Whether a person is entering a drug rehabilitation facility of their own volition or at the request of another party, the time spent in drug rehab should be viewed as a great opportunity to set life straight.
If a person is dealing with drug and alcohol issues, the best place to get help is a reputable facility with highly trained counselors who deal with these difficult issues on a daily basis. Drug rehab is not a prison or any other type of purgatory. Drug rehab is a sanctuary where the addict can learn a new way of living while enjoying a period of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.
Why Are You Here?
Most people enter drug rehab when their lives on the outside become unmanageable. These people are losing all hope and perspective while they go through the daily turmoil of chasing one more hit or one more drink. They are alienating loved ones, friends and co-workers. They are losing their homes, jobs and personal belongings. They are also losing their confidence, self-esteem, and integrity. All of life’s structure seems to disappear and everything around them seems to be crashing to the ground. Many people try to repair the damage on their own, but usually with disastrous results. If this sounds at all familiar, drug rehab is the right place to start the healing.
The First Step
As many experts and former addicts will tell you, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. Seeking help for the addiction is the next step as most people can’t do it alone. A successful drug rehab facility is full of success stories proving time and again that the process will work if given ample opportunity. By walking through the doors and asking for help, the addict has already begun the process of recovery.
The Initial Days
The first few days in rehab can be very stressful. Most addicts have violated their bodies for a long time and the body requires time to recover. Their minds are beginning to clear and they are being exposed to a world they may not remember all too well. The facility has very strict rules that need to be followed. This will take a little getting used to as addicts are often living life without the rules. Since one of the goals in rehab is bringing the structure back to the life of the addict, learning to abide by a new set of rules is a good place to begin. The addict will be required to attend meetings, counseling sessions, and meals when scheduled. Most importantly, the addict will be scheduled for activities designed to keep the addict’s mind off of the addiction.
Time to Settle In
After an initial adjustment period, the real work of recovery begins. This can be both exhilarating and intimidating at the same time. The addict will begin work on the “12 Steps to Recovery.” These steps are an essential roadmap to repairing one’s self and one’s relationships with people on the outside. The addict should begin to feel periods of being more relaxed as they continue to distance themselves from using. The activities become more meaningful and more fun. They may begin to get a sense of self-awareness. The continued work with the counselors and other residents begins to bring about subtle changes in attitude and the addict begins to acquire new tools for coping. The reluctant resident begins to experience acceptance. The willing resident begins to experience recovery.
Closing Out the Stay
Drug rehab has provided the perfect environment for the addict to begin applying new interpersonal skills and a new way of thinking and living. Towards the end, the addict will begin to recognize the triggers that would send them over the edge. It is not critical to figure out exactly why an addict uses or alcoholic drinks. It is important to recognize the circumstance under which they begin needing the drug and know which tools are available to appropriately cope with those situations. An addict should be prepared to commit to rehab for as long as it takes to form a decent foundation of sobriety. When the time comes for release, the addict should have a new sense of direction and purpose.
Once an addict, always an addict. That is one very important fact that must be learned. An addict can never think they are strong enough that they “kicked” the habit and are ready to drink or use on a recreational basis. It just doesn’t work that way. If the drug rehabilitation facility has done their job, the addict should feel rested, relaxed and rejuvenated. The sanctuary of rehab changes people, always for the better if given the opportunity. With renewed strength and purpose, the addict can now focus on the goal of mending the past and securing the future. The future is a great place to visit with a sober mind and mended soul.
