After the admissions, detox and assessment process and a week of addiction treatment has occurred the patient will settle into a regular treatment schedule with daily activities. A regular day in rehab will look something like this:
A Regular Day in Rehab
6:00- 9:00 AM
- Wake Up between 6:00-6:45 AM: Residential rehab typically starts early and is accompanied with some sort of chores or routine that is done each morning. Examples are making your bed, organizing your room and vacuuming. The thought behind the chores is to provide structure and for many addicts that is something they did not have in their life for quite some time. Often times these chores are done together with other patients so that they feel accomplished together and are able to develop team like relationships.
- Meditation between 7:00-7:30 AM: Traditional buddhist meditation is common in residential rehab facilities as it has been proven to prevent relapse. Sometime meditation will involve reading a book or some type of information that will help with the 12-step program.
- Breakfast between 7:30-8:15 AM: Meals vary depending on the facility. But expect it to be options that are healthy and promote vitality and energy for the day.
- Medication taken between 8:15-8:30 AM: Regular primary treatment will often require some addicts to receive daily medication that help with the detox/withdrawal process. Other patients get meds that make it easier to refrain from the cravings for certain drugs and alcohol.
- Large group therapy between 8:30-9:00 AM: These lectures are given by addiction counsellors and always involve the 12-steps. In residential rehab facilities men and women are typically separated but during these large group therapies they will come together.
9:00-12:15 PM
- Group treatment or activity 9:00-10:45 AM: Since the groups are large in residential facilities patients are often split into smaller groups for more specific therapy where addicts explore personal issues and get feedback from addiction counsellors and peers. Some group learnings are:
- Alcoholic Anonymous 12 steps
- Practical skills for issues with sleep
- Relationship management
- Stress management
- How to deal with situations that might trigger relapse.
- Assertiveness training
- Speciality courses to explore religion and spirituality
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- Treatment work time 11:00-11:30 AM: Treatment work will consist of written assignments that addicts will complete during their stay. Worksheets on the twelve steps or skills that will help them stay sober and off drugs are common. Examples of treatment assignments include:
- Writing a goodbye letter to their drug or alcohol of choice
- Selfishness assessment
- Describe reason for alienating family
- Understanding the alcoholic mind
- Passive aggressive behavior analysis
- Lunch time 11:30AM-12:15 PM
12:15 – 6:00 PM
- Medication from 12:15-12:30 PM
- Group treatment or activity 12:45-2:00 PM: Often times during these sessions a current patient will present a detailed overview of their addiction, their alcohol and drug abuse and the consequences that followed. During this time group members can react and ask questions.
- Group treatment or activity 2:00-3:00 PM: These typically involve small groups targeting specific issues. An example would be mental health surrounding the consequences of drinking and drug use. Relaxation exercises are often common. They help patients understand how to control their anxiety and sleep related issues.
- Recreation 3:00 to 4:30 PM: This often includes physical exercises. Many of the rehabs facilities will have full fitness centers. They will also have areas designated for arts and crafts, yoga and drumming or signing.
- Free time 4:30-5:00 PM: During this time patients are able to do as they please within the facility. Sometimes this might include some rest time, reading or homework for their treatment.
- Dinner 5:00-6:00 PM
6:00-11:00 PM
- Medication 6:00 to 6:15 PM
- Group treatment or activity 6:15-7:00 PM: Often times these sessions take place without a counsellor present. A patient who has been in the addiction treatment program for a while will lead or oversee instead. During this time addicts will review their history on drug and alcohol abuse using posters or powerpoint presentations. The presenters are given feedback about possible trouble points. These presentations are prepared with a counsellor and are critical for the pattern and progression of recovery.
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- Lecture 7:15-8:30 PM: These lectures are often led by former addicts who were once patients at the residential rehab facility. Sometimes these recovering alcoholics and drug addicts provide quality presentations while others who are not seasoned speakers struggle to execute and articulate their thoughts and experiences properly.Sometimes patients are taken off site to free meetings that are intended to provide real world examples of addict recoveries.
- Ten-step group 9:00-9:30 PM: Addicts in residential programs will often conclude their day with an activity related to alcoholics anonymous tenth step. It is goes like this: “Continued to take a personal inventory of when we were wrong, promptly admitted it”. The goal in having clients reflect on this step is also to help identify what the addict is thinking and feeling each day. This way they can figure out what behaviors are likely to trigger a relapse. It also encourages them to look at the the positive aspects of their recovery and note what things they should be grateful for.
- Free time 9:30-11:00 PM: During this time treatment homework is completed, short phone calls can be made to friends and family and some television can be watched.
- Lights out: 11:00 PM
Call Addiction Help Today
Now that you have a good understanding of what a regular day in rehab will look like call Addiction Help Today to find a facility.