Coming to a rehab facility is a huge step to take towards sobriety and wellness. While there are understandably many concerns about what to expect, especially if it is your first time going to one, you can rest assured that there is ultimately nothing to worry about. 

All you need to do is show up, get with the rehab program, and focus on your sobriety and recovery. To help you prepare for your upcoming entry to a rehab facility, here are some basic things you can expect from the experience. 

Initial Evaluation

The first thing that usually occurs upon patients’ arrival to the facility is the initial evaluation. Here, you will be meeting with your doctor and asked a variety of questions ranging from your substance abuse history to general disposition to medical health history. 

This is actually crucial to your treatment because the information they will gather from here is what will be the basis of your treatment plan. Because while there are set activities ready for the patients, facilities have to be prepared for instances when the case is a lot more customized than usual. Essentially, it’s a way to get to know you better so they can help you adjust to life inside the facility faster. 

Detoxification

The effects of detoxification are well-known, especially the episodes of withdrawal. While it may sound terrifying, a program like VSM detox for all patients is a lot safer than going through withdrawal on your own. 

In certain cases, it’s even possible to have a controlled medication plan to assist in the detoxification process, particularly for those who suffer from intense anxiety and depression, or even insomnia, as they go through the cleansing process of their body.

Limited Visitations

At the start of the program, it is likely that you will not be allowed to receive visitors. This is so that you can focus on getting yourself emotionally and psychologically ready to face your family and friends outside of the influence of alcohol. You will be given the option to receive visitors as you progress in the program, which means it’s up to your discretion if you would want to see them at any point in time during the program. 

Access to Facilities 

In-house patients, or those staying within the facility property, are going to have access to different amenities that can help them stay on track to sobriety. Gyms, recreation rooms, and other social settings are provided so they can redevelop their socialization skills. 

In some programs, patients are even given travel privileges for a day, wherein they can go outside the facility unsupervised. This is going to be fully dependent on how well the patient has progressed within the program, and is not granted automatically. Still, it gives patients something to look forward to, especially if they are in longer-term programs. 

As for accommodations, there are usually dorms housing the patients, but it is also possible to request a private room instead, if that is your preference. Ultimately, rehab facilities can be very comfortable. It’s not a vacation place, though, although some may look like it. What’s most important at the end of the day is the kind of program they provide so that you can get on your way to wellness and sobriety.