When it comes to treatment for addiction, your attitude will play a huge role in how successful you are. You have to be committed to the programme to get the most out of it, and you cannot simply rely on the expertise and knowledge of the counsellors and therapists at the treatment facility.
Unless you are ready to make a change and want to overcome your addiction, even the best programme in the world cannot help you. It is your responsibility to make recovery a reality, and if you do want to get better, then it is time to put in the effort.
Making Treatment Work for You
If you are ready for rehab and want it to be successful, there are a number of things you can do to make it work for you. The most important thing is to be willing, open and honest in your approach to every part of your treatment. Be ready to make the changes necessary for recovery and be completely honest with your counsellors and therapists.
Denial is a very common occurrence in addiction, but if you want to make recovery work, you have to get rid of this attitude. You cannot bury your head in the sand when it comes to your past, as this is more than likely the key to your addictive behaviour. Identifying the cause of your addiction is something your counsellors will want to work on with you, so be open about your past and be ready to deal with any issues that arise.
It may be a good idea to sit down and write a life history, starting from when you were a small child. You do not have to share this with anyone else if you do not want to, but it may give you some clues as to when and where your addictive behaviour began.
Act Like a Sponge
Group therapy sessions are immensely beneficial to those in recovery. Learn from others and listen carefully to what they have to say. Even if you believe that the topic does not relate to your problems, listen closely because what you may hear could be the catalyst to help you get your life back on track. Even if the topic does not directly relate to you, what is being said could prove to be a big turning point.
Share with Others
Some people are reluctant to share their stories with strangers and they could be hesitant to open up, but the truth is that this approach has proven time and again to be therapeutic. Those who do share their stories often talk about having a weight lifted from their shoulders. Sharing helps when it comes to healing your brain, and it can help to prevent compulsions to revert to addictive behaviours.
Join a Fellowship Group
Many rehabilitation clinics will use 12-step work as part of their treatment programme and staff may encourage you to attend a fellowship group. This is an excellent idea and one that you should definitely consider, even if it is not a part of your treatment programme. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have helped millions of people around the world to maintain their sobriety after rehab and recovering addicts often attend meetings on a regular basis for the rest of their lives.
Remember That Recovery is a Long Process
Patience is crucial when it comes to recovery from addiction. It is not something that will happen overnight, and the sooner you realise this the sooner you can learn to get the most from your treatment. Unrealistic expectations can hamper progress, so be prepared to put in the effort and take it one day at a time.