There are pros and cons to any and everything we encounter. Residential Inpatient Treatment (also known as RTC) is no different. This blog will discuss the benefits, challenges, and how to overcome those challenges.
The Benefits of Residential Inpatient Rehab
Let’s start with the good stuff. Residential inpatient rehabs often follow a common theme of what they offer. Where they differ is their locations, price, accommodation, length of stay, and other factors such as specific treatment programs (i.e., dual-diagnosis, physical abuse, etc.) Some of the major benefits of RTC are the following:
Medically supervised detox
Medically trained staff
24/7 staff
Indiduvdalized therapies and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Family or Individual counseling
Individualized treatment plans
Learning new skills
Setting up Aftercare planning
Comfortable and relaxed living arrangements
While the benefits sometimes outweigh the challenges, in this particular case, it is hard to say. Most people seeking residential inpatient treatment need an actual "reality check." That is to say; they need to make dramatic changes to their lifestyles to successfully live a life without drugs or alcohol. This looks different for everyone, but we can expect that this is where the challenges start. The hardest part of getting help for a substance use disorder (SUD) is asking for help in the first place.
If you have made it this far and are reading this while considering getting help, contact us today for more information on our residential inpatient treatment programs. (844) 622-0524
Learn more here.
The Major Challenges of Residential Inpatient Rehab
As we mentioned above, asking for help is one of the hardest steps. So, congrats on doing that!
BUT…
You will encounter many challenges when entering a residential inpatient treatment program. We do not want to scare you away from seeking help for an SUD, but you should know what you are getting into. Whether you are struggling with a severe drug addiction or a less-severe drinking problem, you will face similar issues when entering residential inpatient treatment. From detox to aftercare planning, you will encounter things daily during your stay that will challenge your mental, physical, and emotional capabilities.
The Detoxification Process
This is where you will encounter some of the most severe withdrawal symptoms, but it varies from person to person and will depend on several factors, such as:
Severity of use
What you're addicted to
How long / how much you’ve been using
Medical History
Co-Occurring Disorders
While this may be the hardest thing you have had to do, know that countless people have undergone a similar process. The detoxification process is essential for setting a solid foundation for your recovery journey. It is a true testament to your willingness to commit to the program. Know that it will ease over the next few days, and you will be a better person at the end of it.
You can always ask for an extra Advil or melatonin to help you sleep and ease your withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes you will be prescribed something to help ensure that you safely come off your drug of choice. This is a precautionary measure and isn't always the case.
If you want to know more about the detoxification process, please go to our detox page.
Co-Occurring Disorders & Dual Diagnosis
Suppose you are struggling with a mental health issue and a drug addiction. This is commonly referred to as comorbidity, co-occurring disorder, or a dual diagnosis. You may not be aware of your co-occurring disorder since you have been using your drug of choice (DOC) for so long. You may also develop a mental health issue when coming off your DOC. This could lead to a serious issue if not properly treated. Looking for an RTC that provides dual-diagnosis treatment is one way of ensuring you are given the best possible care when looking for a treatment center.
Click here for more in-depth information on dual diagnosis and how we treat it at LA Valley Recovery.
Therapy/Counseling
What is the difference between therapy and counseling? Good Question! Thanks for asking ;). A psychologist usually has a degree in psychology. These sessions tend to go a bit deeper into the underlying issues that may have caused you to use them in the first place. Things like major life events, trauma, family history, and virtually anything will be talked about in this session. The point is to help you better understand yourself and your addiction.
Counseling is often subject-focused. In this case, a drug counselor would guide you through sessions in which you discuss your drug addiction and history with the addiction. They would provide helpful insights on how to stay sober and help you plan your aftercare plan. For more in-depth information on these differences, check out this article.
These processes will bring up your past. The very past that you may have been avoiding for however long and covering up by your drug usage. These sessions will be challenging. They will bring up the things you may or may not have connected to the deeper-rooted issues. This often leads to an "epiphany" or simply drawing light on something you've ignored for years. This can be transformative and bring you to a place you didn't think was possible.
Routine
You will be expected to keep up with your daily routine, which may include waking up at a particular time every day, making your bed, taking a shower, cleaning your room/shared living space(s), and other daily activities. This is to help you instill a new foundation to start your days since your daily routine was not the most well-organized.
Accept that this will be your life for the next 30-60-90 days. It will be much easier on yourself, other patients, and the staff. You are already there, whether you like it or not, after all, who likes going to rehab? It would help if you tried to absorb as much information as possible because your life is on the line.
Also, not everyone will be in your unique situation, and others may be having a completely different experience than you are. Just note that you all are there for the same reason, to get sober.
You will get challenged nearly every day; you will encounter people, places, and things you have been avoiding for years; you will discuss things that make you uncomfortable; you will share stories with strangers; you will drink a lot of crappy coffee, you will be challenged mentally, emotionally, physically, and spirituality but these challenges must occur so you can overcome each one—eventually showing you just how strong you are.