Rehab. It’s almost a four-letter word. Anyone who’s spent time drinking and using has probably had it looming in the back of their mind for years. It’s one of the many possible destinations of the path of addiction. (The others being mainly jails, institutions, and death.) But obviously, not everyone that gets clean makes a stop in residential treatment. With 12 Step meetings available almost everywhere these days, is rehab really necessary?
Do You Need to Quit Drugs & Alcohol?
First of all, you need to decide if you’re really ready to quit. Whether you’re trying to go cold turkey, dropping in to an AA or NA meeting, or thinking about trying professional addiction treatment, it’s not going to work unless you really want a new way of life.
Going to rehab for your wife, your mom, or your kids isn’t going to keep you clean and sober, unless you really want it yourself. Be honest with yourself. You don’t have to know how you’re going to get or stay clean and sober, but if you can find the tiniest spark of a desire to do it, there are people who can help you get there.
Do You Need Detox?
No matter how you do it, the first step of getting clean and sober is detox. Depending on what and how you’ve been drinking and using, detox at home can be super dangerous. Detoxing cold turkey from opiates is obviously very uncomfortable, to say the least. And detoxing from alcohol or benzos cold turkey with no support is an incredibly bad idea. Side effects go way beyond cramps or sweats to heart attacks, comas, and even death.
Detoxing with professional medical support is pretty much necessary if you want to be as safe and comfortable as possible while your body starts to get rid of all the chemicals in your system.
What Happens After Detox?
After detox, your mind will start to slowly clear up, and you can start doing the work to truly get clean and sober. There are as many ways to do that as there are kinds of addicts.
Most addicts and alcoholics start their life in recovery by going to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or another 12-Step program. They’ve been around for almost 100 years, so it’s safe to say they’re doing something right.
But, it’s not just about showing up at meetings and putting your butt in a chair. You still actually have to do the work to make a new life. Ask another meeting member to be your sponsor, and they’ll tell you what you need to do. Listen, and do it.
Do you think you can take all that on while living in the same environment where you used to drink and use?
For a lot of people, that’s almost impossible.
That’s when residential treatment for drug or alcohol abuse can be a great option.
In residential treatment, at the very least you get a break from the triggers, stresses, and worries of normal life. It’s kind of like staying with an an awesome friend who keeps their house super-clean and cooks all your meals for you – and also happens to be a professionally trained addiction counselor.
At Transformations Care residential treatment, you really get the best of all worlds. Our team has first-hand experience on how to get clean and sober, and stay that way. From talk therapy and group sessions to art therapy and more, you’ll experience all of the latest ways to treat the root causes of addiction. Plus, we’ll introduce you to the local 12 Step community and help you find your footing.
Are You Ready for Rehab?
In 12 Step meetings, they say, “It works if you work it.” If you dedicate yourself 100% to getting clean and sober, and give it everything you’ve got, your life will definitely change. Isn’t it worth a try? No matter how bad things have gotten, it’s possible and you’re worth it.
If you’re ready to think about trying residential treatment for addiction, connect with one of our awesome team members here.
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Getting Clean & Sober at Home
Today, more than 75% of hospitals and healthcare providers offer access to telehealth treatment, with 29 states having gone so far as to enact telehealth parity laws, which force insurance companies to reimburse patients for telehealth at the same rates as they would for in-person treatment.
If you’ve been thinking about getting clean and sober, or if you’ve been wanting to work on and strengthen the recovery you already have, it’s never been easier to do it through telehealth.
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