If you are planning to get over your addiction, it’s important to make it as successful as possible. You’ll want to follow the treatment plan every day. However, there is the possibility that you’ll make a misstep.
But if you avoid these ten mistakes we’ve listed below, you’ll be in excellent shape. It’s a good idea to get started with your addiction treatment as soon as possible. Avoid these mistakes at all costs and it will save your life.
Let’s dive right in and talk more about the mistakes you need to prevent now.
In-home detox
If you are facing serious withdrawal symptoms, it may be wise to detox in a medical rehab facility. The reason for this is that you’ll have a medical team that will handle any of your needs. To do this at home can bring serious, if not, fatal consequences.
If your assessment recommends inpatient treatment, you’ll have no other choice. If you detox at home, you will be far away from medical attention. And the need for it will be immediate.
Don’t risk your health or life. Inpatient rehab may be the best thing you’ll need.
Fail to follow your treatment plan
Not following your treatment plan can be your gravest mistake. You don’t want to skip therapy sessions. You also don’t want to refuse any medical treatment.
It’s important that you stick with it in order to beat your addiction. Otherwise, failing to follow through can lead to relapse. That alone can lead to consequences that can be fatal.
This is your life. You don’t want to take chances by doing something as risky as this. Follow the plan and stick with it – even if things don’t seem to be going as smoothly.
Skip any therapy appointments
Talk therapy with your counselor is part of the treatment. If anything, these sessions will be mandatory. You’ll want to make sure that you attend your sessions regularly.
This is part of keeping track of your progress. Make sure that you have your regular one-on-one sessions. Also, group therapy sessions can also be helpful if you want to get the support you need from recovering addicts.
To skip therapy is the same as skipping medical treatment. Your counselors are here to help you get over the addiction. Especially when there is mental healing that is involved.
Do not ignore your mental disorders
If you are diagnosed with an addiction, you could be diagnosed with a mental disorder. This is known as a dual diagnosis. Your mental disorder may have pre-existed the addiction.
It’s important that both your addiction and mental disorders are treated at the same time. You can’t ditch one for the other. This may include a more effective treatment such as talk therapy (with the help of separate therapists).
Your mental disorders can be manageable with the right treatment plan. Your addiction can also be beaten at the same time. Be sure to make sure both are treated together.
Include certain ‘friends’ in your support group
You want your support group to be a positive influence. This should include your family, your therapists, medical personnel, and other recovering addicts. As for your friends, it’s important to be selective.
You don’t want to include the friends that got you involved in drugs in the first place. They don’t want you to get help. They want you to continue doing the same things you’ve done.
Who wants friends like that? The answer: not you. You want positive people in your life to be part of your support group.
Not planning for the future
It’s always a good idea to plan for the future. Imagine what life will be for you after a successful treatment. What will it be like?
You are in treatment and you’re looking forward to what happens next. It would be impossible to come up with nothing. After beating your addiction, you’ll feel so alive that you’ll want to do whatever you want.
So what would be your plans? Spending time with family? Learning a new skill?
There is so much you can do. It’s important that you consider what fits you best in the post-treatment life.
Stress out a lot
Treatment can have good days and bad days. It can also be stressful at times. While it’s unavoidable, you can manage stress in healthy ways.
There may be a time when the stress will get to you. It might get to the point where you could relapse. However, there are better ways to cope with stress.
Talk to your therapist, reach out to someone in your support system, or practice mindfulness. Either one of these (or a combination) can be a huge help. Especially when you want to stay the course and stick with the plan.
Relapsing
Relapses can still occur when you are in treatment. It may be a good idea to distance yourself from environments that can lead to one. As mentioned, stress can lead to a relapse at any time.
It would be a mistake to indulge in substances again. Yet, keep in mind that if you do relapse after a successful rehab, don’t feel ashamed. Your treatment wasn’t for nothing.
However, it’s important to have a plan in place for when you have the urge to fall back into old habits. You’ll have the right people to talk to whenever you need them.
Give up
Rehab can be rough. It can take a while longer than some others. It’s important that you never give up and stay the course.
You’ll be able to get the treatment you need and have a support system that can help. You’ll come far and you don’t need to turn back. A failed rehab is when you give up.
Ignore this guide
Even though you may not be in rehab yet, ignoring this guide will be a mistake. It’s important that you get the help you need right now. Don’t continue going down the wrong path.
Continuing your addiction can lead to fatal consequences. Isn’t it time you made a change? Get the help you need and make sure you don’t make any of these ten mistakes (including this one).
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.