According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem. That’s a large portion of the population who are either in need of treatment or are seeking some form of treatment for substance abuse like rehab. While millions of people are admitted into rehab every year, the success rate for each facility varies ranging anywhere from 5 to 10 percent.
In order to have a successful recovery and benefit from rehab’s effects, it’s important that you put in the necessary work that it takes to get the most out of a rehab program. Whether it’s focusing on the long term goals, making a commitment to yourself, or surrounding yourself with love and support, there are several ways you can make drug rehab more effective. Below are twelve ways you can start to build on your rehab treatment and work towards a successful recovery.
- Find Peace With Where You Are: The first thing you can do to make your drug rehab more effective is to accept the situation you’re in. Don’t try to deny the fact that you’re in rehab or even the fact that you are in need of rehab. Instead, focus on the fact that you are there and are able to receive the help you need. Only when you fully accept the situation you’re can you begin to reap the benefits rehab has to offer.
- Create a Plan: This will vary from person to person based on your individual situation and needs, but creating a plan to follow as you go through rehab can help you visualize your goals. Take advantage of the facilities and professionals there to help you make a full recovery. Talk with them and have them help you strategize a plan that will work for you.
- Understand The Reasons Behind Your Actions: In order to make rehab more effective, you have to understand the reasons behind your addiction. Take a good look at the outside conditions in your life, whether it’s stress, depression, an abusive relationship or mental disorders, there are a myriad of things that could have caused or aggravated your addiction. Once you begin to understand the things that drive your behavior it’s easier to tackle them head on.
- Let Go of Preconceived Notions: A lot of people go into rehab with the preconceived notion that it doesn’t work and will not work on them. If you go into drug rehab with this idea in your mind, then the effectiveness of the program will drop significantly. To make your experience with rehab more effect, drop all ideas you may have had about it at the door.
- Take Time For Yourself: Self care is extremely important when it comes to making rehab more effective. Instead of prioritizing drugs as the most important thing in your life, it’s time to shift your priorities to taking care of your body and mind. Focusing on your mental and physical health through exercise, a healthy diet, and meditation can help you gain positive benefits from rehab.
- Make Positive Lifestyle Changes: When you looked back and saw the things in your life that caused or aggravated your conditions, did you think about how to change those? When you’re in rehab, it’s important to plan ahead for your life outside. Consider changing or getting rid of those aspects of your life that drove your addiction, whether it was a relationship, a job, or an environment.
- Find Motivation For Your Recovery: When you’re in the midst of rehab it can seem like a long road that has no end. Finding a motivation to help push you through to the end is a great way to make rehab more effective and long lasting. If you have children or family that are counting on you, remind yourself on a daily basis that you’re doing this for them. Other motivations could include being healthier, happier and pursuing your passions.
- Manage Your Emotions: Emotions will run high while you’re in rehab due to the stress of giving up your addiction and facing your problems. Because most people’s reaction to overwhelming emotions is to return to their addiction, managing your emotions is one of the best things you can do to ensure a sustainable recovery. Practice solutions like deep breathing exercises that you can help you control your emotions when they arise.
- Find Something That Makes You Happy: If you have a hobby or an activity that you really enjoy doing, now is the time to incorporate it back into your life. Whether it’s painting, dancing, singing, or even carpentry, finding a hobby that makes you happy is a great way to keep your mind off of your addiction and give your days a new purpose.
- Surround Yourself By Support: Keeping the people you love in the loop of recovery is a great way to mend any broken relationships your addiction may have caused and surround yourself with love and support. Having a solid support system is one of the most important things you can do to make your drug rehab more effective.
- Accept the Reality of Relapse: There’s no doubt that relapses do happen and they happen quite often. You should always be prepared for the worst case scenario and have a plan laid out in case of a potential relapse. This way if you do have a relapse once you’re out of rehab, you can bounce back quickly and not throw away all of the progress you made during recovery.
- Have Long Term Goals: Many people look at rehab as a quick fix solution, when in reality it’s a lifelong process that requires your commitment and determination for years to come. Setting long term goals is the best way to keep your recovery sustainable and envision a drug-free future for yourself.
Going through drug rehab isn’t always easy, but there are things you can do to make your rehab experience more effective. Keep in mind that rehab is different for each individual person, and you may find yourself needing to do more of some of these things than others. Having balance in your life is important when recovering from a drug addiction, and these twelve steps are a great way to start.