Addiction to drugs and alcohol takes over your life. Everything that used to matter to you is no longer as important as using your substance of choice. Your friends and family become people who get in the way of your addiction. You fall behind at work or school. You may even begin lying to and stealing from the people you love.
If this sounds familiar, it is time to get help. Over time, addiction ruins your body, mind, spirit, relationships, and career. It can even take your life. Don’t keep waiting for an intervention or sign that it is time for rehab. Deep down, you already know that the time is now.
Choosing a drug and alcohol rehab center is intimidating. There are many different types of therapies, program options, and other considerations to think about. You are probably already overwhelmed by your addiction, and the complicated process of starting rehab can deter you from beginning.
This guide has everything you need to know about what you can expect from a drug and alcohol rehab program, what types of options you can look for, treatments that you should consider, and more.
How to Tell That Rehab is Necessary
Many people who are in the grips of addiction don’t believe that they have a problem or that rehab is a good choice for their situation. This is completely normal, but necessary to conquer before you or your loved one can get help.
There are some general signs that it is time to get help, no matter what the addictive substance may be:
- Needing more of the substance
- Requiring more frequent doses
- Hiding substance use from others
- Sudden weight change
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Decreased work or school performance
- Associating with a new crowd of people
- Unexplained financial difficulties
- Change in moods
For more detailed information about specific substances, including the warning signs of addiction and common treatments, you can click on any of the following: Adderall, alcohol, crack cocaine, heroin and opiates, methamphetamine, and prescription drugs.
Therapies Used During Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Many treatments exist for substance abuse today. Some will work better for you than others, so it’s important to choose a drug and alcohol treatment center that has multiple therapy options.
One of the most common types of therapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This has been found to be very successful in treating addiction. During CBT, you and your therapist will work to uncover the thought processes and actions that may lead to addictive actions. After these are identified, your therapist will help you learn new ways of thinking and acting that can help you reduce your need for drugs and alcohol. For example, if you tend to drink after a hard day at work, your therapist may help you learn to use positive coping skills like meditation or exercise instead of reaching for a drink when you are stressed.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective treatment for addictions that may stem from trauma. This can include assaults, car accidents, and many other types of experiences. Essentially, this type of therapy helps the brain move past the traumatic incident so that it no longer invokes strong emotional responses. People who undergo this type of therapy still remember the incident or incidences of trauma, but they are no longer as upset by them. Although this treatment isn’t directly for addiction, many people use substances to forget about these past experiences, which often leads to addiction. EMDR helps by reducing the need to self-medicate in order to forget about traumatic events.
Holistic therapy includes treatments that are designed to heal your mind, body, and spirit. Addressing each of these three areas is important for a full recovery. For example, if you complete a detox program to cleanse your body, you won’t be equipped with the skills that you need to cope with difficult situations in the future. Holistic therapies heal the entire person. Depending on your treatment center, these may include experiential therapy, equine therapy, yoga, nutrition, exercise, and more.
Program Options for Drug and Alcohol Rehab
When evaluating drug and alcohol rehab centers, you will find that there are plenty of different program options. What is best for you depends on your current situation, the length of time you have abused substances, the amount of drugs or alcohol you use, and other criteria that the rehab staff will help you with.
Detox is often the first step of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Before you can begin to make changes to your life, you must first rid your body of harmful substances. Medically supervised detox is typically more comfortable and successful than attempting to quit on your own for two main reasons. First, you are monitored around the clock during the detox process by professionals. Although they won’t be able to get rid of withdrawal symptoms completely, they can keep you safe during the process. Second, you will have support and encouragement to make it through detox without relapsing, which is common when attempting this alone.
Inpatient Rehab is an excellent choice for many people who are entering rehab. It offers the most support and many different resources that are important during the beginning phase of rehab. While you are in this type of program, you will live at the facility full-time. You may spend your days meeting with your therapist, attending group sessions, and participating in various treatments. This allows
Outpatient Rehab is less intensive than inpatient rehab, but still offers many of the same benefits while also allowing for more flexibility. During this type of program, you will visit the drug and alcohol treatment center at least a few days a week for a majority of the day. You will be able to attend therapy sessions, group meetings, and other treatments. However, unlike inpatient care, you will be able to leave the program in the evenings and return home. This is optimal for people who have a supportive home environment and are far along enough in their recovery to remain sober during these unsupervised periods. Two options that you may be able to choose from are a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). These are very similar, but a PHP typically involves attending the program for more days and more hours per day than an IOP.
Help is Available for Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Addiction destroys lives, families, relationships, and everything you cared about in the past. It makes people feel as if they are completely alone and beyond help.
The truth is that there is help available to you right now; all you need to do is ask. Don’t wait any longer to change your life. Reach out for help today.