When you need addiction treatment, you want to know that the concepts you learn will stick. While some people can get by with a short-term program, it is much more common to need more time than just a week or two to get sober. Longer treatment programs give you time to work through your underlying issues and redefine what life in sobriety looks like for you.
You’ll often hear about celebrities going to 90-day rehab, but the truth is that there is a mixture of people who seek this type of care. Teachers, veterans and people from other every day professions develop addictions just like the actors you see in the movies. The truth is that there is not a single simple answer to who goes to 90-day rehab. You’ll see people from all walks of life and different stages of addiction seek three months of care to feel more secure in their sobriety.
What Are the Benefits of a 90-Day Stay?
The idea of 90 days didn’t just come out of thin air. Addiction treatment specialists chose this amount of time based upon research regarding the best strategies for recovery. If it takes 30 days to build or break a habit, then you can expect it to take about a month to really start feeling fewer cravings for drugs or alcohol. The second month is viewed as a time when you begin to work on learning the best ways to stay sober. By the third month, you should have some handy tools for coping with cravings and overcoming trauma. During the last few weeks of your stay, you’ll put these tools into practice even more so that they are reinforced.
In addition to helping you establish good habits and behaviors, there are several more distinct advantages of attending a three-month program. One of the biggest ones is that it gives you the time and space that you need to break away from the pressures that you experience in life. When you’ve been dealing with an addiction, you may have a long list of things that you’ve put off for a while that make you feel guilty or lower your self-esteem. Stepping away from these pressures allows you to refocus your attention on healing. This length of time also allows for more in-depth counseling and addition types of treatment such as adventure therapy to help you fully conquer the reasons behind your addiction.
How Do You Know How Long to Go to Rehab?
Each person who reaches out to a treatment program is provided with a personalized assessment that helps determine what should work best for you. You might need to go to a 90-day program if any of these things apply to your situation.
- You have multiple addictions
- This is your first time going to a rehab
- You continue to use drugs even after dealing with serious consequences such as going to jail
- Your current home environment is not safe for you to get sober
- You have an extremely high tolerance for drugs or alcohol
- You’ve relapsed after a shorter program
Longer stays generally are best for the majority of people who have an addiction. Choosing to spend three months focusing on sobriety gives you a strong foundation that prevents relapse and can help you begin the process of healing personal relationships and rebuilding your life. Keep in mind that your treatment plan may include a combination of inpatient and outpatient care, or you might stay in the facility for the entire 90 days. Either way, you’ll finish the program ready to start taking on more independence when you have the tools you need to stay sober.
How Do You Plan for a Three Months of Treatment?
Right now, you might be overwhelmed by the idea of spending three months in treatment. If so, then it helps to know that this time goes by fast. Each day is packed with useful therapy programs that teach you new things about yourself and the nature of addiction. If you are looking forward to having some time away from your daily stresses, then your next question might be what you need to do to get ready. Reaching out to your rehab program will put you in touch with people who will let you know what to pack and what kind of arrangements to plan for at home to make sure that your house, family and pets are cared for while you are away.
Are you ready to make a serious commitment to sobriety? Give us a call at 302-842-2390. Our counselors can help you find a 90-day program that sets you up for success.
