Making the Most of Inpatient Drug Rehab

Inpatient drug rehab is the most intense and involved treatment plan for people seeking help with addiction. However, it is up to addicts themselves to make the most of inpatient drug rehab. Treatment facilities across the United States help thousands of addicts make lasting recoveries every year, but this success relies on dedicated efforts from patients. Here are some of the ways addicts can make the most of the time they spend in treatment.

Post Acute Withdrawal Management

Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, or PAWS, is the leading cause of relapse among recovering addicts. It is also the biggest threat to the success of clinical addiction therapies. This condition sets in immediately after the withdrawal of detox subsides, and its symptoms include depression, feelings of isolation, memory loss, and impaired cognition.

Most rehab clinics now make PAWS mitigation a top priority, but clinicians need addicts’ help to successfully manage its symptoms. Many patients are reluctant to report their symptoms, fearing them to be signs of unsuccessful recovery efforts. However, it is crucial that addicts speak honestly about the ways in which they are suffering from PAWS. Getting help while they are still attending inpatient drug rehab may be essential for staying sober in the long term.

Productively Engaging Counseling Sessions

The main component of most rehab programs is individual counseling. One-on-one sessions with rehab specialists are designed to uncover the main causes of addicts’ destructive behavior patterns and help them develop long-term strategies for avoiding addiction triggers. These discoveries are deeply personal, and they require dedicated effort from rehab patients. Addicts must engage their counseling with a positive attitude in order to make crucial lifestyle changes.

Active Participation in Group Therapy

Peer group discussions between people attending inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization rehab programs allow addicts from all walks of life to share valuable strategies for dealing with drug cravings. To take full advantage of the time they spend in treatment, addicts must choose to take active roles in their discussion groups. Sitting silently may be allowed, but it is not productive.

Making Tough Choices Post-Rehab

Addiction treatments can be difficult, but addicts often face their biggest hardships after they leave their rehab clinics. To stay sober in the outside world, most substance abusers have to make sweeping changes to their old lives. They must cut ties with active drug-using friends. They have to change the places they go to avoid their personal relapse triggers. They may even have to move or change careers to remain in control of their stress levels and cravings.

Proactive Sobriety

For most people, sobriety is a simple matter of not using drugs or alcohol. For recovering addicts, however, sobriety is proactive – it requires constant adherence to the lifestyle changes and coping strategies learned during rehab.

For instance, it is crucial that addicts maintain healthy bodies as their first lines of defense against stress-induced cravings. They must also practice daily self-reflection to avoid the destructive emotions and thought patterns they discovered during their counseling sessions. Finally, they often need to use prayer or other spiritual exercises to find the meanings or purposes in their lives.

If you’re currently struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, click the links below to find a treatment center near you. Addiction is a deadly disease, but inpatient drug rehab can help you get your life back on track.

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