Overcoming the Fear of Drug Rehab

Drug rehab can seem frightening to people who have yet to seek treatment, but it is one of the most rewarding experiences for people with substance abuse problems. Clinical drug rehab has helped thousands of addicts make lasting recoveries, and fear of the unknown should not keep others from getting the help they need. While it is true that treatment can be difficult, even the most painful aspects of the recovery process are not nearly as frightening as the prospect of continuing a life of active drug abuse. In order for addicts to overcome their fears and reap the benefits of clinical therapy, they need to understand the methods used during drug rehab.

Detoxification

Detox may be the scariest part of drug addiction treatment – possibly because it is the component most commonly portrayed in movies and television programs. Through a simple one to two-week process of drug deprivation, addicts are relieved of their immediate physical compulsions to use drugs or alcohol.

The difficulty of detox is in the painful withdrawal symptoms most addicts experience. Rehab patients usually suffer from short-term bouts of nausea, headaches, depression, and a host of other physical and mental symptoms. However, rehab clinicians help their patients endure these effects with medications, additional counseling, and emotional support.

Counseling

Various counseling sessions make up the bulk of the therapies addicts receive during drug rehab. For most patients, one-on-one counseling with trained addiction counselors is the most effective treatment. Addicts uncover the root causes of their addictions to learn why they used drugs in the first place – and how they can prevent themselves from doing so in the future.

Still, some addicts make their biggest personal breakthroughs during group counseling with other rehab patients. People with a variety of addictions and life circumstances come together to discuss their problems and share strategies for dealing with cravings. They may feel more at ease “opening up” emotionally in a group of like-minded people than with a single counselor.

It is true that counseling can be an emotionally painful experience. To fully address the underlying causes of their addictions, addicts must explore deep-seated personal issues and come to terms with their flaws. However, this temporary emotional pain is worth the reward of lasting sobriety. Patients who are willing to be honest with themselves and others emerge from drug rehab with positive outlooks and effective strategies for staying clean.

Reality Therapy

Some addicts make incredible progress during clinical treatment but fear returning to the outside world. They worry that they will not be able to manage stress and stay sober once they encounter compromising situations in an unsupervised environment.

To relieve these people’s fears and help them stay sober in the outside world, addiction specialists use reality-based therapies. These treatments are designed to help addicts recognize the differences between situations they can and cannot control. When they understand these differences, they become empowered to use the correct coping strategies for specific situations.

Reality therapy also involves the mimicking of real-world environments for inpatients. People who live at their clinics have access to the same facilities they do in their day-to-day lives, and they perform daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and even shopping. By receiving treatment in a familiar environment, these patients are able to make smooth transitions into their new, drug-free lives.

If you have been struggling with a drug problem, don’t lose hope. Addiction can seem like an all-consuming disease, but you can get better through clinical treatment. Call the number at the top of your screen now for a toll-free consultation, and get started on a drug rehab program that’s right for you.