I’m often the topic of conversation with friends, family, and co-workers. That’s because they know I went through an inpatient rehab before and lived to tell the tale! When I finally made the life-changing decision to go to rehab for my drug problem, I was scared. I truly believed that rehab wouldn’t be enough for me to change my bad habits and behaviors. Luckily, I was very wrong about what rehab is actually like.
I get this question a lot- “How well did inpatient drug treatment work for you?” I’m here to tell you it worked very well. Let me explain why. I hope I can help you in some way.
I have never had much willpower. When I was feeling down as a young kid, I’d turn to massive amounts of caffeine to give me energy. Soon, I started smoking cigarettes to calm myself down. While that doesn’t seem too bad, it snowballed from there. I loved how certain prescription medications made me feel after being given a script for Percocet after having a tooth pulled. I couldn’t get enough of that high and wonderful feeling.
Years later, I was heavily addicted to any pain killer I could get my hands on. I was also broke from buying them off the streets and even online. I was in trouble at my job and my family was insanely worried for me. They begged me to go to rehab, but I always resisted. It took years for me to come to my senses and commit myself. That was the beginning of the rest of a normal, sober life.
I was terrified to go through detox as I already knew how terrible it felt when I didn’t have some kind of pain killer in my system. However, the doctors and staff were very understanding of my needs. They gave me what I needed to stave off the feelings of withdrawal. Sure, I was a little uncomfortable at times. But it was nothing compared to what I thought it would be! In fact, I was walking around and taking part in therapy sessions from the very beginning-something I would never have thought possible before.
Detox was a blessing for me, but the real joy was being able to finally talk about my feelings to someone who knew what they were talking about. Counselors in a rehab center know and understand what their patients are going through. They are trained to listen and respond to what an addict says and feels. I never felt like I was being judged when I spoke to them about my problems. I was able to explain what I was feeling inside to someone who knew how to handle it.
Rehab taught me ways to deal with my triggers that didn’t include drugs. For example, I used to pop a pill the moment something aggravated me. It could be as simple as tripping over the dog or breaking a glass. I’d immediately turn to pills to make myself feel better. In the end, I didn’t even get the same high that I used to get, but there was no way I could stop. Therapy has helped me recognize these triggers and choose another way to deal with them. I don’t get as mad as I used to over trivial things and when I do, I know how to redirect my energy.
Inpatient therapy also worked well because it gave me so much information I could use later on in life. They set me up with aftercare services that I would have never known about if it wasn’t for them. My counselor researched sober living homes for me and explained what I would need to do. She also reached out to a local church to set me up with NA meetings five days a week.
When people ask me how well inpatient rehab worked for me, I always tell them my amazing story. They probably get tired of hearing me talk about it, but I know that this is an important question for many people! Inpatient rehab was the best decision I could have ever made. It was hard at first, and I still struggle with cravings from time to time. You have to go into it with that mindset. You don’t stop being an addict, you simply manage the cravings and feelings. I’m glad I am here to tell my story over and over again. Without rehab, I fear that I may not have ever had the chance.
If you are ready for a change, give us a call today at 772-266-5320.
