What is the typical rehab treatment?
You or someone you know may be considering rehab treatment and are curious what it will constitute, what it will entail, or what it will require. Each rehab treatment program is different, determined by what substance the program focuses on, whether its in-patient, out-patient, gender or religious based, amongst other things. Finding the right treatment program to suit your needs and desires is important. Yet, while there is not a 'typical' rehab treatment, but there are consistencies among most rehab treatment programs. The majority of rehab treatment programs follow three processes. The first process is detoxification, followed by counseling and therapy, and culminating in extended aftercare and support.
Detoxification is the first, necessary component of rehab treatment. Often expressed as detox, detoxification is the period of time where a person stops the consumption of alcohol or drugs. This period of time can be incredibly trying and stressful for rehab patients. The presence of toxins leaving the system from extended alcohol and/or drug use, as well as chemical dependence, create physical strains on a patient's body. Withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, depression, shakiness, mood swings and irritability. To help support patients during this time, medical counselors are often available to meet and hear patient complaints. A limited number of rehab treatments are now offering medication to help alleviate the painful symptoms of detoxification.
Following detoxification, therapy and counseling is typically employed in any rehab treatment program. A combination of individual (one-on-one), group and family therapy is employed at treatment centers. Individual therapy often focuses on learning about addition, identifying the 'triggers' for alcohol or drug use and creating personal prevention skills. Group therapy often occurs with other recovering addicts who are likely in the same rehab treatment program. These sessions often provide patients with support and a feeling of unity in overcoming the difficulties of addiction. Patients with a supportive family, often undergo family therapy as part of their counseling and therapy to provide further support in overcoming and beating addiction.
The aftercare component of rehab treatment programs often occurs after a patient leaves an in-patient residence and/or graduates from the previous two phrases. Aftercare consists of regular check-ins with patients and continuing support in not relapsing back into drug or alcohol use. 12-step meetings, including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), are main parts of aftercare processes in rehab treatment. These meetings have proven records of helping individuals to prevent relapse into addictions through group support. Because good health helps individuals to cope with the stress of overcoming addiction, health related programs such as yoga, exercise and meditation are often incorporated. Follow-up counseling with recovering addicts is often used. And for some, sober living homes and facilities often help rehab treatment patients accomplish their long term goals.