What is rehab?
Rehab is short for rehabilitation. Residential Rehab means going through a programme, where you live for a period of time, which will support you to be able to live without drugs and alcohol in your life, often helping to understand and deal with the issues that led you to alcohol and drugs. From there, the goal is to be able to live happily, with better physical health, relationships, mental health, jobs, and finances.
Whether someone is using drugs or alcohol, or both, it may not even be that obvious to them that their using is a problem, and may only get spotted when it hurts their relationships or work. Sadly, all of this is painful and damaging for the person involved – and their family and friends. The good news is, no one is on their own, and rehab can help.
So if you’re here because you think you need help, or if your partner, friend or family member may be struggling, it is a great place to start to learn more about the recovery journey, and what options are available
What happens in rehab?
Residential rehab means that while you’re getting help from an organisation, you also stay there for the duration of that treatment – away from your normal home and life.
So, what happens while you’re there?
In residential rehab you will be supported by staff, and be guided to take part in programmed activities which will help you reach your goals. Over time, by taking small steps you’ll become free from drugs and alcohol, and be ready to go back home.
Rehab is not easy but don’t worry, you will receive lots of support and encouragement to help you make positive changes on your road to recovery. Recovery seldom follows a straight line. Relapses are common during the journey to lasting recovery. If you experience a relapse we encourage you to ask for help.
What are the steps to recovery?
There are many roads to recovery, but often they fall into three stages:
Stage 1 – Preparation for rehab:
When you decide that Residential Rehab might be for you, you should make contact with your local Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), and they will be able to get you onto the pathway to accessing a RR that is right for you. Some RR providers have certain criteria for admission – you can find out more about these on their listings. Your ADP pathway is designed to support you in reaching these criteria.
Stage 2 – Admission to rehab/treatment:
Most programmes are at least three months long and can include residential (live-in) instruction while getting lots of help to cope with having no drugs and alcohol. Then often followed by another programme of live-in time; learning new life skills, and planning for how to deal with your future work and life – and how to continue coping without drugs and alcohol.
Stage 3 – Aftercare:
Often when people start to move back to their home – but still with some support and help.
Some of the ways it works
Many providers use their own mix of approaches to help you on your road to recovery. When you’re looking at them, think about what might suit you. Here’s some of the popular methods. In any of these approaches, they are just the start of the journey, and even after these, you will always be able to find the support you need, when you need it.
12 Step
You might have heard of this being used by Narcotics/Alcoholics Anonymous (NA/AA). It views problem drug and alcohol use as a disease – and uses 12 pre-planned steps to help recovery. The steps are sometimes adjusted and then you might see it called ‘modified Minnesota model’. In any version of it, there will be a mix of one-to-one and group work and you will be encouraged to keep attending 12-step mutual aid meetings in the community following treatment.
Therapeutic Community
In this approach there is often a 12-step plan, but it is also about being surrounded by a community. This means rather than you just being guided by others, as you get better you start to take on some responsibility and help others as you progress. This time will be spent in group work, one-to-one sessions, and learning practical skills. It can last 6 – 12 months.
Christian Philosophy/Faith-Based
Faith based services are staffed by individuals with a religious faith. And they may, or may not, require residents to share their faith, or at least join in faith-based activities. Expect to learn from religious teachings, and prayer.
Mixed
Integrated and eclectic evidence based interventions are offered and one to one and group work often takes place.
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Social Learning
CBT is a talking therapy that tries to help you break bad cycles you might have in your life. It looks at what you think, feel and do.
Personal and Skills Development
This approach aims to help you learn how to cope by building skills for real life situations. It often uses a mix of local education, work training, and group work.