Not all experiences at an alcohol rehabilitation facility will be pleasant. Some will test your determination to break free from your addiction. In this article, we will take a look at six of the worst experiences recovering alcoholics go through in rehab.
These experiences may sound tough, but don’t let them deter you from getting treatment. Instead, use the information to gain a clearer insight into long-term addiction recovery. And don’t worry—rehab professionals will be by your side in every step of your recovery journey. If you’re a loved one, use this to better understand what your recovering family member is going through.
6 of the Worst Challenges People Face in Addiction Recovery
While these aren’t the only possible experiences you have in an alcohol rehab, they are the most common.
1. Alcohol Withdrawal
Part of alcohol addiction treatment is detoxification, or getting rid of toxins in the body. An alcoholic must stop consuming alcohol. As alcoholics stop drinking, their bodies will go through withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Mild symptoms include headaches, shaky hands, mild anxiety, etc. More serious symptoms include hallucinations, heavy sweating, and seizures. The worst of all the symptoms is delirium tremens (DTs) because a person can die from it without appropriate treatment. It has an expected mortality of up to 37%. That’s why it is not recommended to detox at home without medical professional supervision.
Alcohol withdrawal is one of the most uncomfortable, unpleasant, and dangerous experiences an alcoholic may go through in a rehab. To lighten the experience even a bit, Hills & Ranges Private Rehabilitation Centre provides the client an ideal place for recovery, a positive and supportive environment, and healthy food. Additionally, the patient will be under constant monitoring to ensure their safety and comfort.
2. Needing to Rediscover Yourself
Most people who struggle with alcohol addiction lose touch with themselves. You may barely remember what your interests and hobbies were before the addiction set in and might not know what to do with your time without alcohol.
In rehabilitation, you’ll have to give up the identity built by addiction and rediscover yourself. And it can be a frustrating and challenging experience. It can even be scary. Still, you must face yourself as you are, flaws and all. You may need to confront the uncomfortable feelings you might be running from.
When you start your journey to self-discovery at the HARP rehabilitation centre, you can count on the facility’s professionals and staff to have your back at all times. The team provides support while you rediscover yourself.
3. Coping With Trauma and Other Issues Without Alcohol
Many recovering alcoholics use alcohol as a crutch to deal with their trauma, challenging life events, and difficult emotions. In short, alcohol addiction serves as a coping mechanism for many alcoholics. Alcohol provides a temporary respite from everyday life and reality and can enhance pleasure while decreasing inhibitions.
During rehabilitation, alcoholics will have to deal with the trauma and other issues without alcohol, which can be challenging. Confronting and addressing the deep-seated issues that have contributed to your addiction is never easy. It will take a lot of time, effort, and courage.
Rehab professionals help people explore and address the driving force behind their alcohol addiction and learn new, healthy coping strategies. Common methods used include group therapy, family therapy, and trauma therapy. Hills & Ranges Rehabilitation Centre provides individual counselling to struggling alcoholics to protect their privacy.
4. Coping With Cravings
Cravings for alcohol will come, usually in the early part of your addiction recovery journey. It is normal since your body and brain have become conditioned and dependent on alcohol. Nevertheless, having cravings remains one of the most challenging parts of being in the rehabilitation centre. It can be extremely distracting and unnerving.
The good news is there are ways to handle those urges to drink. Alongside the help of rehabilitation professionals and counsellors, you can successfully work through and manage your cravings. They will provide you with relevant tools and strategies so you don’t succumb to your cravings.
5. Boredom
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For some recovering alcoholics, boredom is the worst part of staying in a rehab. Rehabilitation centres prohibit or limit the use of smartphones or anything that can distract a person in recovery. You may also have to sit through the 12-step meetings, listening to people’s stories that sound the same. However, those are not the possible reasons for boredom in a rehabilitation centre.
Boredom can also result from not drinking. After consuming alcohol for a long time, the brain becomes accustomed to artificially high dopamine levels. When you stop using alcohol, everyday actions may seem much less exciting and rewarding due to the lower dopamine levels.
Feeling bored in rehab may seem like a benign issue, but it can jeopardize recovery and lead to a relapse. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to overcome boredom. At the HARP rehabilitation centre, you can engage in various activities like hiking, cooking, and water sports. The facility offers these activities as part of the holistic approach to recovery. And every day, clients have a brief opportunity to connect with their loved ones and tend to their responsibilities.
6. Loss of Independence and Control
The loss of independence and control is also a common challenge for patients in rehab. For example, rehabilitation facilities have very strict policies about what you can bring to treatment. Obviously, you’re not allowed to bring alcohol. However, a rehab centre’s admissions team will inspect your belongings to ensure that no prohibited items are brought in, and some clients are not comfortable with this.
Additionally, residential treatment centres require clients to follow a highly structured program. These programs usually allow clients to be fully engaged in their treatment, with limited downtime during the day. While these may make you feel like you’ve lost control, they will be helpful over the long run.
Experience Elite Care From Professionals with Delicate Hearts at HARP
Alcohol addiction recovery is not a walk in the park. It comes with its difficulties, but having an experienced, qualified, and compassionate team of rehabilitation experts like HARP on your side makes all the difference in your addiction recovery struggles. HARP offers elite care, ensuring your comfort and safety during your recovery.
