Prepare for Recovery: What to Know When Entering Rehab Centers

Over 21 million Americans had some sort of substance abuse disorder in 2014. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly 7% of the country’s population. To deal with this crisis, more than 14,000 rehab centers of some kind exist across the US.

You may have seen TV shows about drug addiction and people entering rehab centers, but how accurate are they? What’s it like to go into a rehab center? Is there anything you should expect? We’ll do our best to answer all of these question and more in the paragraphs below.

Make Arrangements

Before you go to rehab, you’re going to need to let people know that you’ll be gone for a while. You don’t necessarily need to tell them where you’re going if you’re not comfortable with it, but they’ll need to know you’ll be gone. The good news is that you can’t be fired for medical absences lasting less than 12 weeks, so your boss should at least know that much.

Also, if you live alone or have children, make sure somebody will be taking care of them and the house. Given that you’ll be away for a few months, a close family member will probably be the best choice.

You will need to tell family members and close friends where you’re going, because the process will be easier if they’re able to contact you. Most rehab centers have visiting hours, so, if nothing else, you should be able to talk to your loved ones a few times per week.

Know What to Bring

One of the biggest struggles of transitioning into any new place, regadless of how long you’re staying, is knowing what to bring. The good news is that most rehab facilities, including ours in Athens, Georgia, are on the same page as to what you should and shouldn’t bring.

• Contact Information of family, friends and medical professionals that will be involved in your recovery.
• Any absolutely necessary accessories, such as wedding rings or medical alert pieces.
• Some sort of basic alarm clock. Do not assume your phone can do it, because not all rehab facilities will let you bring one.
• Any medications that you are currently taking. This may seem obvious, but don’t bring any medication that you’re addicted to.
• You may need small bills for vending machine runs and grocery trips if they’re allowed. You can have your family bring things you need, but make sure they know what you’re allowed to have as well.
• A credit card or chequebook as well as any relevant insurance information if you’re the one paying for treatment.
• A journal to write in. This will help you document your journey and let out some thoughts and emotions while you do it.
• Personal effects, such as family photos and any small comforts you are allowed to bring from home.
• Enough clothes to last one week. These will be washed and re-worn a few times throughout your stay. Keep in mind that most facilities are run by religious organizations, so your clothing will need to be conservative. They also cannot feature offensive messages or anything drug or alcohol related.
• Personal hygiene products, with the exception of razors in some instances and anything that comes as an aerosol.

Beyond this, the rules tend to vary from place to place. As for what not to bring, much of this is obvious, such as drugs, weapons or porn. Also, don’t bring anything that contains alcohol or potentially intoxicating ingredients.

Electronic cigarettes are also banned, although certain facilities do allow regular cigarettes, albeit in limited amounts. Sports, games and electronics of any kind are also banned. To be fair, there will probably be things to do at the facility to do, but a certain portion of your time should be dedicated to reflecting on your circumstances and making sure you stay sober.

Finally, do not bring any other products with chemicals in them, especially if they can be inhaled. Also, don’t bring food or drinks. Nearly every rehab facility has a rule against this for some reason.

A Typical Day

Rehab was not built for night owls, because the days start early. One of the first things you’ll do is eat breakfast. Don’t expect sugary cereals, though, because food at rehab is meant to be healthy.

After breakfast, there willl likely be a therapy session, often group therapy. Afterwards will likely be lunch.

It is not until after lunch, though, that the brunt of the therapy takes place. There are many different kinds of therapy, and each facility offers its own unique program. You may have sessions of everything from group therapy to biofeedback therapy, a special kind of therapy designed to see how someone responds to stress and counter it.

At some point in the day, you’ll have a few hours to yourself to kick back, read a book and reflect. Free time is often followed by twelve-step meetings and then bedtime. Just as you are expected to wake up early, so too must you go to sleep early. Rehab is committed to helping patients become healthier and stay healthy after treatment, and a good night’s sleep is part of that.

What to Expect From Rehab Centers

Getting treatment for addiction is not a jump in head-first scenario. After finding the right rehab center, you’ll need to make sure those close to you know where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone. Also, know what to take with you and what to expect once you get there.

If you want to know more about rehab and the recovery process, please visit our site. We can tell you about interventions and how they work. If you want to know more about detox, we can help with that, too.