Preparing for Rehab: What to Expect

What to Expect in Rehab

Committing yourself to go to a rehab facility for your addiction is one of the most essential decisions you will ever make.

Even when you realize that you have a problem, making the choice to seek help can still be a challenging process, but it is a vital first step to getting your life back on track.

Once you have decided to seek help, you may not be sure what you need to do to prepare yourself for the time you will spend in your rehab program.

You may be worried about putting things in your everyday life on hold while you are in treatment.

These feelings are totally normal, but you don’t have to let them stress you further.

Instead, you can take the time to get things lined up before you leave so that you know everything will still be in order when you’re done with treatment.

Ways You Can Prepare for Rehab

In order for you to be fully invested in your addiction treatment program, you need to be able to put everything else out of your mind as much as possible.

It can be difficult, if not impossible, to focus on recovery if you are worried about things outside of rehab and focusing on your treatment program.

There are a few different ways you can take care of in advance to help put your mind at ease when you enter treatment — especially educating yourself on what to expect in rehab.

Get Your Finances or Legal Issues Sorted Out

You don’t want to come back from rehab to find your utilities are past due – or, worse yet, shut off.

And, because nearly all rehab centers do not allow clients to use the internet, you won’t be able to make payments while you’re in recovery.

Make sure all of your bills are set up on autopay or are paid in full for the period of time you’ll be away from home. This allows you to know you won’t have to deal with financial issues as soon as you leave treatment.

In addition, if you have any pending legal issues, it is crucial to make sure everything is in place to accommodate the time you’ll be in treatment. Make sure that your attorney and the courts know the dates you’ll be in rehab so that they know you’ll be unavailable for hearings or court dates during that period of time.

Take Care of Any Work Obligations

It can be hard to talk about your decision to go to rehab, especially with people outside of your immediate family or friends.

However, letting your place of work know where you are going and why there isn’t anything to be ashamed of ensures you have a job to return to when you have completed treatment.

Thanks to the Family and Medical Leave Act, you are legally entitled to up to 12 weeks of medical leave, which helps to protect your job while you are in rehab. That means that, by law, your employer cannot fire you for taking the time off to get healthy and sober after learning what to expect in rehab.

Line Up Dependent or Pet Care

If you have children or care for an elderly or disabled relative, you will want to set up care for them. This may be one of the more complex tasks to take care of, so it is important to get it sorted as soon as possible.

If you have any pets, you will also want to be sure to find care for them while you are away. If you don’t have a friend or family member that can watch them, many veterinarians have long-term pet care options, and various cities have facilities that are dedicated to pet sitting.

Pack Your Bags in Advance

Deciding what to take with you to rehab – and what to leave behind – can be a bit of a challenge when you are expecting to be gone from home for weeks, months, or even years.

Planning ahead can make this easier and help keep you from taking unnecessary or banned items.

Making sure you only have the essentials means less to distract you from your treatment plan and less to worry about bringing back home.

We often get questions revolving around what to expect in rehab. We recommend packing your government ID, insurance card, music player (not a phone, as these are not allowed in many facilities), comfortable clothing and shoes, a list of important phone numbers, slippers, a bathing suit, and enough toiletries to get you through your stay.

Keep in mind that toiletries containing alcohol, such as hand sanitizer and even most hair sprays, are not allowed.

Some facilities will have a list of additional recommended things for clients to pack on their website.

A journal can also be a good addition because it gives you the chance to document your thoughts and feelings throughout your addiction treatment plan. These notes are helpful to look over in the future as a reminder of all that you have overcome.

Don’t Let Preparations Overwhelm You

Making the decision to seek help for your addiction is often the biggest step in what can be a long and difficult journey.

Getting ready to leave your home to spend weeks at an unknown, new place can be quite overwhelming.

Preparing yourself in advance can be a huge help to making you feel less stressed and fully prepared to commit yourself to treatment by learning what to expect in rehab.

Remember to set aside time each day to do something that relaxes you and always take it one day at a time.

Addiction Treatment at Emerald Isle Health and Recovery

Want to learn more about alcohol or drug addiction treatment?

The professionals at Emerald Isle Health and Recovery are standing by to provide the timely help you need.

You can also count on our certified and thoroughly trained staff for the region’s best drug and alcohol treatment facilities.

We’re dedicated to helping you recover from the effects of substance abuse problems.

Start a new, healthy, and sober lifestyle today.