Rehabilitation is never a smooth process. Being on the path to recovery is a tough decision to make and even harder to follow through. Being addicted to a given drug or other substance will most likely require the addict to attend rehabilitation sessions. However, the treatment process for addiction is plagued by five main challenges which, if not dealt with well, may make it ineffective. Luckily, the challenges can be overcome with the right steps.
- Completing the detoxification stage
The detoxification phase is the most difficult stage of the addiction treatment regime. That is because it is all about ridding the body of the substance one is addicted to. It is rife with withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, anxiety, sleepiness, sweating, lethargy, muscle spasms, depression, hypertension, feeling disoriented, panic attacks, difficulty in concentrating, headaches, and nausea. These withdrawal symptoms make it almost impossible to focus on the treatment regime.
- Addressing the basic treatment needs
The basic treatment needs of an addiction treatment program include the wellbeing of the patient in terms of their mental and psychological health, their health and nutrition, their social circles, and any responses in place to suicidal thoughts. Unless these are taken care of, it will be hard getting rid of the drugs found in the patient’s body. In most cases, an addict needs the intervention of various experts to fully help them get rid of the drugs from their system and live a full life.
- Tackling emotions during treatment
A successful addiction treatment requires handling the emotional part of the addict to prevent them from relapsing or entertaining suicidal thoughts. They need to understand their emotions and their relationship to the addiction; be free to express your thoughts to find solutions; develop the ability to handles stress without giving in to its pressure; and to master communication with others during tense periods.
- Handling relapse
Relapse is one of the main problems that dog successful rehabilitation programs. It happens that, after completing the rehab programs successfully, most former addicts may find themselves back into their old habits which gave addiction a chance in the first place. One should be ready to reach out for help if they see the risk of a relapse. Treatment should also not be skipped just because of a relapse. In this case, honesty with your social circle will help you in beating the relapse.
- Moving from treatment facility to home
At the treatment facility, it is all about the treatment. This makes it easy focus on the treatment and to achieve its goals. However, it is difficult having the same focus when one moves back home. At home, no one is watching over you, there is stress from life’s challenges and many other aspects that might undermine the success of abstaining from the drugs. However, with focus and honesty, one can live a healthy life that is free of drugs and any other substances once they are back home. If the treatment was done correctly, it will not be an issue keeping clean when out of the facility.
It is never an easy task to successfully complete an addiction treatment program. However, it does not mean that the individual should fear because with the right support network and the will to stop using drugs, one will be ready to start a new life free of any addictions.
Anna Leake is a health blogger that focuses on topics related to nutrition, fitness, and mental health. She was born in New York City but at age 6 moved to the Midwest where she spent her childhood exploring nature with friends and family. Anna graduated from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with degrees in psychology & human development.