“What is the recovery process?”
This is a very common question for those who are either trying to recover from addiction or are trying to help a loved one do so. Knowing what is in store for you during the rehabilitation process can help you achieve better results during your stay at an addiction recovery center.
This article aims to help you to understand what rehabilitation steps people have to take on their road to recovery. Though experiences may vary from person to person, there are certain steps everyone has to go through.
1. Seeking Help
While this rehabilitation step may seem blatantly obvious, it is nonetheless the most essential rehabilitation step in the entire process. No professional treatment can help you unless you are actively seeking to change.
The journey from a substance use disorder to a state of sobriety is not an easy one and requires that one actively seek help from others. In order to seek for help, one must first have the honesty to admit that they have a serious problem and the humility to ask others for assistance.
Once an individual is actively seeking help, they are ready to move on to the next step of the rehabilitation process.
2. Intake Process
Once an individual has decided they need professional help, they will have to go through an intake process. Each rehabilitation center will have its own intake process, but generally speaking, the intake begins with meeting with a professional to discuss treatment options and craft a personalized treatment plan.
In order to do this, intake processes will often require an individual to undergo extensive assessments that can include a:
- Psychological Assessment
- Psychosocial Assessment
- Medical Examination
These assessments aim to supply the treatment staff with as much information as possible in order to better craft an effective treatment plan.
Intake processes may also vary depending on differing kinds of rehab treatment. For example, an inpatient program may have different requirements than an outpatient program.
3. Detoxification
The withdrawal symptoms from drug dependence can be very severe and even dangerous. During the detoxification part of the rehabilitation process, treatment staff will attempt to wean a drug-dependent addict off of a drug under close supervision. Pharmacological interventions are sometimes necessary.
When needed, medication can be given to addicts to help with the withdrawal symptoms. Common medications include:
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Benzodiazepines
4. Therapy
Once the detoxification process is successfully completed, the treatment staff are now able to focus on long-term recovery strategies.
This portion of the rehabilitation process relies heavily on therapy. It is during these sessions that patients are able to address the underlying issues of their addiction. Without understanding the core reasons behind their behavior, recovery becomes much harder.
There are three major forms of therapy that rehab facilities use during this process. While each aims to help resolve underlying issues, they go about doing so in differing ways.
- Individual Therapy: Individual therapy is conducted between a patient and a treatment professional. Patients are taught strategies that can help them resist the temptations of addictions in the future, strategies such as time management skills, and how to identify drug use triggers.
- Group Therapy: Group therapy is perhaps the most common form of therapy during the rehabilitation process. This form of therapy allows patients to interact with one another and allows them to learn that they are not alone during the recovery process.
- Family Therapy: Family therapy is sometimes used to help a patient’s family become much-needed pillars of support. During these sessions, family members are able to participate and resolve deep-seated issues in their relationship with the patient.
5. Aftercare
Once the initial rehabilitation process is complete, patients will discuss with counselors about aftercare plans. These plans vary greatly depending upon the individual.
This rehabilitation step sometimes requires the patient to undergo additional counseling sessions, meetings, and classes with alumni. In some cases, patients can live in a sober living facility for a time with other recovering addicts.
Even after this rehabilitation step is completed, the patient is not done. Recovery is a lifelong process.
Rehab Options
At Steps Recovery Centers, we are committed to helping addicts work through the rehabilitation process so they can recover from their affliction and find the healing they desire. We offer both drug rehab and alcohol rehab options designed to help addicts rebuild their life.
