For people struggling with severe substance use disorders or mental health concerns that put their lives at risk, residential treatment programs may be the only viable option to get the necessary care. These residential treatment programs offer the high level of support required to safely begin the recovery process.
It can be a bit daunting to think of spending a month or more in a facility and away from your home, family, and job. Some people may even hesitate to undergo treatment because they don’t know what to expect from inpatient care.
To relieve some of that anxiety, keep reading for some tips that can help you prepare for a residential treatment program.
Residential Treatment Program: What It Is and Why It Can Help
A residential treatment program is one in which clients stay for days at a time. You live on-site and receive 24/7 support to ensure you’re safe as you go through the detoxification process. You receive medication-assisted care to help you avoid the worst withdrawal symptoms so you can focus on therapy and not overwhelming cravings.
In an inpatient program, you receive individual therapy that relies on a number of therapeutic modalities. From cognitive behavioral therapy to holistic therapy, you receive care tailored to your individual needs.
Group therapy is another essential aspect of a residential treatment program. These sessions allow you to connect with others who are going through similar challenges, letting you understand that you’re not alone.
In family therapy, you and your loved ones can relearn how to communicate with one another and address issues that substance use disorders may have caused or worsened. It offers education for loved ones, too, so that they have a better understanding of what you’re dealing with.
Benefits of Residential Treatment Programs
Residential care allows you to step away from your life and the various stressors that could be fueling the addiction so you can focus on getting treatment. It can be a crucial choice for those who have easy access to substances at home or who don’t have the right level of support from loved ones.
Residential treatment programs provide continuous medical assistance. That’s essential if you’re detoxing from alcohol, for example, because of the risk of developing delirium tremens. With medical care, you’ll stay comfortable throughout the detox process and begin your recovery in a positive manner.
The environment is safe to address trauma, abuse, and other issues that could be affecting your recovery.
Most residential treatment programs offer dual-diagnosis treatment, which tackles underlying mental health concerns together with addiction. That is the best way of preventing one of the illnesses from affecting the other.
The structure that residential care offers gives you things to focus on other than your substance use disorder. You’ll have daily individual and group therapy sessions, as well as a variety of other activities that can keep you engaged in your recovery.
You also get to start building your recovery network. In residential treatment, you’ll meet a lot of people who are at different stages of the process, helping you better understand what to expect. It’s possible to build lasting friendships.
Preparing for a Residential Treatment Program: 8 Tips
As you get ready to enter an inpatient treatment program, here are some of the most important tips you should keep in mind.
1. Handle Work and Family Responsibilities
Entering a residential treatment program means having to stay on-site for many days. You won’t be able to leave and come back, so taking care of your work and family responsibilities before you enter care is vital. Not only will this help ensure you don’t leave anyone unprepared at work or at home, but it also allows you to focus on treatment.
Something to remember is that the law grants you up to 12 weeks of medical leave if you’ve been working for an employer for at least a year. Your job is protected while you receive treatment, so don’t allow that fear to keep you from getting help.
However, you always want to let your employer know as far ahead of time as possible that you’ll be taking this time.
You want to also let your family know as soon as you can so that everyone can start making arrangements. Issues like who will pick the children up after school can be easily handled with enough warning.
2. Address Any Legal or Financial Issues
To have a chance to focus on healing and achieving sobriety, you need to set aside as many of your real-life worries as possible. If you’re facing legal or financial issues, they can weigh heavily on you and make it tough to concentrate on recovery.
It can be a good idea to speak with a lawyer about legal issues you will need to take care of once you leave treatment. They can work on your behalf while you’re in recovery and handle any pressing matters.
If you have loan payments or bills that need to be taken care of, arrange for someone to do this, too. The last thing you want is to stress about your water bill while you’re getting treatment.
3. Set Realistic Expectations
Substance use disorders are chronic and relapsing conditions. You can’t go into treatment assuming that a month or so in rehab will “cure” you. This is the first step in a lifelong process that will have its ups and downs, so while you want to go into treatment with optimism, you should be ready for hard work, too.
You should also remember that relapsing is common and doesn’t mean that you won’t recover or the treatment failed. You may even need to get further care, either more inpatient treatment or outpatient options. All of this is normal.
By setting realistic expectations, you can avoid disappointment that could impact your motivation to remain sober.
4. Pack Appropriately
Take some time to pack for a residential treatment program. You want to be comfortable during your stay but also not bring anything that breaks the rules. If you’re not sure what you can and can’t bring, you can ask the treatment center for a list of items.
The center will offer toiletries, bedding, and other essentials, but you will want to pack what makes a place feel more like home to you.
You will need to bring identification and insurance information, as well as any other important medical information you need the medical staff to have. They will already have performed an interview with you to get a sense of your health, but pack anything that you think could be helpful.
If you take medications, make sure your team knows about them, and bring them with you to the center. This also applies to any medical devices you have, like inhalers or glucometers.
Other items you might want to pack include:
- Slippers, sneakers, or other comfortable shoes
- Cash and debit or credit cards
- Comfortable clothing, including sleepwear
- Personal hygiene products (alcohol-free)
- An alarm clock
- Small radio or handheld music device without a camera or Wi-Fi
You won’t be able to have any mirrors or anything made of glass. You’re also not allowed to have any items with Wi-Fi because you need to focus on treatment, not surfing the web.
5. Spend Time With Loved Ones
Residential treatment programs are lengthy and might even feel longer because of the amount of internal work you’ll be doing. Before going to treatment, spend some time with your loved ones. Make sure they know how to contact the center if there’s an emergency, and also ensure the center has contact information for your family.
The time you spend with your family is beneficial for them as well as for you since it can offer the motivation you need.
As you talk with your loved ones, remember that you don’t need to feel shame about going to rehab. Remember that you are giving yourself the opportunity to heal safely, and you are working toward a better future. Those are admirable steps to take.
Be age-appropriate when you speak with family members. Teenagers will understand where you’re going and why, but children will have a more difficult time. Keep the conversation simple by telling children that you are going to get better at a facility.
6. Learn About the Treatment Center
Hopefully, you have already done a good amount of research into the kind of program you’re going into and you have an idea of the kind of experiences other people have had. However, you can continue to do research as you get ready to enter the program.
Many centers have lots of information on their websites and blogs, so reading through relevant posts can prepare you for treatment. A simple step like this can help you eliminate some of the fear of the unknown you may experience.
7. Make a List of Your Goals After Treatment
Having a list of things you want to accomplish once you’re sober and have completed care can help significantly because it can keep you motivated. Think about things you can do to improve your social, family, or work life. No goal is too small, but be careful about setting unrealistic ones that could end up harming your recovery.
8. Have a Plan for Continuing Treatment
Residential treatment programs are highly effective — but only if you stick with the recovery process. You have to be ready to continue the work you do at the center. That could mean participating in another program, like intensive outpatient programs, or having aftercare services lined up.
You need to continue getting individual therapy to address any issues that could be keeping you from healing, and you also need people to hold you accountable. That means relying on support groups.
It’s particularly important to have a clear plan for after treatment if your home environment won’t help you recover. You’ll have to find another living option, which could include sober living facilities. As you’re receiving care, you’ll be able to ask about this option, and most centers will be able to point you the right way.
Beginning a Residential Treatment Program
Battling a substance use or mental health disorder can leave you with a hopeless feeling that recovering is impossible. By relying on the kind of intensive care you can receive at residential treatment programs, it is possible to break away from the grip that addiction or mental illness has on you.
At APN Lodge, we offer residential care that helps you address the underlying cause of the problems you are having. By relying on evidence-based treatments, as well as holistic care, our programs can help reintroduce you to what a sober life looks and feels like. Learn more about how you can reach sobriety by filling out our confidential contact form or by calling us at 855.934.1178.
References
- “Fact Sheet #28A: Employee Protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act | U.S. Department of Labor.” Www.dol.gov, Mar. 2023, www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/28a-fmla-employee-protections.
