Are you considering entering a drug rehabilitation treatment center? Substance use disorder treatment centers are designed to help you stop using your drug of choice in order to let your body heal while learning how to live a drug-free life. However, that’s a basic statement when it comes to getting drug abuse treatment and doesn’t quite answer the question, what do you learn in drug rehab, so let’s take a closer look.

1. You’ll learn that asking for help is not shameful.

What do you learn in drug rehab? Well, the first thing you’ll learn is that asking for help for your substance use disorder is not shameful. Many individuals avoid treatment for fear of being labeled and judged. Substance use disorder is a chronic illness. From your first phone call to your maintenance phase, you’ll learn that asking for help is perfectly fine, In fact, you’ll need a network of substance abuse counselors, medical professionals, peers, friends, and family to help you succeed.

2. You’ll be taught that recovery takes time.

Substance abuse disorder is not an infection. It’s a chronic disease. This means that it cannot be fully cured, but it can be managed. During treatment, you’ll be taught that initial recovery takes months and sometimes years. Then, you’ll spend the remainder of your life managing the condition. The good news is that you’ll be given the tools to help you manage your condition for the long term.

3. You’ll learn to take responsibility for your actions and choices.

Many individuals play the blame game. I drink because of my childhood. I take pills because of my parents. This started when I lost my job or my significant other left. During your recovery, you’ll learn how to take responsibility for your actions, acknowledge your faults and accept the consequences of your decisions.

4. You’ll learn how to forgive yourself.

Once you learn that your actions and decisions are your responsibility, you may feel a deep sense of guilt when you think about the people you’ve hurt and any terrible decisions you made. During your recovery, you’ll learn how to apologize to those you’ve hurt and forgive yourself for your past mistakes. After all, you cannot change the past, but you can have a better, sober future.

5. You’ll learn the causes of substance abuse disorder and how certain substances affect your body and your brain.

During your recovery, you’ll learn the science behind addiction. You’ll learn how addiction starts. You’ll learn how various substances work on your body and brain. This knowledge is power. Once you understand addiction, you’ll be better able to manage your recovery.

6. You’ll learn your triggers and how to avoid most of them.

You’ll learn when you’re most apt to reach for your drug of choice. Many individuals have certain triggers that prompt them to use. This could be as simple as driving past a bar, visiting a certain friend’s or family member’s house, or experiencing certain situations. During treatment, you’ll learn how to avoid situations that may trigger a relapse, and for situations, you cannot avoid, you’ll learn to develop healthy coping skills.

7. You’ll learn healthy ways to deal with daily life stressors.

Living a sober life means learning how to deal with daily micro and macro-stressors. A micro-stressor might be that your vacuum broke, or you ran out of coffee. Macro-stressors include getting into heated exchanges with family members. Your car broke down, or your job is at risk due to changes within the company. During your recovery, you’ll learn how to deal with all the daily stressors in your life in positive ways. For example, if your vacuum really did break, you’ll learn that it’s okay to be irritated, but you must also look at this as a challenge to overcome. Then, you’ll learn how to brainstorm other ways of accomplishing the task. In this instance, you can sweep the carpets with a broom and get a little bit of an upper-body workout. If you encounter something more serious, like your job is at risk, your treatment should help you deal with the fear of change. It is scary to think about losing your job, but once you overcome your fear, you’ll be able to take positive steps toward ensuring your financial future.

8. You’ll learn how to communicate.

Do you bottle up your emotions? Are you not much of a talker? During your stay in rehab, you’ll learn how to communicate and express yourself. This is because much of the treatment relies on talking. You’ll talk about what you think. You’ll talk about what you feel. You’ll tell your personal story. You’ll talk with others who are in treatment with you, and by the end of it, you’ll have better communication skills than when you entered.

9. You’ll learn how to rebuild your life.

You’ll learn how to objectively analyze your old life and old habits and make positive changes. For some people, this may mean a complete life overhaul. The good news is that the professionals in your treatment program will help you organize your daily life and make positive and productive changes.

10. You’ll learn how to relax without the aid of chemical substances.

During your treatment, you’ll be introduced to various types of relaxation techniques. Some techniques may include medication and prayer or physical activities, like hiking, walking, and weight lifting. You may be given the opportunity to try new hobbies, like painting, drawing, or woodworking. By being exposed to new stress-relieving activities, you’ll be able to find the ones that work for you.

11. You’ll have a routine.

You’ll learn how to schedule your life. When you enter residential rehab, you’ll be put on a schedule, and if you haven’t had a fixed schedule in a while, you can expect to experience an adjustment phase. In the morning, you’ll wake early. If you were prescribed any medications for your withdrawal symptoms or mental health issues, a nurse will give you your medicine. Then, you’ll eat a healthy breakfast. After breakfast, you’ll attend your first therapy session of the day.

After your morning sessions, you’ll eat a healthy lunch and then attend your afternoon therapy. You may also be given the opportunity to take some classes, like an educational class on addiction, an art class, or a physical activity class.

In the evening, you’ll eat dinner and then attend the last session of the day, which may be group therapy where you get to reflect on everything you learned and start to process it. You may also be given a little bit of free time before bed where you can journal and reflect. The truth is that the unwinding time before bed is extremely important. This is where you’ll personally digest everything you’ve learned and really start to make positive changes in your life and how you feel about yourself.

What to Expect When You Check In

Once you make the decision to get treatment and check in to the treatment center, you can expect to be given an intake assessment. This is because most treatment programs are now individualized, instead of being purely step-based. Therefore, it’s extremely important, to be honest, and not understate your substance abuse, living situation, and professional life. Some questions you may have to answer include:

  • How often in the last 30 days have you drank alcohol or consumed a substance.
  • When you drink alcohol or consume a substance, how often do you consume so much that you become extremely intoxicated?
  • Where have you been living for the last month?
  • In the last month, how many activities have you not participated in due to your substance abuse?
  • Do you have any children, and do they live with you?
  • Are you under a court order to attend treatment?
  • Have your children been given to someone else to care for due to a court order?
  • What do you think of your overall health and how would you rate it?
  • Do you think you have any mental health issues?
  • What is your satisfaction level with your current life?
  • Do you currently have a job?
  • Do you currently go to school or attend classes at a university or college?
  • Have you ever attended substance abuse treatment before?
  • How long ago was your last recovery program?
  • If you attended a previous treatment program, what did you like and dislike about it?

Getting Help with NJ Addiction Resources

The first step to making positive changes in your life is calling for help. The treatment centers in NJ offer a variety of programs, including residential, inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, detox, and dual diagnosis. There are even treatment centers that cater to all men or all women. After your initial treatment program, you may also be able to choose an aftercare program, like a sober living house.

To get started on your journey to recovery, give us a call us Today.