Rehab centers and the process of addiction recovery are typically surrounded by numerous misconceptions. This makes addicts and their families skeptical as to whether they should seek the services of specialized rehabilitation facilities. Additionally, the stigmatization of topics like mental health and drug addictions leaves a lot of questions unanswered when it comes to the healing journey and these institutions.
What everyone needs to understand is that professional centers tailor the treatment plan to each person’s needs. The patient’s willingness, persistence, and cooperation determine the success of the treatment plan. To help you during your stay, here are 6 things that you should and shouldn’t do when in a rehab center.
Do: Build a Robust Support System
Rehab centers are not only designed to help you overcome mental challenges and addictions, but are also there to show you that you aren’t alone. Most mental health patients feel isolated and misunderstood throughout their journey. This is why you should use the time you spend in the facility to build a strong support system. Keep in mind that the process is challenging.
You will undergo various changes and experience the hardships of giving up your comforting habits for a new, healthy way of life. It will be hard to deal with these mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional pressures all on your own. Having people you can trust and lean on will encourage you to adopt these positive changes and stay determined.
Don’t: Feel Overwhelmed
We know this is much easier said than done. However, you should make the effort to stay collected throughout your journey. Recovery is never linear, and it will get very stressful and overwhelming at times, especially when you’re detoxing. Detoxing is typically the most painful period during your road to recovery, and requires a lot of care. This is when you will be teaching your mind and body to live independently of a certain drug or compulsive behavior.
At this point, you may experience symptoms of depression. Try to remind yourself not to let the unsettling symptoms of detox throw you off. Regard them as any other symptoms and affirm that the pain will eventually pass.
Do: Know the Rules
When choosing a rehab center, you need to know the rules of the potential facilities you’ll be staying at. Most rehab centers don’t allow their patients to use smart devices in rehab. However, if you’d like to stay connected to your friends, family, work, school, or a source of entertainment, you still need to monitor the content that may trigger you.
Even at a phone and laptop friendly rehab center, you are trained on how to control your consumption of potentially harmful social media as they want you to be able to distinguish between degenerative and normal content as you grapple with addiction recovery.
It’s important to note that while these devices are generally allowed in some facilities, rules regarding how, when, and how often you can use them are usually imposed. Going against your center’s rules comes with various consequences and sometimes leads to dismissal.
Don’t: Give Up
As we mentioned above, your determination and persistence are essential if you want your treatment plan to succeed. You will be subject to great amounts of stress and pressure. The recovery journey may also get very painful at times.
However, once you are fully recovered, you will come to realize that choosing the path of sobriety is the best decision you’ve ever made. If you make it through this rough patch, and if you refuse to give up, nothing will ever be strong enough to stand in your way in the future.
Do: Stay Optimistic
It’s easy to approach recovery with a negative mindset. It only makes sense that all you’d be thinking about is how hard it’ll be to give up your addiction and improve your mental health.
However, the more optimistic and less resistant you are, the higher your chances of success. Your mindset affects your mental and physical health. The more negative thoughts you have about the recovery process, the more likely you are to believe that you will fail. You will not recover if you don’t trust the process.
Do: Have a Plan
Going about your recovery process with proper planning is a great idea. Although no one can tell you for sure how you will respond to the treatment, we recommend speaking to a professional who can help you map out your expectations and give you an overview of the journey ahead. They will help you choose the right program for your needs and pinpoint the right course of action.
While it’s worth all your efforts, the path to addiction recovery is not an easy one to take. It’s a journey that you’ll have to commit to on your own. However, with the right support system, facility, and much-needed determination, it will get easier as you power through.
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