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10 Myths about Rehabilitation centers

Changing your lifestyle and learning how to deal with life in recovery.

By Julie Jerlin JPublished about a year ago 6 min read
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Rehabilitation centers are a popular choice for those who want to recover from drug addiction and other alcohol-related problems. However, many people still have misconceptions about rehab centers that can prevent them from getting the help they need in recovery. Here are ten common myths about rehab.

Rehabilitation centers are not a jail

Rehabilitation centers are not jails. They're places where people with addiction can get help, and they're not prisons. People who go to rehab centers are not criminals. Rehabilitation centers are not punishment for a crime that someone has committed. It's not like you are being sent away because of your actions or any other reason at all.

Rehabilitation centers aren't just about treating drug abuse. They also offer other services such as counselling and education programs so that the person can live a healthy life after leaving the facility.

Rehabilitation centers are not "locked down" facilities like prisons. Most people who go to rehab centers aren't even under arrest when they are admitted. They are simply in need of help and treatment. Rehabilitation centers don't have guard towers and barbed wire fences. They are just regular buildings with regular rooms and facilities.

No check-out when you want

There’s no such thing as a “check-out” protocol in rehab. It’s not like you can walk out of your treatment program and check into another one somewhere else.

If you leave the building, it means that you are ready for something better outside of the facility and need more help than what is provided by any single facility or organization.

It may be tempting to leave early (or late), but this will only hurt you. When people do this they often end up relapsing on drugs again or entering into new addictions like alcohol or sex addiction because they weren't ready for recovery at all!

No overnight recovery

Rehabilitation is a process, not a destination. You can't get clean and sober overnight, or even in 30 days. Rehab is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time and effort to change your habits and improve yourself, but it's worth it!

Addiction is also like any other disease

You don't have to hit bottom before you can get help.

You might think that you're too far gone or that it's too late in your recovery process but that's not true. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), "most people who use drugs will eventually become dependent on them." And according to NIDA, "drug abuse is a disease just like any other illness."

The truth is that anyone can develop an addiction. It doesn't matter what stage they're at or how long they've been using it. There was once a time when people assumed that only those addicted for years would qualify for treatment. However, there are now many programs and options available across the country specifically tailored toward rehabilitating those with shorter histories of substance use disorders and/or associated mental health issues such as depression or anxiety disorders.

Successful life in recovery

Rehabilitation is not a quick fix. It's not a one-time event, even though you might be able to go home after months of treatment and never think about rehab again.

You will have to do this over and over again if you're going to be successful in your recovery. It may take years for most people, but it does happen.

You'll also have to learn new skills, which means getting help from others (therapists) or doing things on your own (like exercising). Once those things are mastered, there will still be more work ahead of them!

Rehab online

Online programs are not as effective as in-person ones. Online programs don't provide the same level of support. Those programs don't provide the same level of accountability and community.

Doomed to relapse no matter what

It's a myth that you're doomed to relapse if you're an alcoholic or drug addict. You'll always have to work on yourself, but it doesn't mean that every day has to be filled with sobriety and moderation.

The fact that some people relapse after therapy doesn't mean that all of them do. It doesn't mean there are no effective ways of helping them stay clean and sober for good! Many rehabs offer customized programs based on each client's needs and preferences (for example 12-step programs versus Narcotics Anonymous).

Rehabilitation centers can help people who have been using drugs or alcohol for years get their lives back on track. Rehab programs don't work miracles! Studies have shown that people who spend time in rehab tend not only to fail at maintaining sobriety afterwards but also relapse more frequently than those who don't attend these programs at all. However, this may change depending on how well your treatment team understands what works best for YOUR situation...

Using again rather than not using it at all

The most important thing to remember is that it’s not about you and your future. It’s about helping someone else live a life without using, and that means focusing on their recovery. You can learn all the information in the world; you can read books, articles and blog posts; but if you don't have empathy for someone else's struggles with addiction then no amount of knowledge will help them recover from their addiction problem.

When we think about our own lives or past experiences with drugs or alcohol (or anything else), we often focus too much on how those things affected us instead of seeing how they were affecting others around us at the time. This leads us into an endless cycle where our feelings are hurt by others' actions—and then we take those feelings out onto ourselves by using them again instead of letting go completely! This kind of thinking keeps people trapped inside themselves with no way out. It means they'll never be able to live free from drugs/alcoholism forever because no matter what happens in life there will always be some reason why one person could easily relapse while another might stay clean forever if only given enough support by friends/family members who understand where he/she went wrong before becoming addicted again after being sober long enough."

Rehab is for young people

You are not limited to specific age ranges when it comes to going to rehabilitation. A lot of people who have struggled with addiction at any age or stage of life find that they can benefit from this treatment program.

However, there are some things you should know about getting ready for rehab:

Rehab is not just for young people. The average age for entering rehab is around 31 years old, but many patients are older than this and some are even younger than 18 years old!

Rehab can help you if you're ready for it

Rehab is a journey, not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is not for everyone, and the quality of care varies widely from facility to facility. It's important to know what will be expected of you to make an informed decision about where you'll receive treatment—and how much time it will take.

Rehabilitation isn't just about getting better. It's also about learning how your brain works now and making sure that when you return home (if applicable). All aspects of functioning are improved or maintained at their best level possible.

You shouldn't assume that once someone has been through rehab once or twice they'll never need another dose again. This isn't true at all because there are many factors involved with long-term recovery after any kind of injury or disease including physical therapy sessions which help improve strength levels which then translate into better mobility over time."

Conclusion

It's not just about getting clean and sober. It's also about changing your lifestyle and learning how to deal with life in recovery. The best way to know whether or not rehab would be right for you is by talking with other people who have gone through it.

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