How to Prepare for Your Admission to Rehab

If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol and have decided that it’s time for rehab, you are about to embark on a journey that will change your life for the better. However, it understandably may feel overwhelming. Getting prepared for your admission step by step can make the process easier so that you’ll be ready to focus fully on yourself and your recovery.

Have a Conversation with Your Employer

If you work, you’ll need to find out what your options are in terms of time off.  You can take vacation time if you have it, or you can take medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This unpaid leave can be for up to 12 weeks, one time per year, and it must be for treatment recommended by a health care provider. You don’t have to disclose to your employer that the leave is for substance abuse treatment, just for a medical reason.

If you only work part time or don’t qualify for any kind of leave, you can explore outpatient treatment options, although this is not ideal. Inpatient rehab is the most effective option, so you’ll have to consider prioritizing it over your job. Once treatment is over, you’ll be better equipped to rebuild your life and get back to work.

Check Your Insurance and Choose a Facility

Most insurance plans cover addiction treatment at least to some extent. Check with your insurance company to find out what they cover, and to find a covered treatment facility. They should be able to give you a few options, and then you can do some research to see which one is right for you. Consider factors like the specialization of the facility, their accreditations, location, and their post-rehab services such as outpatient treatment options.

If you don’t have insurance, or your insurance doesn’t cover all the costs, many treatment facilities offer payment plans. Some even provide grants for people who qualify.

Find Out What You Can Bring

Check with the facility you’ve chosen to find out what you can bring and what is prohibited. Examples of what to pack include:

• Clothing (you’ll probably be able to do your laundry once per week)
• Toiletries that are allowed by the facility
• Current medications
• Notebooks and pens, books,
• Insurance card
• Debit or credit card
• Cigarettes

Make Arrangements for Family and Financial Obligations

Sometimes the hardest part of preparing for rehab is ensuring that all of your obligations are taken care of by someone that you can trust. Hopefully you have friends or family members who can help you. You can also do things like set up automatic payments for bills, and have any income directly deposited into your account.

If you have children, you can make arrangements with family to care for them and to take them to school and activities. It will be difficult for you to leave them but remember that you’ll be a better parent when you’re sober and healthy.

Know What to Expect

Even when you have all your arrangements and plans made, you still may have trepidation about entering an inpatient program simply because you don’t know what to expect.  Give the facility a call and they should be happy to answer your questions and give you information about the daily schedule, the types of therapy you’ll receive, and anything else you’re wondering about.

In general, you can expect to first go through a period of detox, in which you’ll be medically supervised as you experience withdrawal. You may receive medications to ease your withdrawal symptoms.

Depending on the substance you use, detox can take from a few days up to 10 days. During this period, you’ll also begin therapy. Most of your time will be spent in group therapy, with some individual therapy.

The types of therapy you’ll receive may include:

• Motivational Interviewing: This approach involves helping you to set personal goals for your recovery, and to build your motivation to achieve those goals. This increases your willingness to engage fully in your treatment plan. It works by exploring how substance abuse has disrupted your life, and what will drive you to get better, whether it’s your children, your health, or some other aspect of your life.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on changing negative or irrational thought patterns into positive, reality-based thoughts. It also teaches healthy coping strategies.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): DBT is similar to CBT but focuses on accepting negative emotions and learning skills to change negative behaviors. It involves learning mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance.
• Relapse Prevention Therapy: This approach involves identifying specific relapse risks and triggers, meaning situations and emotions that put you at risk of relapse. It teaches you how to handle those risks, both with your thoughts, and with specific behaviors.

You’ll have some free time aside from mealtimes, during which you might choose to read, journal, sketch, socialize, or participate in any activities that the facility offers. Some facilities have ping pong, pool, or other games.

During group therapy and your free time, you’ll likely develop friendships with some of your peers. You’ll find that these relationships will be mutually supportive and beneficial and can be very helpful as you navigate treatment.

The most important thing to remember is that nothing in rehab should scare you. You’ll probably find it to be a wonderful experience and a new beginning.

Keep Your Mind Open

For rehab to be effective, you need to go into it with an open mind, willing to fully participate in everything that treatment has to offer. Look at it as an opportunity to learn and to grow as a person. If you fully embrace the experience, you’ll get the most out of it and be ready to get back to your life as a stronger, healthier person.

Some people find it helpful to write themselves a letter before admission to rehab. You can write about your goals, your desire to leave substance abuse behind, and your motivation to get better. In a way, the letter can be a pep talk, encouraging you to tackle rehab head on, ready to learn and grow and prepare for a better life.

In Closing

Preparing for rehab can be overwhelming but take it one step at a time. You’re about to do the best thing that you can do for yourself and for the people that you love. There is nothing to fear.

Bridges of Hope offers inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. We would be happy to speak with you about what we offer, how treatment works, and what to expect. We are committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care to get you on the path to recovery and a better life. Give us a call today.