Loved One Going to Rehab? Here’s What to Expect

Knowing what to expect from your loved one and from his rehab treatment can help you have peace of mind and be prepared. It can also help you to become better-equipped support system for your loved one to help him stay on track in his recovery, even long after he finishes his stint in rehab.

Do you have a loved one or family member who is going to rehab to treat their drug, alcohol or behavioral addiction? Well, if you’re reading this article, the answer would probably be “yes.”

Source: rehabilitation-center.org

While you may be happy and relieved that your loved one is finally getting the help that he needs, there may also be a mix of other feelings such as sadness, worry, anger, and uncertainty. You may have a lot of worries plaguing you and you wonder how things will go for your loved one once he enters rehab.

The first thing you should know is that addiction is a complex disease that affects families and other people around them. Treatment can be difficult and arduous, and there will be times when you would doubt your decisions. The second thing you should know is that you should be adequately equipped with the right knowledge so that you know what to expect before, during, and after addiction rehab. This allows you to be the best support group for your loved one, and to help him stay on the road to recovery.

What to expect before treatment

Before your loved one enters rehab, you may want to do the following:

• Keep him in a secured place
• Hide all alcohol and possible drug paraphernalia
• Hide valuables and money
• If possible, refrain from drinking around him
• Keep in contact with the rehab specialist or treatment staff

When the time comes that he has to go to the treatment facility, be sure to arrange a safe means of transportation.Also keep in mind that resistance from your loved one is also possible. They may try many forms of manipulation, or even threaten you so that they will not go to the facility.

Bridges of Hope offers retrieval services for your loved ones for secure transport.

What to Expect During Rehab

Addiction treatment is a process that involves several different components and phases. Your cooperation and support is essential all throughout, even as your loved one’s treatment lasts for more than 6 months to even over a year, for many facilities. While the kind of treatment is tailored to your loved one, the length of treatment depends on the severity of his addiction, the types of drugs he was abusing, and if he has underlying physical and/or mental conditions.

Part of his treatment plan may include:

1. Medically supervised detox. At Bridges of Hope, detox can be risky and uncomfortable for those who have addiction to alcohol and certain drugs. A medically supervised detox allows him to gradually withdraw from the substances without posing a risk to his health. At the same time, this period allows him to physically and mentally recuperate.
2. Therapy and counseling. These activities will allow him to address and overcome the psychological and behavioral aspects of his addiction. This allows him to explore any underlying issues he may have and overcome them.
3. Teaching of essential life, coping, and recovery skills. It is also important for him to learn essential life and coping skills that can help carry him through even after rehab.
4. Aftercare. Since he is vulnerable to relapse during the first few months after treatment, it is important that he goes through relapse-prevention and aftercare.

What to Expect After Treatment

Understand that the real work begins after your loved one leaves rehab. At this point, he may experience a mix of different feelings, such as alienation, depression, anxiety, anger, and many more. It is important that you provide a healthy support system for him so that he can continue to work on his program and apply everything he has learned from rehab.

It is important that you continue to encourage your loved one while still holding them accountable for their own actions. Have a plan of what to do to him or what he will commit to in the event that he relapses.

Do you have a family member who is struggling with addiction or has already relapsed after treatment? Call or text us for help at our confidential helpline: 09175098826.