How Drug Rehab Can Be a Major Part of Self-Care
Self-Care: What is It?
Self-care is different for every person. It is the practice of finding things you enjoy, things that make you feel good, and things that set you up for a stress-free, healthy future. You could describe self-care as any activity you do to take care of your own health and wellbeing, stepping back and reflecting upon what will make you feel taken care of, and then taking action to make sure your needs are met. When you are stressed out, sick, tired, hungry, etc., you are not going to be at your best, so it is important to take the time to do things that make you feel better before you extend yourself to helping others.
Self-care does not make you selfish, and it is not simply about indulging in sweets or lying in bed all day, although every once in a while, those activities could fall into the category of self-care. It is more about doing the things that keep your body and mind healthy, filling your own cup before you can pour into others.
Self-care is also about taking part in therapies and treatments to help support recovery after drug rehab if you have a substance use disorder. Some examples of self-care in recovery include:
- Eating right and sleeping well
- Avoiding people and places that may lead to the temptation to drink or use drugs
- Continuing to stick to regular doctor and therapist visits
- Taking your medications on time every day
- Sticking to a regular exercise routine
- Spending time outside in nature
- Keeping a positive attitude
- Serving others through support groups, volunteering, etc.
- Spending quality time with friends and family
How do Drug Rehabs Work?
If you have never been to rehab before, you may be wondering how drug rehab works, what happens there, and what will be expected of you. There are many types of rehab out there, with many different programs to choose from. Some popular types of substance abuse treatment programs are:
Medical detox – when you go to medical detox, you will move into the treatment center for 24-hour care that usually lasts 5 to 14 days, depending on what you are detoxing from and your level of physical health. Medical detox programs offer full-time clinical care from experienced doctors and nurses, along with prescription medications to help you avoid experiencing dangerous and painful withdrawal symptoms as your body clears the toxins from your system. Detoxing is just the first step in recovery and is not a cure for addiction.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – MAT programs provide longer-term medication management services for people who have serious addictions to opioid drugs, benzodiazepines, and other substances that need a longer time to wean off. MAT programs are often doctor-run, providing lower and lower doses of medications over a period of weeks, months, or years, to help patients overcome their addictions. MAT programs are usually combined with therapy and inpatient or outpatient rehab programs.
Inpatient rehab (residential rehab) – during inpatient rehab you move into the treatment center, staying for 30 to 90 days on average, with structured and supportive daily living, and a full schedule of care, therapy, groups, and activities designed to help you overcome addiction and live a healthier lifestyle
Outpatient rehab – there are different levels of outpatient treatment, in which you will live at home or elsewhere, outside of the treatment center, then commute in for a set number of hours of therapy, counseling, life skills programming, support groups, and other recovery-forward activities
Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) – these are day programs, in which you live outside the treatment center but come in for full days of care, usually 5 or 6 days a week
Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) – IOPs are usually customized to the patient, with flexible appointment times and group meetings occurring a few days a week, in the evenings or mornings, so that you can keep a full-time job and take care of your responsibilities as you transition back to normal life after rehab
Aftercare – Aftercare programs are often a part of continuing recovery, giving extended access to resources, groups, support, medical care, and medication management services that will help you remain living a healthy lifestyle, long-term.
12 Ways Drug Rehab Can Be a Major Part of Self-Care
Overcoming addiction takes a lot more than simply walking away from drugs or alcohol. Drug abuse and addiction often goes hand-in-hand with poor physical and mental health, as addiction takes over the way you think and the way you behave, taking precedence over everything in your life. It can cause you to neglect yourself to the point where you rely on the substance to provide relief, deepening the addiction.
Drug rehab is a place where you can re-learn how to put your own emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health first, embrace a healthier lifestyle, and improve relationships with loved ones. Some of the ways drug rehab can be a major part of self-care for those with a substance use disorder include:
- Healing the body through detoxification and strength-building exercises
- Providing nutritional education and healthy eating schedules
- Exercise routines being incorporated into the day
- Holistic stress relief techniques like breathwork, meditation, or yoga are taught
- Individual therapy will help heal the underlying causes of addiction
- Dual diagnosis care will provide therapy and medications to those who need it for their mental health issues
- Behavioral therapy helps reframe thought patterns and teaches new healthier ways to behave and cope with stress
- Family therapy can help you repair damaged relationships with loved ones and give you a stronger support system
- Teaching new ways to listen to your own body, to figure out what you need to feel good that does not involve substance abuse
- Providing guidance and life skills needed to move forward in life, creating and meeting goals
- Some rehabs teach spiritual practices, giving you a new connection to nature or spirituality
- Learning who you are and what you enjoy away from drugs and alcohol, for a long-term approach to healing mental and physical health
Make Self-Care a Priority by Calling Resurgence Behavioral Health Today
Resurgence Behavioral Health is an alcohol and drug rehab center offering several different types of rehabilitation options, with customized treatments that will help you learn new ways to take care of your body, mind, and spirit. In inpatient rehab, you may learn new healthy behaviors, exercise routines, sleep schedules, eating habits, and ways of thinking that can last you the rest of your life. Through therapy you will heal the underlying causes of addiction while getting to know what types of self-care will work for you long-term.
In our partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program, there will be plenty of opportunity to practice your self-care skills as you transition back into living at home or in a sober living home. You will continue to receive strong support and care from our team of doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors, but you will also begin to take responsibility for your own actions and create your own routines. Building healthy habits on your own is a huge step toward maintaining your overall mental health, along with your physical health and recovery.
We are a treatment facility that offers the full continuum of care, leading from medical detox programs and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to inpatient and outpatient rehab, and beyond. You will never be alone in your recovery again when you join us, as our alumni group and long-term recovery resources will always be available to you when you need them.
If you have a drug or alcohol use disorder and are considering rehab, please call Resurgence Behavioral Health today. We are here for you, and we can help you learn to practice self-care to better maintain your physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and behavioral health as you live your life in long-term recovery.
