Entering rehab can often be a daunting experience, but it’s important you know what to expect and what you should demand during your time there.
Rehab itself can be difficult to define as it can differ for each individual depending on their addiction and unique set of circumstances, however, it can be broken down into key stages: consultation, detox (if applicable), treatment and aftercare.
In this guide, we’ll be explaining what happens during each of these stages at Acquiesce and how you can make the most out of your time there for a more sustainable recovery.
What to Expect Before Starting Rehab (Consultation)
When you first reach out to a rehab centre such as Acquiesce, you should expect a consultation with a recovery practitioner to find out more about you and your addiction and determine the best course of action for your treatment.
This discussion will address questions such as whether you require detox to begin with, what type of treatment therapies you require, whether you need family support included and the length of treatment.
This is also a time for you to air any concerns or questions you may have about the rehabilitation process.
What to Expect During Detox
If your addiction is substance-based, such as alcohol or drugs, you will need to undergo a detox prior to starting the treatment. Find out more about drug rehabilitation.
Detox, or detoxification, is the process of removing substances from the body in a safe and supervised way, helping you to manage any unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse in the first stage.
Common substances addictions which require detox include:
- Alcohol addiction
- Cocaine addiction
- Cannabis addiction
- Amphetamine addiction
- Heroin addiction
- Prescription drug addiction
Once your Acquiesce recovery practitioner has ascertained the type of detox you require, they will arrange all aspects of the detox. Including transportation, to ensure a hassle free process and seamless transition to the treatment stage.
What to Expect During Treatment
Many people believe that once they have removed the addictive substance from their system that they will be able to quit easily, however, this isn’t the case as addiction is much more complex.
In order to understand the rehab process, it is important for you to understand how an addiction works.
How Does an Addiction Work?
Addiction is rarely an instant problem. Often, it can start out as individuals using alcohol, drugs or gambling voluntarily in order to relax, enjoy themselves or relieve stress.
The problem begins when the individual finds that they are no longer able to function normally without taking the substance or taking part in addictive activities such as gambling. Read more about gambling rehab.
This happens when the brain’s reward system is rewired. Normally, the body produces hormones called dopamine and serotonin which help to maintain our emotions and mental state. At normal levels, this causes us to feel content.
However, certain substances and activities increase the production of these hormones, activating the brain’s reward system, which leads to increased feelings of pleasure and happiness. These can include:
- Listening to music
- Eating certain foods
- Exercise
- Shopping
- Sex
- Gambling (when you win)
- Using drugs
- Drinking alcohol
The problem is that when people regularly gamble, drink alcohol or take drugs, they develop a tolerance. This is when the brain’s reward system no longer responds to the original dose and requires higher amounts in order to achieve the same high or feelings of happiness.
They may also find that their general mental health sees a decline as the reward circuit no longer responds to lower levels of dopamine in the same way. This can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Read our blog on how addiction can impact your mental health.
The individual will then typically start to gamble and use substances more frequently and in higher amounts than they did to begin with in order to avoid these feelings of depression and anxiety, which can be detrimental to their physical health, mental health and finances.
When the individual finds themselves no longer voluntarily gambling or taking substances, and instead using them in order to cope with certain feelings, this is when an addiction has developed.
How Does Rehab Treatment Work?
Treatment for addiction can vary significantly depending on the type of addiction and the individual’s unique circumstances.
To treat addiction effectively, it is important to understand their triggers, confront them and learn to cope with them using alternative methods to their addiction.
At Acquiesce, we offer a combination package which includes the 12 steps and cognitive behavioural therapy based approaches. In combination together they complement each other excellently.
The 12 steps allows you to discover a new recovery-focused code of behaviour in which to live by and the cognitive behavioural therapy based approaches allow the individual to gain skills and resources to help them to be able to treat their addiction day to day on a practical level which in turn supports them to live by their new recovery focused code of behaviour.
We carry all of this treatment out in our residential rehab centre located in Bolton, delivering an urban recovery model that allows you to learn new skills and techniques in a familiar environment.
What to Expect After Finishing Rehab (Aftercare)
Once you have completed the programme with Acquiesce, you will continue to receive ongoing help and support for no extra cost as part of the package.
We will keep in close contact with you for your first 3 months after you have left treatment to help to support you with your progress. You can also attend an aftercare group once per week for as long as you like.
How to Make the Most of Your Time in Rehab
If you’re entering rehab, it is essential that you make the most of your time there in order to benefit fully and continue a long lasting sustainable recovery.
To do this, it is important to go in with an open mind. Whether it was your choice to go to rehab or not, once you arrive it’s a great idea to make the most of your situation and let go of any negative preconceived ideas you may have about rehab as this will close you off from many opportunities to recover.
You also need to be completely honest with the recovery team at our rehab centre. They aren’t there to judge anybody and can only give you the best help if they understand you and your addiction as best as possible.
When you decide to give up your addiction, you must also give up lies, deception and manipulation. To start your recovery journey, get in touch for a free, confidential consultation with one of our helpful team members at Acquiesce or find more help and advice here.
