Going to rehab isn’t just a vacation. The patient walks in with addiction and walks out clean. They also walk out with newfound knowledge that will help them on the road to recovery and the road to success. In some cases, rehabilitation teaches people things that other people take a lifetime to learn. Here are the 7 most important things patients learn at alcohol rehab.
1. To admit fault
Many addicts struggle with personal accountability. They want to blame their actions on childhood woes and other people in their lives instead of seeing it as their own personal decision. In rehab, they will learn that they are responsible for their actions and the consequences of those actions. Taking responsibility will prevent them from blaming someone else for their addiction and bad decisions.
2. To forgive themselves
Once a person admits their faults, it can weigh on them heavily. It can leave them with an overwhelming sense of guilt. After they take responsibility, the patient will learn to forgive themselves for past wrongdoings. At first, it might take a long time for the patient to understand that they even deserve forgiveness. After they forgive themselves, they will allow other people to forgive them, too.
3. Cause of alcoholism
There are a lot of things that can cause alcoholism. Some people have parents who are alcoholics. It is even thought that there could be a gene that predetermines someone to alcoholism. Other people grew up in an alcoholic household. They learn behavior from the people around them. Others find that they drink to escape from severe mental disorders that keep them depressed or anxious. Generally speaking, it’s usually a combination of a number of causes.
In rehab, patients will explore their past in group and one-on-one therapy. While exploring their past, it can explain certain things. While this is not an excuse for bad decisions, it can help the individual pinpoint any triggers that might encourage them to drink again.
4. Better communication
Patients do a lot of talking in rehab. They need to talk about their personal story. They also have to talk about their feelings. Many people who struggled with communication skill walk out with a better ability to talk to others. This may help the patient express themselves when they feel cravings or feel tempted by the behavior of others. Being able to express these things can help them get the help they need instead of relapsing. They can also learn how to talk to loved ones properly and mend relationships that might have been damaged by previous alcoholic behavior.
5. Strength
Alcoholism can make people feel weak. They may feel helpless to a bottle. However, rehab will remind them exactly how strong they are. They will work with therapists to gain control over themselves. When a person gets this sense of strength, they will be better apt to say no in the face of temptation.
6. Coping mechanisms
Many people use alcohol to cope with the difficult parts of life. People will drink after a hard day of work, fights with family, or mental disorder. While alcohol helps for a little while, it ultimately makes things worse. In rehab, patients learn better ways to handle these bad situations and emotions. Instead of drinking, a patient may learn to build model airplanes, paint, cook, or listen to music. When they take these skills to the real world, alcohol won’t be the main way to cope anymore. This is a lesson that someone will use for the rest of their lives.
7. To be happy
Being depressed is a main cause of alcoholism. Most rehab centers focus on the happiness of the patient to help prevent them from drinking again. Rehab can be surprisingly uplifting and inspirational. There are also therapists on-site for people with real mental health issues. If a patient needs therapy or medication to help make them happy again, the resources are there.
People walk out of rehab as new people. While in rehab, they spend the time focusing on the things they’ve done wrong and how to adjust to the real world again. With these valuable lessons in place, they can become a productive and useful member of society again. Call one of our counselors today at (440) 253-9915.
