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What to expect at rehab?

Soooo guess who's allowed on the internet here? :) lol. So far everything has been pretty great. They hold 26 people here max, and our days mostly revolve around group therapy with breaks in between. They also let us do some fun things/activities, like today we went to the YMCA and got to go swimming, in the hot tub, etc. So far I've been reading and writing for every paper and assignment they give me and have shared during group (something I literally tried my hardest to avoid when I tried NA meetings before). It is a coed rehab though which being a 26 year old male with hormones finally returning, I kind of have mixed feelings about them having girls here but trying to stay focused.
 
 
ArrestdDevelopment said:
It is a coed rehab though which being a 26 year old male with hormones finally returning, I kind of have mixed feelings about them having girls here but trying to stay focused.
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if i can give you one piece of been there done that advice/experience it is do not get sexually or romantically involved while at rehab.
its such an emotionally raw time that it get intense very fast and almost always ends terribly. its a way to avoid feeling terrible when you have a crush or get involved but you need to go through those feelings and rehab is a safe supported space to do that and one of its most valuable features.

Focus on yourself and work on being the kind of person you want to be. Women and relationships and sexy times will all happen just take this 1 month and give it to yourself to get things on track.

good luck :)
 
Most definitely do not start a rehab romance. Always remember those girls are just as fucked up in the head as you are and they are there for a reason.

I have to say there is going to be a lot of boring time in rehab. There is going to be quite a few people that don't want to be there. There are going to be very clingy people. There is going to be horrible food....very horrible food. Try to eat healthy, there is a lot of downtime and you may end up gaining weight.

You should look at this thirty days as just a chance to reboot your life. Basically, thirty days to be away from your stressors, your triggers, and the people that you used with. The real recovery starts after rehab. Find a good therapist that does whatever style works for you. I prefer one on one. If you like group therapy find a good group. The other thing I would suggest doing after rehab is taking some time before you go back to work, and start dating. Figure out who you are first.

So in a nutshell I am saying use your time in rehab to setup the tools you need on the outside to stay sober. You will be surprised at how many of your rehabmates relapse almost immediately. This is due to improperly planning for life. Rehab is easy to stay sober in, life is challenging.
 
cj said:
I may have been lucky but all the rehabs I went to had decent enough food.
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Yeah I gained 30 pounds in rehab.
I think they were trying to carb load the skin and bones addicts but I came in an alcoholic thinking I'd lose weight from cutting out the booze.
 
The food here is actually pretty good, they have an in-house chef here that prepares lunch and dinner, we're on our own for breakfast but they have normal breakfast foods we can prepare for ourselves. Smoking is allowed but we have to walk off property to do it during designated breaks and is about a half mile each way but at least it's exercise I guess lol.

One problem I've run into though that came up on only my fourth day here is someone started a rumor that I'm sleeping with someone here, literally to distract the attention from the staff of their own midnight sexcapades. So now I'm in trouble here for it as they can kick people out just for suspicion even though literally nothing has happened nor has their been any interest in that. So now in the meantime I have to pretty much walk on eggshells. It's just kind of shitty, I came here to get away from the bullshit so I can work on myself. I've been trying to just blow this off but it seems like every other day something else is coming from it and it's kind of shitty to have to cut someone off that you truly enjoy talking to during the down time, especially when it can get kind of lonely.

Any suggestions? :?
 
Well, at first a new life, freedom and chance to refresh yourself. However reality can be harsh sometimes, it's easier to quit but difficult to maintain. I'd start with the pos depression, vulnerability, loneliness. Learned not to expect too much and accept the challenges to keep me going one day at the time.

It's been always tricky to try to explain to my family why I'm not so full of joy and thanking the world for not being where I was. It's hard for them to understand that everything is still black and white, and everyone has its own timing to restarting coloring life. It's a day by day 'job' and I wish they'd understand that being depressed or lethargic is just how things are even it I'm sober for a longer period.

I'm not even sure if I wanted to be that person I was before. A new version of me is definitely different from what I had expected, but it's still me and I can't be anyone else.
 
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BeatTheSickness said:
I don't think they should allow cigarettes in detox / rehab facilities though
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So true. My last rehab stay I was planning on quitting smoking but all the other patients smoked and there was no escaping it. I smoked so much more there than I usually do.
 
Erikmen said:
Well, at first a new life, freedom and chance to refresh yourself. However reality can be harsh sometimes, it's easier to quit but difficult to maintain. I'd start with the pos depression, vulnerability, loneliness. Learned not to expect too much and accept the challenges to keep me going one day at the time.

It's been always tricky to try to explain to my family why I'm not so full of joy and thanking the world for not being where I was. It's hard for them to understand that everything is still black and white, and everyone has its own timing to restarting coloring life. It's a day by day 'job' and I wish they'd understand that being depressed or lethargic is just how things are even it I'm sober for a longer period.

I'm not even sure if I wanted to be that person I was before. A new version of me is definitely different from what I had expected, but it's still me and I can't be anyone else.
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Very well put. Since getting sober someday a feel like I'm stuck in purgatory lol.
 
erikmen and xbenzogirl: You have to learn to discover wonder again. Discovering wonder comes when you can cast off the feelings that cause you to see the world as black and white. I am still working on it. I am a damaged person due to my ex, and I still have a hard time trusting. It causes me to be hesitant to take a risk with people.

I have been to rehabs that do not allow smoking. It sucks. You have lots of pissed off addicts. I like the idea of walking a mile roundtrip to smoke. It gives a slight deterrent to it. I ended up sneaking out of the window (which was bolted) to run to the store and get dip (chewing tobacco). It was fun taking that risk. It was like one patient would grab a knife to pry the window open, another would grab it from them, and then we would pry it open I would jump out and run (former track/cross country runner here). The two patients left inside would close the window and wait there until I ran back. The run consisted of crossing the parking lot, crossing the grounds, dodging multiple cameras, jumping a fence, crossing a busy road, and then doing that in reverse. It was like playing Metal Gear in real life.

When it comes to your situation arrested... Don't sweat it. You are there for you. Learn what you can and don't get caught up in the other patients bullshit.
 
i don't think rehabs should restrict smoking. quitting illicit drugs is hard enough there is no reason to make it an even more miserable experience.
 
lol@manboychef...

@cj, agreed, and I may be wrong but do you feel that it might hinder ones ability to learn how to live without something to use? I guess in that sense they might as well restrict sugar and caffeine as well (FUCK no coffee) next thing you know people are smuggling insta coffee packs in lol. what are your thoughts?
 
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