You should be proud of yourself if you’ve made a choice to enter inpatient rehabilitation for drug or alcohol addiction. However, leaving your work, school, and family responsibilities behind for weeks or even a couple of months can be hard. Many people seeking intensive treatment for Substance Abuse Disorder (SAD) wonder how to prepare. At Hickory Treatment Centers, we understand this and have collected some tips to help you prepare for inpatient treatment and focus on your sobriety instead of other worries.
Tips For Getting Ready For Inpatient Rehab
Making sure you’ve arranged your responsibilities for work and family before you go can put you in a better frame of mind so you can focus on early sobriety.
Take care of work and family obligations
You may be worried about job security. However, it’s in an employer’s best interest to have a sober, happier, healthier, and more productive employee. You are protected under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which gives you up to 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave.
If you have young children, an elderly loved one, or pets that you’re a caregiver for, you need to arrange for them to be taken care of while you’re away. Ask your family and friends for help, or you may even look into temporary accommodations for your loved ones.
Address financial and legal loose ends
Arrange to pre-pay your bills or set up an autopay service so that you don’t have delinquent accounts. Or, a family member can pay your bills for you. If you have outstanding legal issues pending, then make sure that the court knows that you will be in rehab. Try to move your court date back, or ask about your other options.
Check your rehab center’s list of approved items
It can be tempting to bring many things that remind you of home and can help provide comfort when things get hard. When you stick to the essentials, you’ll be better off concentrating on what you need to focus on. Plus, many rehab centers will hold non-permitted items anyway.
Bring a journal and write letters
Writing in a journal can help you process the things that you’re learning in rehab. You may wish to take notes about what you’re learning, from ways to work through triggers to the information you’re learning about the nature of addiction. You may also wish to write letters to loved ones or people you may have hurt while you were using, even if you don’t plan to send them.
Take time to relax and meditate
You’re taking reasonable first steps to better your life. In the time before entering inpatient, take the time to be good to yourself. Perhaps schedule a massage or another form of self-care, or simply take time to go on a walk outdoors.
Start Preparing For Inpatient Treatment Today
Deciding to get help getting and staying sober can help change your life for the better. You’re making this decision to improve your life and your family relationships. Taking the right steps to prepare for inpatient rehab can help you get the most out of your inpatient experience. If you’re worried about your drug or alcohol use, we can help. Contact Hickory Treatment Centers today for a confidential assessment of your situation and to discuss treatment options.
Baystate Recovery Center, a clinically Infused 12-Step Treatment Center for Drug and Alcohol Addiction, was founded by two partners in addiction treatment services, John Checchi and Michael Wilson.
