When a struggling addict first enters rehab, they are often driven by fear. The fear relates to the damage they have done to their lives as well as what lies ahead in their future. It can be hard to enter into a world in which you have no preconceived notions of what is going to happen. However, you will begin to see changes in yourself and your life as a whole, as you become sober and learn to cope with life’s challenges in healthy ways. Every single day of recovery treatment will open up an entirely new world for you.
When you first enter rehab, it can be completely overwhelming. The first day is typically full of signing consent forms, meeting the staff, and getting settled into your room. Most people will be detoxing during their first week at the treatment facility so it’s not uncommon for people to be falling asleep in group therapy, constantly moving and fidgeting, or not being able to stay in their rooms for long periods of time. These are all normal symptoms for people going through detox and withdrawal, and the staff members at treatment facilities are accustomed to it.
It will take time for you to adjust to the daily schedule of the rehab center. A strict daily schedule is implemented to aid in recovery. The days commonly start at around 7:00 or 8:00 AM and end around 10:00 PM. Typically the schedule will include eating meals, exercising, having a mix of individual and group therapy, enjoying alternative therapy, participating in group discussions, and getting free time. When the day begins winding down, you will normally spend your time reflecting on the things discussed in therapy, doing homework given to you by your therapist, or working on activities with your therapist.
You should also be prepared to not communicate much with the outside world, including your family. This is a measure used to help you create bonds inside the treatment community. Eventually, you will be able to communicate with your family. They will be encouraged to be active in your recovery by sending you letters, visiting on family days, participating in therapy, and offering support.
By the time you hit the one-month mark in treatment, it is common to be more open-minded about recovery and sobriety as a whole. Staff at the center will begin to notice you taking charge in group therapy, leading discussions, and offering encouragement for those just beginning their journey to sobriety. You will be more level headed and open to what recovery has to offer, keeping up with homework, and using the coping strategies learned in therapy.
You may even begin to notice specific changes in yourself related to how you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. As you are in the process of therapy, you learn coping strategies to deal with the challenges life may throw at you. You also learn to identify the root causes of your addiction and begin to heal from them. As you learn your triggers, you learn to recognize them in daily life and implement your coping strategies.
This mix of learned skills and treatment from the facility will increase your self-confidence and self-esteem in recovery. Your body will also begin to feel better with each passing day that you stay sober, eat healthy, and exercise. You may begin to feel fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other underlying mental disorders you may be struggling with. This will give you the motivation to continue in your treatment and make it to day 90.
Once you reach the three-month mark in recovery and prepare to leave the treatment center, you will notice that you are more level-headed as you prepare to take on life outside of rehab. Reaching 90 days sober is incredibly important to your sobriety because they are the most important in preventing relapse.
The first 90 days of sobriety are the most important because you are forming habits and learning coping strategies to maintain recovery once you are out of rehab. By this time you will be following the daily schedule like its second nature, and have a hopeful outlook for the future. You will be used to implementing exercise into your daily routine and eating nutritional meals to give your body the energy it needs to do the work every day.
As day 90 of your treatment approaches and you are preparing to leave rehab, you will begin to make plans for the next part of your recovery. For some, this means moving on to a sober living or transitional residence to acclimate back to life on your own after rehab. For others, this involves creating an aftercare plan with their therapist to maintain sobriety after returning home. For those that have reached day 90, they will carry an air of confidence with them about recovery and taking on the world. They may even work to encourage and inspire others just starting out on the journey as a way of giving back.
Making the decision to enter rehab for drug or alcohol addiction can be daunting. The first day you actually enter rehab can be even more overwhelming. However, the changes you will see in yourself over 30 and 90 days in recovery are incredible. Breaking up your recovery into these stages will help you understand what changes will occur and the work you will be doing. As you learn the causes of your addiction, how to manage triggers, and how to cope with life’s challenges, you will begin to develop a confidence unlike you’ve ever had. At Northstar Transitions, we truly believe that our clients are capable of growth and that they will notice it as they hit their 30 and 90 day sober anniversaries. We want to encourage you in every way to get you to the life you’re meant to live. To learn more about our programs and how you can achieve these goals, call us today at (303) 558-6400.
