how daily life should look like and what to do when things get tough, and you should feel reasonably ready for the transition. It’s not to say that you won’t feel somewhat afraid, but you need to know how and where to get help.
A rehab center that does follow-up appointments with you can help you to transition back into daily life. Living sober is a different experience for each individual. Everything changes, including the friends you hang out with and emotions you feel for the first time in a long time; everything seems different because your perspective and awareness are different.
Consider referrals and word-of-mouth when you choose a rehab center. A rehab center’s reputation speaks volumes and will let you know whether it would be a place that could help you with your wants and needs.
Understand Your Part
Your “success” isn’t just based upon the rehab you go to. You need to be willing to do the work, which might mean facing some painful realities about yourself. You will need to listen to others pointing out things about yourself that you may not like. You will be faced with trying to express your emotions and thoughts in a healthy way. You might need to invite family members for therapy, so there is a lot to go through and experience.
It won’t be pleasant at first because you may have buried painful emotions for years. It can be overwhelming and confusing, but with time, it will become more manageable, and you will know what it feels like to live a free and healthy life. Just go into rehab with an open heart and an open mind. There are many people just like you to relate to. Keep that in mind and remember that the rehab center should help you along the way too.
You’ll need to know what your triggers are because you’ll need to avoid these after you leave rehab. Make sure that the rehab you choose will help you to identify these triggers and catch them before they take over. The rehab center you choose should give you tools on how to deal with your individual triggers so that you are less likely to relapse.
Location
While location may not be as important as getting help, you still need to consider how the location of a rehab center will affect your life. Because of family and other commitments, you might need to pick something that is closer to home; however, don’t let this stop you from seeking the best rehab center according to your needs. Your sobriety is important. If you will be taking part in family therapy, the rehab center needs to be close enough for family to visit.
Cost
Rehab centers may cost a lot, but the truth is that an addiction is costly, and addiction costs far more than just money. Still, you need the best rehab center that fits into your budget. There are many ways to pay for rehab. You can see if your insurance will cover it and whether you can get help for a dual diagnosis. Talk with the rehab centers you are interested in to see what they recommend. The right rehab center will be able to assist you with different payment methods, so don’t be afraid to ask about your options.
Support After Rehab
When choosing rehab, you might want a program that continues to follow up with you and, at the very least, gives you a list of resources so that you have someone to call when you need support. You’ll want to attend some meetings, but you might have other issues come up that you need help with. The right rehab center should not leave you on your own to face everything. You need to do your part, but professionals are there to guide you. You might need to move out of your neighborhood or get help with other needs. You can’t face everything on your own.
Staying clean and sober after rehab can seem scary, but once you leave the facility, you will be better equipped to deal with your emotions, handle triggers and carry on living in a manageable way. It’s important that the rehab center you choose helps you through detox and recovery in a safe, caring and loving way and that you leave rehab with the ability to transition back into daily life. Recovery might seem hard, but professional help can make it possible to live a sober life.
