Every person is unique, which is why each addict’s experience in addiction treatment will follow a different path. This is what makes treatment scary for so many individuals. What will it be like? How will I respond to treatment? When will I start to feel better?
Even though drug rehabilitation is different for everyone, most addicts agree that they want to get the most out of their stay in treatment. Having a positive attitude is helpful, but unfortunately, this isn’t the norm. By the time that an addict needs treatment, they are no longer in control of their behaviors, thoughts and emotions; the drug is. If you have agreed to enter treatment, there are certain steps you can take to increase your success throughout recovery.
1. Leave At-Home Problems At Home
When you enter treatment, the focus is on yourself, your healing. You need to leave behind the problems that have been plaguing you at home: drugs, alcohol, toxic relationships, work issues and so on. Of course, you will have certain things come up during your counseling sessions, but the focus will be on your healing.
At The River Source, we use the first week of treatment for intense therapy and restrict clients from using their cell phones or laptops during this time. This avoids distractions and keeps the focus on the client. After this time, clients can use these devices during the allotted times, as long as the social interactions don’t interfere with a healthy recovery. The goal for all clients here at The River Source is to give 100 percent to their emotional, spiritual, mental and physical health, which makes up the core of holistic healing.
2. Be an Active Part in Your Recovery
You can’t step through the doors of a recovery center and expect the work to be done for you. You must play an active role in your recovery, and this includes being open and honest with your counselors, joining discussions during group therapy and encouraging your peers on their journeys to recovery. The more involved you become in the treatment program, the more you will get out of it.
The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities for you to be involved. At The River Source, for instance, we have a variety of natural therapies that our clients can choose from. This will give you the opportunity to be involved in your recovery and find the outlets that relieve stress and anxiety, such as yoga, meditation or journaling. You will also work on creating and sticking to a healthy schedule.
3. Be Open and Honest with Your Counselors, Therapists and Life Coaches
One of the hardest parts of recovery is that you must put everything out on the table for true healing to begin. Sure, it takes a lot of effort to stop using the drug and go through withdrawal symptoms, but it’s even more difficult to learn how to exist in society and cope with stress without your drug of choice. This is why it’s so important that you build up a strong foundation during treatment and take some time to work through your problems. It is difficult to admit everything that has been done, the people who have been hurt and why you started abusing in the first place, but being open and honest is the best policy.
Keep in mind that many of The River Source staff have personal experience with addiction and understand what this disease does to a person. No one will judge you, and support is unlimited. The goal is to put everything forth so that you create a clean slate and can move forward to a happy, healthy and drug-free life.
4. Follow Your Aftercare Plan
Your aftercare plan will be personal to you. We do not make generic aftercare plans with broad suggestions for keeping sober; everything outlined in this plan is customized to fit your needs. Some addicts have the impression that they are healed once they walk through our doors, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. You have a lot of work to do – a lifetime of work in fact – and you must treat yourself well, just as if you were healing from any other disease.
Graduating from addiction treatment can be overwhelming and cause additional stress. Be honest with yourself; if you know you can’t handle too much freedom, be sure to stay with trusted friends or family who will provide a safe, supportive and structured environment. Follow the aftercare plan in terms of attending AA or 12-Step meetings, meeting with a counselor each week or continuing alternative treatment. If you are diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder, follow up with your doctor to continue medical treatment.
Some addicts need to be in treatment more than once. This doesn’t mean that treatment is not effective, it just means that the addict needs more than one stay. The goal is to make the most of your stay in recovery so that you can build a strong foundation that fosters continued sobriety.
