When a person enters treatment it can be a huge adjustment. Not only are they expected to give up their drinking or drug of choice, but they are also placed into a different and new environment. These adjustments can seem overwhelming at first, but treatment centers specialize in making these changes bearable and comfortable for the person seeking recovery. Here are a few things to keep in mind when entering drug treatment centers.
Detox Won’t Last Forever
The hardest part of rehab is detox, this is where the body is getting rid of the drugs and alcohol in the system. For some, this may include fever, chills, nausea, tremors, insomnia, and fatigue. These symptoms can last anywhere from a couple of days to a week or so. Luckily, there are some medications that can help ease these symptoms. It is important to understand that this is only the beginning, once this stage is over the common addict and alcoholic will begin to feel ‘normal’ again. Many addicts and alcoholics need the determination to withstand the detox stage, it is not easy, but getting through it is definitely worth it.
People Just Like You
If the addict or alcoholic thinks that they are the first ones to roam the earth in a drunken or drug filled haze, they are going to be surprised. In rehab, they will meet people who have gone down the same path as themselves. Perhaps listening to others who have lost more than they will help deter them from making the same mistakes. It is important to listen to the similarities and not the differences. The relationships they forge in treatment may give them the community they need early in their sobriety, and the encouragement they need to continue with their recovery. They will discover they are not alone, that people who have had difficult pasts have overcome the trenches of addiction. This usually gives hope to the addict or alcoholic, letting them know if someone else can get better than they can get better.
Personal Property Isn’t So Personal AnymoreLet’s talk about you…
There are very few times in someone’s life where they can detach from the world and focus primarily on themselves, this is one of the unique and helpful qualities about treatment. At first, it may seem overwhelming, especially when doing the assessments. The addict entering drug treatment centers should be expecting to be asked a plethora of questions, all of which will be used in determining the best course of treatment. Most likely, the addict or alcoholic will be attending groups on a daily basis which are designed around discontinuing and living without the substance of their choice. They will also be assigned a licensed Therapist and/or Counselor who will give them one on one support. These groups and therapy appointments may seem draining at first because they are bringing up a lot of emotions, however, they are designed to make the addict or alcoholic cope with feelings. The addict/alcoholic should remember, it does get easier, with each passing day, it does get better.
The family will forgive…eventually
Many people come to treatment because a family member has given them an ultimatum. At first, the addict/alcoholic will try to get sober to win back their family, but they soon realize, that takes time. The addict must remember that they did a lot of damage in the course of days, weeks, months and years in the past. It is important for them to know that the family has been fed promises of sobriety from the addict in the past, only to be met with disappointment. The relationships they are trying to repair will not be mended overnight. However, the family member is most likely angry with the addiction, not the person. And once they see consistency and determination, they may slowly begin to forgive. Support from one’s family members is instrumental in the recovery process, so even though they may not forgive overnight, hopefully, they support the addict or alcoholic’s decision to seek drug treatment centers.
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