If you have made the decision to check into inpatient rehab, you have made an invaluable decision. Seeking help for a substance use disorder is vital to achieving sobriety. However, the decision to go to rehab isn’t an easy one to make and it can be terrifying. After all, you are leaving behind a life full of drug and alcohol abuse to embark on a journey to sobriety. Additionally, you are leaving your family, friends, and home.
Change is never easy, but it helps when you have an idea of what you are walking into. If this is your first time in treatment, this is what you can expect at an inpatient rehab in South Florida.
Your First Day
Before arriving at rehab, you should check with the facility to see what you should and shouldn’t bring. Generally, contraband consists of substances, paraphernalia, and weapons, however, all rehab facilities differ. When you first arrive, your personal items will be searched to make sure you aren’t bringing in any banned items. Then, you will be asked to complete intake paperwork. This can include emergency contacts, information about yourself, your medical history, and more.
Once the intake is completed, you will be examined by a medical professional. They will check to make sure your vitals are stable, speak with you about your drug or alcohol use, and evaluate your mental and physical health. If needed, you might go to detox to ensure that you are physically stable enough to begin treatment. However, if you have already detoxed, you will usually get acclimated to the residential facility and meet your substance abuse counselor.
When meeting with your counselor, it is important that you be honest with them. The more open and honest you are, the better your counselor can treat you. You will likely discuss any history of mental illness, your substance use, and what your goals are while in rehab. This will help your counselor get to know you better and develop an individualized treatment plan that will best meet your needs.
Depending on the time of day and what the facility’s schedule is, you may begin attending therapy right away. If it is later in the day, your only responsibility might be to get comfortable in your housing unit and begin getting to know your peers. Overall, your first day at inpatient rehab will consist mainly of paperwork and conversation.
Behavioral Therapy
Substance abuse rehab consists of a variety of different behavioral therapies. Each of these therapy modalities serves a unique purpose in the treatment of substance use disorders.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on bringing awareness to negative thinking and behavioral patterns. This allows patients to recognize how their thoughts and actions may be causing issues. Then, these thought patterns are evaluated and replaced with healthier ones. This can teach problem-solving skills, create an understanding of one’s behaviors, and increase one’s self-confidence. [1]
Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a branch of CBT that focuses on treating co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. It can also help deter clients from self-destructive behaviors by teaching them healthy coping mechanisms. [2]
Group Therapy
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy that involves a counselor or psychologist and a small group of 5-15 patients. These groups target specific issues, whether it is addiction, mental health, or both. Group therapy can be a great support network to hold individuals accountable for their actions and acknowledge achievements or milestones.[3]
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy consists of one-on-one therapy sessions involving a counselor and patient. In individual therapy, patients will discuss their difficulties and achievements with their counselor. This can be used to track an individual’s progress throughout rehab. In addition, this private setting can be utilized if a patient feels uncomfortable sharing something in a group setting.
Trauma-informed Care
Trauma-informed care helps clients who have suffered a traumatic event cope with the event. It can also bring awareness into how the trauma affects a person’s everyday life. Many people who suffer from addiction have experienced trauma at some point in their life. As a result, trauma-informed care is crucial to the healing process.[4]
Holistic Therapy
The best inpatient rehab centers will incorporate holistic healing methods into their treatment plans. While behavioral therapy is crucial for learning new behaviors and gaining insight into oneself, holistic therapy plays a key role as well. Holistic therapy treats the entire individual by helping to bring the mind, body, and spirit into alignment. In addition, many types of holistic therapies can also serve as recreational activities or hobbies that you can carry on into your recovery after rehab. Types of holistic treatment include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Art
- Music
- Recreation
- Exercise
All of these activities serve a purpose. Whether it is to relieve stress, compliment dual diagnosis treatment, gain self-awareness, promote creativity, or reduce cravings, holistic therapy is a popular and effective treatment method for people who suffer from addiction.
Community Support
One of the best parts of inpatient rehab is 24-hour access to a community support group. Isolation is deadly for people in recovery. It can perpetuate negative thinking, exacerbate symptoms of mental illness, and create a degree of separation from people in recovery. When most people leave inpatient treatment, they get involved in some form of a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). However, inpatient treatment is a great place to start formulating a support group.
Not only will you live among people who share common experiences with addiction and alcoholism, but you will get to know them on a deeper level in group therapy. You will be able to relate to each other’s experiences, provide emotional support, and share solutions to the problems you are facing with one another. Fostering healthy relationships in addiction can be difficult. However, inpatient rehab is the best way to learn how to develop healthy relationships with other people in recovery.
Inpatient Rehab in Fort Lauderdale
Checking into an inpatient rehab is a critical decision. For many, it can mean life or death. However, inpatient rehab isn’t as scary as it sounds. It is necessary for healing to begin. If you are ready to take the first step and check into an inpatient rehab in Fort Lauderdale, contact us today.
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