For many people, entering a drug treatment facility is among the most disconcerting things they’ll ever do. There’s no handbook, the new environment can be daunting, and mostly, there’s a sense of fear, fueled by relief – that comes from finally admitting to a problem of addiction. However, your first week will set the tone for the remainder of your time in sobriety, so understanding what is to come will make those first few days less intimidating.
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What Is the Intake Process?
Typically, drug treatment centers will begin the first day with paperwork and evaluations. There will be a medical assessment; your treatment team needs to know every detail about your medical history, current substance use, and pre-existing medical and mental health conditions. There is no judgment here, only a need to create a safe treatment plan.
For example, they may ask how long you’ve been using what you’re using and how often/how recently. This time you need to be honest as they’ll use that information to assess your intake during detox and any medications that might make it more manageable. They’ll ask if you’ve undergone treatment or if any family members have had addictions and why you want to get sober at this point in your life.
For many people going into treatment, this means going through detox. Your body must relearn how to function without substances on which it’s relied since they became its new normal (or in the case of opioids, just not feeling horrible).
Detox looks different for many people depending on the substance they’ve used and their history in using it. However, when it comes down to it, while detoxing can be uncomfortable (and dangerous), rehab centers offer medically supervised detox.
Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can become complicated (and dangerous) without monitoring, and that’s why trying to go cold turkey on your own is cautioned against. Opioids don’t typically cause life-threatening symptoms but they do create misery enough that many people relapse just to avoid physical misery.
As you undertake detox in those early days of treatment, vital signs will be monitored; your blood pressure, heart rate and temperature will be taken multiple times a day. If you’re undergoing drug rehab in deerfield beach or another similar place where licensed medical personnel are onsite, you may even be given medications to lessen the symptoms of withdrawal for the safest approach to recovery.
Physical symptoms generally peak within that first 72 hours; however, some last a week or longer. This means you should prepare for quality sleep deprivation, eating problems, bodily discomforts and mood swings. While none are comfortable, each will eventually pass.
What Is the Schedule Like?
Detox is one thing; what matters more about rehabilitation is that it is highly structured – which means this first week will acclimate you to a new way of life. Most facilities wake residents by 7 AM for breakfast; a schedule of group therapies, individual counseling sessions, educational workshops and activities fill the rest of your day.
The purpose for structuring is that addiction thrives in chaos and disorganization; learning how to function with organization (both in rehab and post-discharge) is part of recovery.
Many people resist this type of schedule initially because they’re used to having no schedule OR their schedule directed by their substance use. Meals will happen at certain times; breaks will exist between activities. You may not have access to call family or friends during this time; some facilities elect not to grant outside distractions for new arrivals until they’ve acclimated to their new environment.
What About Therapy?
Therapy group sessions will likely begin that first week, or at least within those first few days, even if you’re still sweating out whatever substance left you feeling so miserable when you entered rehabilitation in the first place. Group therapy sessions allow introductions among others at different times in their recovery journeys.
People will often find themselves at ease just by listening to others’ stories as they feel less alone about their own journeys. Don’t feel pressured to share an entire autobiography right away; most newcomers are granted simple introductions (name and maybe how long they’ve been in treatment) as the group welcomes them.
As the week progresses and comfort levels increase, participation often follows suit.
The same holds true for one-on-one counseling sessions that take place within this timeframe, too; your assigned therapist will begin building rapport through information gathering about background/history with substances, potential triggers and what you aim to get from treatment.
This preliminary understanding sets the stage for better therapeutic approaches moving forward.
What Are Other Residents Like?
The sense of community is one thing that surprises people most; you’ll be living around others who know exactly what you’re going through because they’re going through it themselves.
These connections often prove most beneficial post-rehabilitation, for people who were once strangers maintain friendships for years down the line. But since everyone else is just trying to focus on themselves at this time and acclimate to treatment, you’ll likely find community within natural conversations during meals, recreational periods or casual interactions in shared spaces.
Some facilities even employ peer mentors, longer-term residents, who may help answer questions or reassure newcomers about what they’ve experienced thus far.
Although you may want to ostracize yourself during this time (and that’s an understandable response), it’s important to realize that others want to connect with you because that’s how recovery happens, not in isolation.
What About Educational Components?
You should anticipate educational discussions, facilitated medically, during this first week about what happens in your brain when addicted, triggers versus cravings versus urges versus temptations versus prevention factors of relapse, basically all the information you’ve been dying to know makes more practical sense when facilitated.
You should reassure yourself that addiction is a chronic disease based on brain chemistry, not a moral failing or weakness of willpower; when it comes down to it biochemically (fire neurotransmitters vs lack of firing), it’s no wonder why so many succumb so easily.
You should learn prevention strategies post-discharge (how can you stay sober once you’ve detoxed?) as well as coping strategies that lean toward better solutions than self-medicating which may seem overwhelming now but make more sense after a few days in treatment.
What Are Common Problems?
Beyond physical discomforts from withdrawal managed during those initial days of rehab are emotional withdrawals that come with recovery. One day you may feel grateful for moving forward; another day you may wonder if this will work or if you’ll ever stay sober again, or feel guilty about ever getting addicted in the first place.
Shame and grief often emerge from feelings unnecessarily numbed; it’s likely welcomed that challenging feelings emerge (because that’s what healing does) and your support staff exists solely for safe release, to help teach you how to navigate these feelings better over time.
Expect physical discomforts to gradually improve over this week as fatigue may set in as your body learns how to heal itself minus outside forces that deliver good chemicals; instead, it’s trying to relearn how to produce them on its own.
Sleep improves (eventually), eating patterns stabilize and cognitive clarity emerges.
How Will You Know It Will Be Worth It?
In addition, by Day 7 (or shortly thereafter), it’s critical for residents and patients alike to feel like they’ve found their groove; all physical discomforts have tempered from detox; you’ve made introductions among staff members and peers alike; you understand daily expectations for operating on a quotidian basis.
Now the real work can begin, the psychological underpinnings that landed you here need attention along with coping mechanisms more appropriate toward rehabilitation success – even if it’s just completing The First Step from The Twelve Steps you’ve now successfully completed. It’s hard, but you’ve demonstrated your ability to accomplish something challenging at this point.