Seeking help for your addiction is an amazing first step, but that’s just the first step. Staying in recovery is the most difficult next step, and the next and the next. Each day can (and will) be a struggle when all you want to do is just go back to the alcohol or drug of your choice.
Why do people want to leave rehab before completion?
There are so many things you need to get right to continue staying sober: creating a healthy routine that works, collecting a toolbox of strategies, developing coping mechanisms for times you need them, maintaining a set of habits that kick in daily, learning to communicate honestly, gaining the trust of your loved ones again, and the list goes on. All of these take time to learn, so in the meantime you may want to self-sabotage the recovery plan you laid out for yourself. All of these things are what we help our clients learn when they enroll in our treatment programs, so treat yourself with some respect and compassion and stay on the path of recovery you choose for yourself.
When is it too soon to leave rehab?
The most effective rehab treatment is not just detoxing but the one that helps you stay sober for the long term. Studies have consistently shown that long term treatment plans are more effective for long term recovery. Each individual responds differently, so we provide individualized treatment plans for all our clients, based on the assessment that our experienced staff performs, but we have seen that treatment plans that are 90 – 120 days are typically the most effective ones.
If you are trying to leave rehab without completing your treatment plan you’re probably leaving too soon. If you leave rehab within the first week, you are definitely leaving too soon. In some cases where the patient has successfully completed their medical and psychiatric evaluation and has their withdrawal symptoms in control, and has had some therapy, it can provide a strong foundation to be able to continue on your sober journey on your own. But in most cases, long term rehab is essential to overcome the disease of addiction and to rewire your brain to live an independent sober life.
What is the best approach to rehab?
In our experience, we have seen that the best approach for most of our patients is to complete their detox successfully, and then enroll themselves in one of our treatment plans that include transitions into different levels of care, based on your progress. Most of our patients benefit from going into Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) after detox as a step down transition phase. For those who don’t need as much supervision but still need support, they can transition into Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) where they get all the benefits of treatment while still learning to become independent in the world outside. Lastly, we continue to support our clients during Outpatient Program so they can rely on us for support while they start living sober lives on their own. We have found that this step-by-step transition approach is ideal for our clients to gain confidence while they make progress.
Interested to learn more? Call us. 865-800-0947
