You may have a lot of pre-conceived notions about what an inpatient treatment center looks like. Influences from television and movies can lead you to believe it’s like being in a glamorous day spa, full of pampering and luxuries. There are also portrayals on the opposite end of the spectrum, making treatment programs appear gloomy and bleak. The truth is that most treatment facilities will fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
Inpatient treatment should be fun and enjoyable, while at the same time push you to explore new areas and encourage self-growth. During treatment, you’ll likely meet some wonderful people, including staff members, therapists, nurses, as well as peers who are in treatment with you. You’ll be encouraged to push yourself, which can be difficult at times, but there will be people who are helping you every step of the way. The final result should be a solid foundation of knowledge and inner growth, upon which you can continue to build your recovery.
Here, our aim is to give a basic rundown of what happens during a stay at an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment facility. There can be a lot to take in when thinking about all the different things that treatment entails. Some things we’ll go over are medication, types of therapies, housing arrangements, communication with friends and family, counselors, and daily activities. Having an idea of how things work can help alleviate feelings of fear and anxiety about entering treatment. After reading, you should have a better understanding of what to expect when attending inpatient addiction treatment.
Detox First
The first step to entering an inpatient treatment facility happens before you even get there. Most, if not all facilities require that you complete some form of medical detox. Receiving medical clearance before being allowed to enter inpatient treatment, is often necessary. Detox services are widely available, but some treatment programs have in-house detox’s. The amount of time you’ll be in detox varies based on things such as substances used, how much and how frequently you used, how long you’ve used for. Typically a normal length of stay is about 5-10 days but can be longer or shorter.
In detox, you will be under 24-hour medical care, and be evaluated upon admissions. They will ask you questions to find out what substances you were using, in order to make your detox as safe and effective as possible. Therapy is usually apart of a good detox program so that you can be best prepared for the next level of care.
Admissions And Intake
When you arrive at an inpatient treatment program, the first thing that will happen is the intake process. Intake means that a behavioral health specialist will sit with you and discuss how you’re feeling and how they can begin helping you best. They will find out if you have any immediate needs that need addressing. Additionally, they will ask you some basic information about you including a history of your substance use disorder. A medical evaluation will be performed to make sure there are no outstanding medical issues that need immediate attention. It’s extremely important, to be honest during your intake so that treatment will be as effective as possible.
Once all the basics of intake are taken care of, typically a staff member will give you a tour of the facility. Living arrangements, kitchen facilities, group rooms, and outdoor smoking areas are usually a part of the tour. You’ll be introduced to staff, other guests, and therapists, who will be welcoming and friendly. People often worry they’ll feel out of place in treatment. However, many programs, including Royal Life Centers, employ a large percentage of staff that are in recovery themselves from alcohol addiction or drug addiction.
Housing Arrangements
Going through all the motions of the day is most likely going to have you looking forward to some rest. Housing arrangements vary throughout different inpatient treatment centers but most are separated by dormitory style and gender. Generally, rooms have 2 or 3 people but there are facilities where private rooms are available. Bathrooms and showers can also be private or communal depending on the program. Overall, housing should be comfortable and have all the basic amenities needed. Guests are encouraged to bring some personal items to keep bed-side, such as pictures or keepsakes.
Sleeping is only allowed during certain hours in almost all residential treatment programs. Attendance during the day is mandatory for all groups, therapies, and activities.
Nutrition and Meals
Proper nutrition is essential to recovery. Getting the right right combination of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals will aid the mind and body. Most rehabs will have some sort of nutritional program, but these can vary from place to place. Some have private chefs, that will cook all your meals, while others allow you to grocery shop and prepare your own meals. Usually, meal times are worked in as a part of the daily schedule and should be posted or available in your intake materials.
Communication and Families
In this modern age, people spend more time on their mobile devices than ever before. So, when you get to treatment and are without your cell phone, it can be jarring. Most facilities will not allow any devices with internet access into the inpatient treatment program. Some may even restrict the use of radios or other devices that receive outside information. The reason behind removing all these distractions is so that you can completely focus on yourself and your recovery.
When it comes to contacting friends and family members, things work a bit differently. Some inpatient programs have phone lines in the rooms and allow phone calls to friends and family during downtime. Other programs only allow calls to families and loved ones with permission from a primary therapist.
Types of Treatment Therapies
Group therapy is usually the primary form of treatment during inpatient treatment. Some facilities, such as Royal Life Centers, allow guests to choose their own schedule. Groups are facilitated by addiction professionals and will cover a wide range of topics. Some common groups topics are relapse prevention, coping strategies, and anger management. Practicing these skills in a safe environment, helps people to be open with their peers. Some programs will offer more hands-on forms of group therapy. Royal Life Centers offers movement/activity, adventure, as well as equine therapy. Special activities are also offered such as yoga, kayaking, physical training, and ropes courses. Exercise and other outdoor activities are proven to have a beneficial effect on the body and the mind.
Individual therapy takes places on a regular basis during inpatient treatment. This is your time to really dig into yourself, and address personal issues. A trained professional works with you through this process, helping and guiding you along the way. Getting to the core of your substance use disorder is a must in order to maintain long term sobriety.
Because We Care
Inpatient treatment at Royal Life Centers is designed to establish a solid foundation of recovery for each guest. Our program features a wide variety of therapies in order to best suit each individuals needs. We also offer exceptional amenities such as private chefs, large rooms equipped with Dish Network, and much more. Our facilities are multi-accredited by the top accrediting bodies in the United States, ensuring we continually exceed industry standards.
Royal Life Centers offers a complete suite of treatment services including detox, residential inpatient, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and sober living. If you or a loved one is ready to take the first steps and enter inpatient treatment, or any of our other programs, call us now. Our team is available 24/7 to help find the right program for your needs. Call us at (877)-RECOVERY or (877)-732-6837
