Debunking Rehab Myths
When you have a dependence or addiction that’s not allowing you to function optimally in life, it can be a confusing process to figure out how to help yourself. Rehab is a solution that many people often struggle with, and it can leave you with more questions than answers.
Is there somebody whom you know, has talked to you about wanting to go to a rehabilitation centre? You might have wondered about which one to go to that suits your budget and requirements. This article aims to provide clarity for those who are seeking the best possible treatment for their situation.
For people who are not aware of what exactly rehab is, this is something you must read. It is no surprise that during addiction, a person feels a surge in the “happy or feed good” hormones. Complex brain patterns of adaptation to addiction make it impossible for one to just get over it through mere willpower. This is where a Rehabilitation centre becomes the only resort. At a Rehab centre, a team of experienced doctors and psychotherapists work with a patient and help him or her to overcome it. Not only can a patient feel free to share everything and not feel judged, but he or she is also made to adhere to systematic approaches to control compulsions of any kind. It works on the safme principle of “I versus we” and through a collective positive approach commendable sobriety can be achieved. A 360-degree approach to the issue and the root cause analysis is made to know the exact reason for a current addiction pattern and abuse. Care is also taken to educate the family or guardian of the patient to help keep track of his or her behaviour once out of the centre. Additional attention to dealing with relapses is also part of a rehab centre’s agenda.
Addiction and its types
Let us also hover around the various kinds of addiction. Addiction can be categorized into many subtypes. One of the most known addictions is substance abuse that includes addiction to drugs and alcohol. Few other types of addiction that people just pass off as a “habit” not knowing its serious impacts are gambling, smoking, and tobacco addiction, stock market trading, playing poker, watching pornography sites, etc. The latest entrant in this list is social media addiction and this is no longer a thing of banter. Some more serious types of co-occurring psychiatric disorders few of which can be classified as addiction are depression, OCD, anxiety, and eating disorders. The one thing that binds all these is the feeling of escapism or the surge of “happy hormones” when one indulges in any kind of addiction or compulsion, and hence later the human system gets adapted to it inadvertently. Science says that whenever a habit starts forming, a pattern is formed in the basal ganglia of the brain which recognizes that consuming a certain substance boosts up dopamine and serotonin in the body which are the happy hormones. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans are addicted to substance abuse and the top two drugs are cocaine and marijuana and this is an alarming figure.
Treatment options and what to expect
Depending on the type of addiction, various result bases therapies have been practiced throughout the years and have benefitted many patients. During the first phase of treatment, talk therapy is done to understand a patient’s complete physical and mental health. Based on the varying levels of toxicity in the physical body, a detox program is implemented. During the detox program, patients are either asked to completely abstain or partially abstain from the addiction or compulsion. Needless to say, many patients experience withdrawal symptoms, and the experienced doctors and psychotherapists help them cope up with the symptoms towards a better-controlled existence. Some well-known treatments like Cognitive behavioural therapy, Dialectical behaviour therapy, Contingency management therapy, and recreational therapy helps to change the thought process of the patients when encountering emotions related to certain addictions or compulsions. Since each person’s response to therapies and treatments is different for varying levels and duration, the length of therapy varies. Many times, due to the lack of a supporting family, an individual may not recognize the pits of addiction. A rehab centre also mentors and coaches the family of the affected to be more empathetic and help the patient recover faster and maintain a new lifestyle once back home. A team of well-rounded staff, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and psychotherapists stand hand in hand to help a patient overcome a particular addiction or behaviour that is detrimental to one’s growth. No wonder the success rate of overcoming an addiction or disorder is higher at a Rehab centre rather than at one’s home.
Pre-Preparations for going to a Rehab Centre
Thanks to many celebrities and social media influencers, people are slowly opening to admitting that they have a problem. Be it an addiction or psychiatric disorder, the stigma is reducing, and thereby inclusion is increasing. If you have decided to get admitted to a rehab centre, it is advised to consult with your family and near and dear ones. If you have a job, you can take a sabbatical and then return once you address a particular issue and uproot it. Your previous medical history and behavioural history should be presented to the Rehab centre at all costs. If you have long-term commitments, kindly postpone them to a later date as most rehab therapies last for about 6 weeks or longer. It is also advisable to stay away from the phone or the internet for the brain and the body to abstain from any kind of stress or strain. Most importantly, inform your confidants, not necessarily family, so that they too understand your changed lifestyle once you are back and not be a party to your relapse. Last but not the least, believe that you will overcome whatever you are dealing with, with the guidance of experienced staff.
The verse “Ask and you shall receive” is very apt when you identify a problem and seek help to overcome that. Collective willpower, powered by holistic systems and techniques goes a long way in registering new patterns and habits in the brain which is meant for your better living. Choose the better living right away,
