Acceptance and a desire for change
Before you do anything, first you must accept that you have an addiction problem and have a desire to change. The only way that anyone can have a chance at a successful recovery is if they are ready to make progress.
This is why forcing somebody into rehab can be a costly mistake. Unless they are entirely on board and want to take their lives back, it would be a total waste of time.
If you want advice on how to convince someone to go to rehab, please do not hesitate to contact us today and we will gladly offer our support.
Assuming that everyone is on board, here’s a step by step guide to rehabilitation:
Step 1 - Intake:
First up is the admissions process. This is when an initial comprehensive screening process takes place. Our qualified professionals and addiction specialists will take you through an open and confidential discussion about your situation.
They will ask questions about the nature of your addiction, the substance you have been using, and how long you have been addicted for.
You will go through a psychological and physical examination to determine what your mental and physical health is like.
Following that, our addiction specialists will be able to put together a comprehensive treatment programme especially for you.
These programmes are designed for you and you alone. This is because no two people are the same and each individual requires different treatments in order to have the best chance at recovery.
Once your programme has been put together, you will be ready to enter our residential rehab facility in St Albans.
Step 2 - Detox:
The next stage in the rehabilitation process is detox. A medically assisted detox will be required to cleanse your mind and body of all the harmful substances that you have been putting in your body. This is an essential part of the rehab process as it will clear your mind and prepare you for the psycho-therapeutic treatments to follow.
During the detox process you will experience a number of dangerous withdrawal symptoms – both physical and psychological.
This is why it is paramount that you are detoxing with medical professionals, and not attempting to do it alone.
Fortunately, at our St Albans rehab centres, you will receive the best medical care in state of the art medical facilities.
Your vital signs will be monitored and in some cases, for the more severe addictions, you may be prescribed detox medication to help ease the detoxing process.
After you have gone through this process as comfortably and safely as possible, you will be ready for stage 3 of the rehabilitation programme.
Step 3 - Long term treatment efforts:
After having successfully been cleansed of the harmful substances that have been ailing you, you will be prepared – mind, body and soul – for your rehab treatment.
The frequency and nature of the treatments that you will receive will depend on your individual situation. Again, the prescribed treatments and activities will be determined by your addiction specialist.
These treatments can include (but are not limited to):
holistic therapies
psychological treatment
dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
group therapy sessions (similar to Alcoholics Anonymous / Narcotics Anonymous)
family therapy
art therapy
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
one to one sessions with spiritual counsellors
individual therapy with certified psychiatrists
group sessions
and more.
The main reason for these treatments is for you to better understand your addiction. They will help you identify and understand any underlying mental health issues that you have been dealing with – and which may have led to your addiction in the first place.
When you better understand the self and your addiction, you will be better positioned to make a full recovery. Recognising your own personal triggers and being armed with the necessary techniques to avoid relapse is an essential part of the healing process.
Following that, once you have gone through your treatments, you will be ready to return to your day to day life.
Step 4 - Recovery and aftercare:
Even after having completed the most effective treatment programme, it doesn’t mean that you are entirely in the clear. As such, our staff will put together an aftercare programme especially for you.
Similar to your inpatient rehab treatment programme, the aftercare will be designed with your unique situation in mind.
The main focus is to ensure that your mental health is looked after. By regularly attending support groups and individual counselling sessions, we can monitor your progress and you can continue to share your thoughts and feelings with other people who are going through a similar recovery process.
This is therapeutic and considered to be absolutely critical to a persons recovery. 40 to 60% of addicts relapse after rehab and this is largely because they do not keep up with their aftercare commitments.
If you don’t want to fall into the 40 to 60%, then we urge you to commit to the aftercare options we provide you with.
Making the assumption that you are immune to relapse is a mistake. Instead, you should open yourself up to receiving further support, make friends in the various support groups recommended, and continue fighting the good fight!
