What is Rehab Like In Norman, Oklahoma
Entering a drug or alcohol treatment center is one of the most effective ways to get relief from the pain of addiction. However, deciding to take that first step can be frightening.
The unknown can be scary, but many people just like you have found rehab to be a safe place to recover from alcoholism or drug addiction. In rehab, you are surrounded by professionals who can guide you through the physical issues of withdrawal and abstinence. You are also with others going through the same ordeal as you.
If you are wondering, ‘what is rehab like in Norman, Oklahoma’, rest assured that there are many treatment options available that are suitable to your individual circumstances.
Here is a list of six important things to know about rehab.
1. Detoxification
If you are addicted to alcohol or drugs, quitting cold turkey can be dangerous. Not only is trying to stop on your own all at once frequently ineffective, but it can also cause serious physiological and psychological issues. These can include depression anxiety, nightmares, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, tremors, seizures, and delirium.
Going into treatment will allow you to go through detox under medical supervision. This may happen in the same facility as longer-term rehab or a separate one.
You will be monitored by doctors who can prescribe the necessary medications to lessen the painful side effects and make sure you are eating and sleeping properly. You will also be removed from all temptations because going through detox can be so excruciating that many people will go out and use to simply feel better from the pain of withdrawal.
2. Residential Treatment
If you are considering going into rehab in Norman, Oklahoma or elsewhere, there are many different approaches you can choose. Inpatient treatment is often recommended for people with serious dependency problems and is administered in a medical facility like a hospital.
More physicians are recommending residential treatment, where a patient will undergo detox and then move to a facility where they will live full time for anywhere between 28 days to several months or more.
You will reside in a house with other people in recovery; you will probably have a roommate and you may be expected to share chores like cooking and housecleaning. Your physical condition and medications will be carefully monitored. You will attend individual, family and group counseling sessions and possibly twelve-step meetings.
Residential treatment is aimed at helping alcoholics and addicts learn how to cope with life outside of its walls. However, not everyone can remove themselves from daily life for a month or more.
3. Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment is an alternative for parents with small children or others dependent on their care. It is also suitable for people who cannot take that much time off from their jobs or school.
Outpatients will go to a doctor’s office or facility every day after work for a specific period of time and undergo intensive therapies like individual and group counseling sessions. They can then return home to sleep and spend time with their families.
Outpatient treatment may be convenient for some, but it does not remove the addict from many of the pressures and temptations they encountered before entering recovery.
4. Individual and Family Counseling
Once the agony of withdrawal is over, rehab patients focus on examining the reasons that brought them into treatment. Most rehabs offer different kinds of therapies intended to help patients understand why they turned to drugs and alcohol in the first place.
Under the guidance of a licensed therapist, a patient may analyze their past traumas or family history of addiction. If family members are involved and willing, they may be asked to attend sessions with the patient. Because addiction is considered a family disease, often every member of the family benefits from treatment when one person goes into recovery.
In order to return to life as it was before substances took over, patients must work on learning how to handle stress, disappointment and fears without turning to drugs and booze. The therapy given in rehab sets the foundation for a lifetime of learning how to live sober.
5. Peer Support
One of the most effective components to both in- and outpatient treatment is the support of others in the program. Almost all treatments emphasize that recovery cannot be achieved alone: patients learn how to trust each other and work together to stay clean.
Group therapies and twelve-step meetings encourage the camaraderie of other addicts and alcoholics. Few understand the pain of addiction like those who have been through it.
Of course, living with a group of others going through this painful process can create tensions. Part of rehab is learning in a safe setting how to cope with the natural issues that arise between human beings. You can then take the coping skills you acquire in rehab and apply them to your family, friends, and co-workers.
Many people who have been to rehab consider the people they met there some of their dearest, lifelong friends.
6. Life Skills
People who have been taking drugs or drinking for years have often given up on life’s basic obligations. They may have let bills go unpaid and homes fall apart, in addition to letting down family, co-workers, and friends.
Rehab educates patients on how to put the pieces together in a life destroyed by drug or alcohol abuse. You may learn how to go on a job interview, and handle questions about your record. You may even learn practical skills like cooking or computers which can help you get a job.
7. Ongoing Support Services
In addition to forging lifelong friendships, rehab provides you with a plan for living once you move beyond its walls. Often facilities will provide guidance on what to do after you leave, including check-ups and status calls where you can let your counselors know how it’s going and get extra support if necessary.
Many patients return to their rehabs to give back to the place where they found relief. They sometimes speak with current patients about how rehab changed their lives.
Because addiction is a disease of relapse, some patients do find the need to return to rehab for more treatment. You can always go back to your original rehab or find another program which may be more effective for you.
What Is Rehab Like in Norman, Oklahoma? For Many, It is the Answer to a Better Life
If you are struggling with a drug or alcohol dependency, you do not have to do it alone. There is help available.
Don’t let wondering “what is rehab like in Norman, Oklahoma?” stop you from picking up the phone or reaching out. Check out our blog for advice on how to get and stay sober.