When considering accessing treatment for substance use, it is often assumed that we know all about what treatment should look like. There are some basic concepts to the treatment process, and then it will depend upon what type of treatment we choose. Residential treatment can differ from facility to facility, but the main thing that is important to know is that we have a choice in what types of treatment we want. The more engaged we are in our treatment process, the more successful we will be.
Detoxification
The first step is detoxification. We must stop ingesting substances into our bodies and then allow our bodies to clear out the substances we have recently used. This process varies greatly from person to person, based on the types of substances we have used and even the length for which we used them. Most detox programs run from about three days to seven days, but it is based on the individual’s needs.
For some substances, the symptoms from detoxification can be very severe, and so many programs offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT,) for detoxification from opioids, for example. Medications are given which help reduce the extreme reactions and ease the transition from substance use to substance-free. This is always done carefully with licensed medical supervision, as is all detoxification.
Treatment
A good facility will offer personalized treatment options for us. We should be able to choose from the programs, methods, and treatments available, because we know what works best for us. Amongst our options can be:
Choosing a Program
In addition to the traditional 12-Step program, there are other programs, such as SMART Recovery and Refuge Recovery available. These programs will be the basic guidelines used for our recovery process, so it is good to be well-informed and choose the program that best suits us.
• The 12-Step model is based on the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step plan. The plan involves twelve different steps which center around belief in a higher power and are followed in sequential order. Following these twelve steps will be the basis for our recovery and will include future meetings and volunteering of our own time after treatment.
• The SMART Recovery system is not based on any religious or spiritual orientation, but rather science-based principles. The program has four basic steps built around the concept of us becoming independent in our recovery. Meetings are available for support, but not required.
• Refuge Recovery is a system that is based on Buddhist-inspired practices and principles, although not requiring any particular religious affiliation. There is an eightfold path to recovery that is based on the belief that we can rely on our own power to free ourselves from our addictions. The program meetings will be required after treatment.
Therapy
Therapy is one of the most important pieces of our recovery. Talk therapy helps us to access the causes of our substance use and heal from the pain, which helps to reduce our emotional need for a substance. Additionally, specific types of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are used to help us re-train our thinking and our habits to help us change how we function and learn new ways to live and build new habits.
More areas that are specifically addressed in therapy include behavior modification, anger management, relapse prevention, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and motivational interviewing. All of these areas help to make us stronger and empower us to live a new life in recovery.
Other therapy options include activity therapy, art therapy, equine therapy, and music therapy. Additionally, there are holistic therapies and activities which also help us to heal in treatment, including yoga, breathwork, meditation, massage therapy, and mindfulness. All of these options give us even more tools and skills that we can take from treatment and make them a part of our lives so that we can live powerfully going forward.
Living the Dream
Choosing residential treatment for our substance use means that we have the appropriate medical and safety supervision around-the-clock for our health as we transition from substance use to sobriety. We remove ourselves from the life where we were using substances, the environment, the people, and circumstances that allowed us to reach this point. By removing ourselves completely from that life for a period of time, we can focus first on becoming sober, then on changing our lives and becoming stronger.
Our residential treatment is like the turning point, the fork in the road for our life. Had we continued on the path that we were on with substance use, there is any number of outcomes we could have reached. Obviously, they were undesirable, because we have chosen to take our lives back into our own hands and choose a new path. Ultimately, that is what to expect from treatment. We gain the power to choose. We can choose our program, our therapies as we learn and gain the skills and tools that we need to maintain control of our life going forward.
How does treatment for addiction work? It works for you. Find out exactly how to make your treatment work for you atRancho Milagro Recovery. We put your needs first, with the best medical care and plenty of options for you to create your own personalized treatment plan. We believe in giving you the best possible care to jumpstart your recovery. We believe in hope, and we believe in you. Call us now at (951) 526-4582.