Daily Life in a Residential Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Center

Not knowing what to expect when considering a residential inpatient substance abuse treatment center can lead many people who are suffering from addiction or alcoholism to put off getting help for another day. However, that one day could literally mean the difference between life and death, and any apprehension about getting treatment is usually unjustified. Inpatient treatment is actually very individual-based and is designed to help a person discover tools and resources for sobriety in a way that addresses their unique situation. Learning about the daily activities in an inpatient program can be extremely helpful to anyone considering getting help for drug addiction.

A true inpatient center is one where the patients both live and receive treatment in the same place. The best and most successful inpatient substance abuse treatment centers – such as Recovery First’s Drug Rehab in Florida – practice “reality based therapy.” This means that patients will live a life as similar to the outside world as possible while still being isolated from dangerous risk factors and environments. Patients in this type of program will prepare and eat meals, perform chores and general upkeep, go shopping and take care of their personal hygiene. Most of these activities are scheduled in order to allow for the maximum amount of therapy possible.

In addition to reality based therapy, an inpatient substance abuse treatment facility places a primary focus on other types of therapies – especially group and family therapies. Group therapies generally involve all the patients and a counselor or two for moderation. These groups focus on issues that cause people to use and how to prevent relapse from occurring. Participation is required in order to get the most from these sessions where patients often learn a great deal from each other’s experiences. Group therapy is generally held several times each day, often focusing on different topics, including medication management and management of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome.

Family therapy sessions are usually held once or twice per week. These sessions consist of the people who are closest to the addict, such as a spouse or parent, and an addiction expert for facilitation purposes. Family therapy often helps a person to gain an outside perspective – a necessary part of taking responsibility for their own recovery. For people who wish to get help at a rehab outside of their home state in order to avoid environmental threats to recovery, family therapy sessions can be conducted by telephone or video conference.

Individual therapy is a major part of daily life in an inpatient substance abuse treatment center. Patients are grouped with a compatible counselor who will help them to explore the reasons why they used drugs or alcohol and help develop new strategies and techniques for dealing with those triggers. Individual therapy can also help to diagnose and treat any underlying conditions such as bipolar disorder or chronic panic disorder.

Daily life in a residential inpatient program isn’t all work – patients will also sometimes take part in group events and social outings together in order to help expose them to situations similar to what they will encounter when they return to their respective communities. This is an extension of reality based therapy and helps to develop trust between members of the patient group and staff. This trust is essential to helping people be honest with others – and with themselves – about their drug use and commitment to recovery.

If you have questions about inpatient substance abuse treatment, please call us now. Our professional addiction experts are available to speak with you 24 hours per day in order to help you get the right information, right now.

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Recovery First is located in Hollywood, Florida, which is easily accessible from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Our small groups means you get more one-on-one support and make stronger connections with the community. Take the next step toward recovery: learn more about our addiction treatment programs near Florida's Atlantic coast or learn about how rehab is affordable for everyone.