Starting recovery from addiction is a big and consequential decision. It involves stepping away from your life to deal with a problem (addiction) that may be affecting everyone and everything within it. It requires you to be vulnerable, and there may be discomfort in learning the underlying reasons for your addiction.

This is why you should be proud of yourself for choosing to enter rehab. Everyone who works at rehabs is there to help you build your new life. This guide will help you learn more about what to expect in this important step of your recovery.

What is Rehab?

“Rehab” is short for drug abuse rehabilitation, which is a program designed to help people recover from drug addiction. It can include education about addictive substances, learning life skills, and sometimes holistic treatment programs such as yoga or hiking. Some programs include medication-assisted treatment or detox programs to assist in helping someone safely come out of severe addiction.

Types of Rehab programs

what happens in rehab

There are a few underlying components in each type of rehab program, including individual therapy, group therapy, and support groups. But there are many options available for those seeking treatment.

This is a form of inpatient treatment that involves an individual living full-time at a recovery center for a designated period. Residential programs, such as 90-day addiction treatment programs, are purposefully designed to help individuals take a step back from life to focus on their own recovery.

If you’re concerned about your addiction but have important obligations (such as a job or caring for children), there is still hope for recovery. Outpatient treatment is designed to provide recovery programs at reasonable times to provide support for busy people who still want to work on their recovery. These programs are often longer than inpatient programs, often lasting six months to a year.

If someone wants to continue their treatment after rehab, or wants something more intensive than a regular outpatient treatment for their addiction, intensive outpatient treatment provides a perfect medium. Participants can attend school or go to work while completing this program. The inherent flexibility of the program is ideal for those with more severe addictions, and can last from several weeks to months.

When Should You Consider Going to Rehab?

If you feel your addiction is growing out of your control, and you need outside assistance and guidance to overcome it, you may benefit greatly from rehab. If you’re being told by multiple people in your life that you should consider rehab, it may be very worth considering.

Health insurance may be able to cover some or all of the cost of rehabilitation. This may be influenced by if you have a dual diagnosis of both addiction and a mental illness. 1 in 15 American adults fit this classification, and so it’s imperative to address the effects of both while trying to achieve sobriety.

What Is a Typical Day in Rehab Like?

The primary function of rehab is to provide structure and routine after a chaotic pattern of addiction. Healthy living is the entire point, and the experience is tailored around keeping the individual working on their recovery.

At Crestview Recovery, individuals start the day with a healthy breakfast. Mornings are spent in meetings, such individual counseling or group therapy. Specialized therapy, such as trauma therapy or family therapy, takes place after lunch. Evenings are spent doing quiet activities (such as reading or journaling), and ensuring that individuals get enough healthy sleep. Activity breaks take place throughout the day to keep your mind stimulated and promote healing.

What Treatments Are Available in Rehab?

When most people say they’re “going to rehab,” it’s typically in reference to inpatient drug addiction treatment. But rehab doesn’t only focus on detox. Holistic healing is about learning how to live a life without substances, and usually involves different approaches for each person.

Treatments you may encounter in rehab include:

  • Family therapy: Addiction affects not only the addicted person, but all of their connections. Undergoing family therapy and healing those relationships can go a long way toward maintaining sobriety into the future.
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Rising in popularity over the years, cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on identifying thought patterns and beliefs that may be harmful. Individuals work with therapists to come up with strategies that can work against those thoughts so the individual can maintain sobriety.
  • Trauma therapy: Trauma (and any poor coping mechanism that may result) is frequently a root cause of addiction. Trauma therapy focuses on addressing the trauma itself to help inform other areas of healing.
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): This specialized form of therapy focuses on managing distress and emotional regulation. Mindfulness is utilized frequently to help individuals learn how to manage their emotions, thereby helping to manage interpersonal relationships.

When you decide to enter rehab, your progress will be measured according to your individual treatment plan. It’s good to keep an open mind about what types of treatments may speak to your needs and help you achieve progress.

How Long is Rehab?

rehab programThe length of your stay in rehab depends on the severity of your addiction, the type of rehab program you’re seeking to complete, and if you’re addressing other concerns in addition to addiction (such as a dual diagnosis). It’s important to create an individualized treatment plan that allows you to set both short- and long-term goals.

If you’re looking for help with an addiction that isn’t particularly severe, a 30-day rehab program may be sufficient for your needs. But even a shorter program should still include an aftercare program and plans for post-rehab recovery efforts.

Individual treatment plans can vary in length, and you may find that you need a longer stay at rehab than you initially thought. 60-day rehab offers flexible care and is an effective form of addiction treatment. It’s also possible to directly transition from an inpatient program to outpatient or even sober living, if you want extended help building your skills and coping mechanisms.

If you’re battling a severe addiction or are worried about the process of detoxification, an extended stay in rehab may be the best solution for you. Taking time to undergo therapy and learn healthy coping skills is always worth the extra time. It’s worth taking extra time to learn relapse prevention before returning to your regular routine.

Speak with Admissions at Crestview Recovery

group of patients during rehab

There’s no shame in seeking recovery for an addiction. In fact, it’s a praiseworthy decision to take care of yourself and directly address a problem keeping you from living your best life.

At Crestview Recovery, we understand the difficulties of adjusting to a life of sobriety. Inpatient and outpatient options are available to help you heal from your addiction regardless of severity. We offer holistic treatments that treat the whole person. Therapy services can help you build a base of stability and address the root of your addiction.

Contact us to learn more, and start your process of recovery in a supportive community..

FAQ

A typical stay at rehab begins with a personalized intake assessment. This is an interview or questionnaire (often conducted by a medical professional) that provides an overview of why you’re seeking treatment. This will also take into account the social and psychological factors in your life that may provide context for your addiction.

From there, you’ll typically proceed to detoxification. This is a period of time after the initial decision to stop using your addictive substance wherein your body is ridding itself of the toxins and readjusting to operating without the substance. If you decide to enter rehab, you’ll be supervised by medical professionals who can help if your body has a strong reaction.

If you’ve decided to enter rehab, take time and research what type of program would best suit your needs. It’s best to verify your health insurance early on, so you can assess if you need to seek out financial assistance.

If there is a program of that type near you, reach out to them via email or phone. You’ll be guided toward your next steps by the admissions professionals.

Unless you are mandated to attend rehab by a judge or court order, there is nothing stopping you from checking yourself out of rehab early.

However, it’s highly recommended that you do not do this. Not only will you not receive all the potential benefits of your rehabilitation program, but leaving too early in the detox process may seriously harm your body. You don’t want to be too far away from a hospital when there’s still a possibility of your body having a harsh (or even deadly) reaction to detoxification.