6 Things to Know Before Checking into Addiction Rehab
Knowing When it’s Time for Addiction Rehab
If you or a loved one struggles with an addiction, consider seeking help from an addiction rehabilitation center. It can be tough to know when it’s time for addiction rehab. Making the decision to enroll in treatment isn’t easy. However, it is worth it.
When drug use or alcohol abuse is out of control and is affecting your physical and/or mental health, then it’s time to seek professional help. Signs of addiction differ depending on the person, but common symptoms of addiction are:
- Insatiable cravings
- Giving up hobbies
- Health issues
- Spending a lot of time using drugs or alcohol
- Repeated failed attempts at quitting
- Using more over long periods of time
- Increased tolerance
- Withdrawal symptoms when stopped
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Interpersonal and social problems
- Endangering yourself and others
Additionally, these are signs that it’s time to check into inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment.
- You meet more than three of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for a substance use disorder
- Your main priority is drug or alcohol use
- You experience health problems, such as liver damage from too much alcohol
- Mental health issues
- You spend a lot of money on substances
- Your loved ones are concerned about your wellbeing
There are several types of addiction rehab: long-term residential treatment, short-term residential treatment, and outpatient care. Long-term residential addiction rehab offers 24-hour care in a residential setting. Typically, this type of treatment lasts between six and 12 months and includes group therapy sessions, individual therapy, educational programs, and more.
Short-term residential addiction rehabs are based on a 12-step approach to recovery. These treatments last approximately three to six weeks and are usually followed by outpatient therapy and support groups to decrease the risk of relapse.
Outpatient treatment allows patients to live at home while receiving care regularly throughout the week. Oftentimes, outpatient programs include the same type of therapy sessions and educational courses as residential treatment. The difference is individuals can live at home and resume activities of daily living.
No matter how long you’ve struggled with addiction, there is help out there for you. Consider enrolling in inpatient or residential addiction treatment or an intensive outpatient program.
6 Things to Do Before Checking into Addiction Rehab
There’s no how-to guide for what to do before checking into an addition rehab. And if it’s your first time at an addiction center, then you may not know what to expect. Remember, it’s normal to feel anxious about this new experience. These are some tips on what to do before entering addiction rehab.
- Take care of family and work obligations (i.e. take time off work, secure childcare or pet care, etc.). Unfortunately, there’s a negative stigma when it comes to addiction rehab. If you’re worried about losing your job because you need treatment, or you believe that informing your employer could be damaging to your career, there are several laws and resources available to help you. According to the Family and Medical Leave Act, nearly all employees are entitled up to 12 weeks of medical leave, which means your job will be protected during your treatment.
- Take care of financial obligations (for example, set your bills to automatic payments to ensure your bills are paid on time while you’re in treatment). It’s also a good idea to contact your insurance provider to ensure your addiciton rehab treatment is covered in your plan. Find out your copays, deductibles, and coinsurances that may arise during treatment becuase no one wants you to come back with financial stress.
- Pack only the essentials, ensuring you adhere to the treatment center’s allowed items. Do not bring over-the-counter medications that have been opened, alcohol or drugs, pornography, pillows, bed linens, weapons, musical instruments, electronic devices, food or drinks, herbs, clothing items that promote drugs or alcohol, fans, large amounts of cash, radios, excessive makeup or jewelry, aerosol products, dental floss, candles or incense, or mouthwash.
- Reach out to loved ones and surround yourself with positive influences and energy. Communicate with friends and family to let them know how long you’ll be in rehab.
- Write a letter or keep a journal to reflect before and after treatment. Document how you’re feeling each day or keep a log of what’s become more or less difficult in the days leading up to treatment.
- Enjoy some you time (ex. Take a bath or go for a stroll around the neighborhood. Do something that makes you feel good that’s not bad for you)
8 Things to Bring to Addiction Rehab
Knowing what to bring to addiction rehab can be tricky. Each treatment center has different guidelines for what’s allowed. Ask the admissions team at your facility for a packing list as you prepare to enter treatment. These are things that are typically allowed with you in addiction rehab.
- Appropriate, casual, and comfortable clothing
- Current prescription medications
- Hygiene items, such as shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream, feminine products, etc.
- New, unopened, over-the-counter medications
- Alarm clock
- Important documents, including a form of identification, health insurance card, a prescription or pharmacy card, and a small amount of cash for vending machines, if desired
- Reading and writing materials, like a sketchbook, journal, or book
- Pictures of family, friends, pets, and other loved ones
Other Tips to Prepare Before Checking into Addiction Rehab
When going to addiction rehab for the first time, it’s helpful to know what to expect on your first day. At most treatment facilities, you’ll first go through a check-in period. To start, you’ll complete an intake interview so the staff can learn more about you. These are questions you can expectto answer when you arrive:
- In the past 30 days, on how many days did you drink alcohol, drink alcohol until you became drunk, and/or used illegal drugs or marijana?
- In the past 30 days, where have you been living most of the time?
- In the past 30 days, how stressful have things been because of your drug or alcohol use?
- In the past 30 days, how often did your substance use cause you to reduce or give up activities?
- In the past 30 days, have you been arrested for drug-related offenses?
It’s important to answer these questions honestly and openly. After you’ve gone through the check-in phase of rehab, you’ll enter the detox phase. During detox, your body will get rid of the drugs or alcohol in your system. After detox comes therapy, group sessions, educational classes, and more.
Resurgence Behavioral Health is Ready to Help with its Top-Rated Addiction Rehab
If you or a loved one is in need of addiction rehab, consider seeking help from Resurgence Behavioral Health. At Resurgence Behavioral Health, a team of addiction professionals will create a customized recovery plan that’s individualized to you, your needs, and your goals. Using the most up-to-date evidence based addiction treatment programs, Resurgence recovery programs are designed to support you no matter where you are in your recovery journey. Plus, not only will you receive addiction rehab at Resurgence, but you’ll also continue with aftercare continued support to help you prevent relapse in your road to recovery.
