The 7 Biggest (and Most Rewarding) Challenges of Going to Drug Rehab

Deciding to Go to Drug Rehab for the First Time

When drugs or alcohol start to negatively affect your life and relationships, you probably have an addiction. Addiction is diagnosed on a spectrum and can range from mild to severe. There is a total of 11 criteria to determine if you have an addiction, including:

• Lack of control
• Cravings
• Spending much time trying to get the substance
• Desire to quit but unable to
• Dangerous use
• Tolerance
• Lack of responsibility
• Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
• Problems with relationships
• Worsening situations
• Withdrawal

The more criteria you meet, the more severe your addiction. Substance use disorder is a chronic disease, much like asthma, hypertension, or diabetes, and requires treatment to successfully manage it. The sooner you get help for addiction, the higher the chances of successful sobriety.

One of the most difficult steps is admitting you have a problem, and you need to help to overcome your substance abuse issues. Deciding to go to drug rehab in Los Angeles California is a difficult choice and the road to recovery is a long and tough one but is also just as rewarding. Drug rehab in Los Angeles California is your best option if you want to get sober and beat an addiction to drugs. Simply quitting cold turkey will not change the underlying issues of addiction, which are psychological for the most part. Recovery involves changing the way you feel, think, and behave.

The first step is to eliminate the physical dependence aspect of addiction, which requires a detox to get the drugs out of your system. Medical detox at rehab centers is recommended because it is safer and much more comfortable. Addiction cannot be cured but can be managed through therapy, support groups like twelve steps programs, acquiring a toolbox of coping mechanisms, and more to beat it time and time again. Through a treatment program, you will gain a support network to help your battle with addiction for a lifetime.

Challenges You Will Face in Drug Rehab

Deciding to enter a drug treatment program is going to raise many questions and fears. Some of those may be how difficult and uncomfortable drug rehab will be, what are the most challenging parts, and the treatment approaches. This all depends on what you personally find challenging and the type of treatment you are in. Here are some of the biggest challenges those entering drug rehab face:

1. Drug Detox and the Withdrawal Process

The first part of rehab may be the most difficult because every program will have a drug and alcohol detox portion to it and most people will exhibit withdrawal symptoms. Which symptoms and how severe will depend on the type of drug you were using and how severe your addiction is. Medical detox is a safer and more comfortable option for the withdrawal process. Even alcohol detox can be life-threatening. In a medically assisted detox, physicians and nurses can monitor your vitals and symptoms, then administer medications to ease those symptoms or cravings. You are also more likely to successfully complete the detox process this way. Many people who try to withdraw from drugs on their own, end up relapsing quickly because the symptoms are so uncomfortable.

Withdrawal from drugs takes about one to two weeks for the most severe symptoms but can last for months after with more mild symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia. But once you get over those first couple of weeks, the hardest part of your treatment plan is over and the benefits of waking up every day clear-headed and sober is worth it.

2. Dealing with Triggers

Once detox is over, the real work for long-term recovery in treatment centers in Los Angeles County starts. Resisting drugs can be more difficult when you get back to your daily routine but learning what your triggers are and how to deal with them while in a program can be a life-saving tool. During the course of treatment, addiction counselors will help you determine the triggers that led to your addiction and then help you come up with steps to manage or avoid these triggers. Some specific triggers can include hanging out with people who use drugs, emotional states, social settings that include alcohol or drugs, difficult living conditions, and everyday life stressors. Counselors will help you come up with a relapse prevention plan when you are presented with these triggers.

3. Addressing Trauma and Shame Without Drugs

Many people who suffer from substance use disorder use drugs and alcohol in order to deal with trauma and shame. During the recovery process, counselors in addiction treatment centers will help patients to face and deal with past traumas without the use of addictive substances. This may be the root of someone’s addiction, and helping them heal from trauma may be the answer for long-term sobriety. This can be a very difficult part for anyone, even those without a substance use disorder. It requires a lot of time, effort, and bravery to confront these issues and address the deep-seated trauma that has been causing so much pain. Working through the pain though will result in many positive benefits in the end and lead to rewarding personal growth.

4. Leaving Your Home and Loved Ones

Residential treatment is the best option for recovery, whether that be a 30-day, 60-day or 90-day program. But leaving your home, everyday life, loved ones, and even pets can be very difficult. Many people avoid inpatient rehab for this reason, but making the effort to immerse yourself completely in your recovery can be more beneficial for not only you but your loved ones as well in the long run. A good option is to find a program in a recovery center that allows for visitors and keeping in contact with loved ones. Many programs also include family therapy to help repair some of the bonds that may have been broken due to your addiction.

5. Participating in Therapy Sessions

Figuring out your feelings and then expressing them can feel difficult, especially if you’re not used to it. It is important to share your story with addiction, past traumas, your emotions, and other issues with counselors and in group therapy while in treatment. Your addiction team can help diagnose any mental health issues and help you with your journey toward sobriety. Opening up about your past experiences with other people in drug rehab can help build bonds and help other people navigate their sobriety. It is normal to struggle with this at first, but it gets easier the more you open up.

6. Developing New Coping Strategies

During drug rehab, you will learn ways to control and express your emotions in a healthier way. Those with substance use disorder may have used drugs to deal with their negative emotions, such as sadness, anger, and loneliness. Learning how to cope with these emotions in a healthy manner can help maintain your sobriety. Some treatment centers use cognitive behavior therapy to help their patients achieve this. It is very difficult to change your mindset and to avoid reacting to stressors the same way you always have, but hard work will pay off. By learning new coping mechanisms as part of mental health treatment, you can avoid mood changes or get out of a negative mood much more easily on your own without the help of addictive substances.

7. Staying Cleaning

Addiction is a chronic disorder, and you will spend the rest of your life managing the symptoms. Staying clean is difficult but it is possible and with hard work during rehab, learning to live sober can be easier. Having fears about relapsing is normal and there are many people who relapse. Being part of a recovery community, you will gain a network of support through your rehab program and if you do happen to relapse, you can always go back and continue the work to sobriety.

Why Drug Rehab is Worth All the Challenges

Going to rehab in Los Angeles is a difficult choice and can give you feelings of shame, fear, and sadness. Recovery treatment is long, hard, and requires a lot of work on your part. But there are so many reasons why rehab is worth all the challenges. Sobriety can give you back the life you always imagined without the grip of drug addiction.

Rehab can save your life. Drugs and alcohol can shorten your life through a myriad of health issues or a fatal overdose. It also helps heal your body, mind, and spirit. Drug rehab and behavioral health treatment can help you heal from past traumas or mental health disorders that may be causing your addiction. It can also save your relationships and help you build new meaningful relationships. Going through a recovery program can also help you keep a job or even help you start a brand new career that will fulfill you in ways you never thought possible. All the work in rehab can give you a life you wake up excited for and feel good every day.

Muse Treatment is a drug rehab in Los Angeles California can help you beat your addiction. Our comprehensive inpatient rehab and outpatient drug rehab programs include behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, group therapy, and much more to help get to the core of your addiction and give you the proper tools to maintain long-term sobriety. Through dual diagnosis, we treat co-occurring disorders that may be present alongside drug addiction. We will always be here to help support you in your recovery so you are not in this alone. If you or someone you love is struggling with drug addiction, please give us a call today. One of our addiction specialists is always available to help answer any questions you may have about drug rehab.

Learn about the 7 biggest and most rewarding challenges of going to drug rehab at Muse Treatment Center! #drugrehabhttps://t.co/Cm6SlbWMBV

— Muse Treatment (@MuseTreatmentLA) March 25, 2022