There are many misconceptions about what can be expected in a 28-day rehab facility, which is why many struggling addicts feel anxiety about seeking help. Even the descriptions that recovering addicts give you may be colored by their own experiences. For example, someone who entered the facility willingly and responded well to treatment may describe the experience as being similar to a health spa or vacation.
For them, the experience was largely positive. However, if an addict is ordered to participate in a rehab program or compelled to seek help by family members, they may not view the experience in the same way. For them, they may focus on the rules instead of on the efforts to help them get on a path to recovery. In that way, it can seem more like a punishment or something similar to boot camp. As someone considering rehab, it’s important to understand the treatment process from an unbiased and factual perspective.
Adapting to the Rules
While it is important to enter rehab with a positive or hopeful mindset, it’s also important to understand that every facility has their own set of rules in place. These rules aren’t established to make your recovery harder, but to help you find a healthier path to recovery and to ensure every addict has that same opportunity. By applying a set of rules to everyone equally, rehab caregivers can ensure each addict can participate in treatment programs without fear of having their privacy violated or having their experiences belittled.
A 28-day rehab program is designed to provide a safe space to begin recovery. Rules that keep you from bringing your cell phone and other electronic devices into the facility are in place to protect everyone’s privacy. While it may seem unreasonable to you, think about how you would feel about someone else making a video of your experience in group therapy. Other rules, such as prohibiting visits for the first week of rehab, are in place to directly benefit you. Those rules help you get the most out of the rehab experience, so you’ll feel more confident and ready to live clean by the time the 28 days have been completed.
Getting the Help You Need
Some people compare rehab to boot camp because each day is filled with scheduled activities. That may be a fair comparison in that boot camp prepares you for your role in the military, while rehab prepares you to become a sober member of society. However, that’s where the comparison ends. Your counseling sessions and other types of treatment are designed to be positive and to help you live a healthier way of life.
The more open you are to the experience, the more you will get out of it. When you start rehab, you’ll go through an intake procedure that will evaluate the severity of your addiction. Additionally, it will involve an assessment of your physical and mental health. This is done to ensure you continue to receive treatment for any medical conditions that affect you as well as helping to diagnose emotional illnesses that can affect your recovery. Addiction treatment is much more effective when mental illness can be treated alongside addiction recovery. This minimizes the likelihood of a relapse.
A Typical Day in Rehab
You should expect to go to bed early in the evening while in rehab because rising early is essential. You’ll likely have to attend morning classes, which may include yoga or exercise, to help you prepare for the day. Afterwards, you’ll join the other residents for a healthy breakfast. Meals are designed to teach healthier eating habits, so even breakfast will offer a beneficial experience. Once you finish your morning meal, you’ll attend a support group meeting. Group counseling helps each addict discuss their recovery experiences openly, so everyone will learn from one another. In the afternoon, you will meet with an addiction counselor in a one on one setting.
You may also meet with a therapist to discuss your emotional health if you have been diagnosed with a co-occurring condition. There may also be another group session later in the day. After dinner, you may receive family visits and engage in therapy sessions with your loved ones, or you may participate in alternative forms of therapy.
The day will end with a few hours of free time before everyone turns in for the night. It’s important to go to sleep early, so you’ll feel refreshed when you awaken. If you have more questions about rehab, you can contact our counselors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By calling 844-639-8371, you can find out more or start your participation in a rehab program.