Preparing for Addiction Treatment: A Complete Guide
Making the decision to seek addiction treatment can be life-changing, and you may feel eager to start your recovery journey. At the same time, you may feel anxious about putting your life on hold for rehab, and you may be worried that your responsibilities will be neglected. The best way to ease these concerns is to properly prepare yourself for rehab.
Getting Your Affairs in Order
You may want to get your personal, social, and work obligations in order before you are admitted to a residential treatment program. When preparing for rehab, be sure to:
Set Your Bills to Autopay
Your regular monthly bills such as car insurance, health insurance, electricity, water and sewer, internet, credit card payments, and debts may not be able to be put on hold while you go to rehab. And, failing to make your payments on time can lead to late fees and penalties that plague you after rehab.
Save yourself the money and the hassle by setting up automatic bill payments. If autopay is unavailable, ask a trusted loved one to take care of your bill payments for you while you’re away.
Notify Your Workplace
Let your boss and your coworkers know that you will be taking some time away from work. You may not have to disclose why, but you do have to notify them or else risk losing your job. If you are taking Family and Medical Leave, you may have to fill out some paperwork, as well.
Tell Your Family
You may feel embarrassed or ashamed about telling your family and loved ones about your addiction, but those who love you want the best for you. Your loved ones will be happy that you are choosing to get help, and are more than likely going to be supportive of your journey. Plus, if you don’t tell them that you’re going to rehab, they may worry about where you are, and they won’t have the opportunity to support you.
Take time to sit down with the people closest to you to let them know you’re going to rehab. Tell them where you are going, how they can reach you, and when you expect to be discharged.
Arrange Childcare and Petcare
If you have children or pets you may need to arrange care for them while you are gone. Most addiction treatment centers do not provide childcare or pet care.
Childcare may vary based on your situation, but you may need to hire a part-time babysitter or ask a trusted family member or friend to take care of your child for you during rehab. As for pet care, you can find a pet sitter on a pet-sitting app, board your pet at a local boarding facility, or ask a loved one to watch them for you.
Notify Attorneys or Court Systems
If you are currently on parole or probation or are involved in any pending court cases, you must notify the appropriate individuals of your desire to go to rehab. Failing to show up for probation meetings or court dates can land you in jail or with severe financial penalties. Tell the appropriate individual(s) when you are going to rehab, where you are going, and how you can be reached.
Get Rid of Drugs and Alcohol in the Home
If possible, dispose of any drugs or alcohol that remain in the home. You should also get rid of any drug paraphernalia that may be triggering for you. If you can remove these items from your home, you can save yourself some trouble when you get back from rehab. Don’t hesitate to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you with this step if you need to.
Mentally Preparing for Rehab
After you get all of your workplace, social, and familial affairs in order, you can benefit from taking time to mentally and emotionally prepare yourself. Going to rehab takes a lot of courage, and getting sober is not easy. You have a long road of therapy and healing ahead of you, and not knowing what the future holds can be scary. It’s important to recognize that the different emotions that you feel are completely normal. It’s also important to be gentle with yourself.
There are many ways you can mentally prepare to go to rehab, such as:
- Spending extra time with family and friends – While your loved ones may be able to visit you during rehab, your time spent with them may be limited. Spending time with loved ones can boost your morale, keep you busy, and help you feel supported as you embark on your sober journey.
- Avoiding binges – You may be tempted to binge on drugs or alcohol because you know you are about to give them up completely, but you should avoid doing this. Binging can make detox more painful and long-lasting. It can also be dangerous to your health because binges are more likely to result in an overdose.
- Remembering the positives – When you are going through such big life changes, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the negatives. You may find it hard to picture yourself staying sober or feel as though you’re losing more than you’re going to gain. However, it can be mentally and emotionally beneficial to focus on the positives. You’re going to be sober, healthier, and happier. You will be more financially stable and available to the ones that you love. Once you’re sober, your life will get better! Remember, you won’t feel this way forever.
- Practicing self-care – One of the best things you can do to prepare yourself for rehab is to take some time for self-care. Self-care can look like reading a book, eating your favorite meal, taking a bubble bath, or visiting your favorite park. Regardless of what self-care looks like for you, be sure to do something that brings you joy.
Packing for Rehab
Knowing that you’ve packed appropriately and have everything that you may need can bring you peace of mind while preparing for rehab. Keep in mind that you will have limited space and will only need to bring the essentials.
Essentials that you should be sure to pack include:
- Weather-appropriate clothing (enough for one week)
- Comfortable shoes
- Any prescription medications you are taking (must be in their original bottle with the prescription label in-tact)
- Your health insurance card and ID
- Personal hygiene and grooming products
- Contact information of loved ones
Certain items, such as electronics, food and drink, aerosols, and weapons may be prohibited.
Start Your Addiction Recovery Journey Today
Arise Treatment Center’s dedicated admissions coordinators can answer any questions you may have about preparing for rehab or the addiction treatment process. Our commitment to you is to help you overcome the various barriers that may complicate your treatment by creating unique solutions that work for you. No matter the time of day, our team is here to assist. Contact us today to get started.
