There are many aspects of drug rehab that can be quite daunting to those considering it. Apart from detoxing and totally changing your lifestyle, inpatient treatment requires you to spend a significant amount of time away from your friends and family. Moreover, you’ll be exposed to an entirely new group of people, many of whom will be on the very same challenging journey of self-discovery. For some patients, this essential, social element seems overwhelming. The good news is that patient-to-patient interactions are structured in such a way as to be beneficial for everyone involved.
Following the detoxification and withdrawal process, patients set about the task of learning more about the underlying causes of their addictions, the best strategies for overcoming future temptation, and coping skills that they can use in a sustainable and healthful way over the long-term. Although one-on-one counseling is a key component of the overall treatment process, much of this learning will be accomplished in a group setting. As part of drug rehab, patients are commonly scheduled to take part in recurring group therapy sessions.
Group therapy allows patients to talk about their addictions and the trauma, behavioral conditioning, life events, mental health challenges, and other factors that lead to addiction. Often hosted once per day or several times per week in rehab settings, group therapy is excellent practice in socializing for those who struggle with this skill in the outside world. Moreover, given the camaraderie that frequently exists between people with similar struggles and histories, engaging in therapy within a group environment often makes clients more introspective, more prone to sharing, and better-primed for personal growth.
You Have The Ability To Determine Your Level Of Engagement In Drug Rehab
It is commonly understood that many people who struggle with substance use disorder also have secondary issues that make social engagement difficult. For instance, it is not uncommon for recovering addicts to struggle with anxiety. For this and many other reasons, patients in drug rehab are allowed to determine their level of engagement. Even when participating in group therapy sessions, people are never obligated to share their emotions or experiences. Instead, they can choose to do so when they’re absolutely ready to. When you participate in group therapy you can:
- Express your fears about the future
- Ask questions to benefit from the experiences of others
- Feel empathy for those with shared experiences and histories
- Learn how to set personal and social boundaries
- Identify the difference between healthful connections and those that might have an adverse impact on your recovery efforts
One very important thing to know about time spent in rehab is that your level of engagement can ultimately determine your rate of recovery. There are benefits in getting to know the people around you. In many cases, you will find that these are like-minded individuals with shared histories. At the very least, your goal of getting well and reclaiming control over your life will be the same. Learning to establish new and healthful connections, and actively practicing boundary-setting is a key part of maintaining a sober and sustainable lifestyle following treatment. The social skills that you develop on-campus, will greatly benefit you upon rejoining the far larger social arena.
It is also important to know that rehab is a very multi-pronged process. You will spend a significant amount of time socially connecting with others, but you will also spend a large portion of your time engaging in solitary activities that foster introspection. Not only is this a time for learning new social, boundary-setting, and coping skills, but it is also a process of active and diligent life-planning. After all, once your treatment is complete, you’ll need to have a solid strategy for keeping your life on track that includes feasible, sober living plans, career goals or other strategies for covering your living costs, and ongoing recovery support among many other things. As such, while socialization is key to getting well, it is only one part of a larger treatment plan for ensuring lasting and all-around success.
Many people are able to form lifelong friendships and connections while in rehab. The commonalities that patients share combined with their treatment experiences can foster amazing bonds. Best of all, friends who are committed to sobriety can function as excellent support systems throughout the decades. If you are ready to take control of your life and make drug addiction a thing of the past, we can help. Call us today at (440) 253-9915.
