Rehab Was Supposed to Be a Fresh Start | Bright Future Recovery (2024)

You may have recently completed a rehab program to get a handle on your substance use disorder. You felt confident that day when you were discharged from the treatment center, but now you find yourself struggling. Rehab was supposed to be a fresh start, yet somehow it hasn’t turned out that way. For some useful insights about addiction recovery and how it requires time and patience, please read on.

When you made the decision to get sober and enter treatment, you probably didn’t know much about program duration. In fact, what probably determined the length of your rehab stay was your insurance coverage or maybe a scholarship.

Many people who truly need several months in rehab end up with just a 28-day program. This is because twenty-eight days is what insurance plans cover, at least what they partially cover. This one-month program may be sufficient for certain people. Those with a mild substance use disorder and no co-occurring mental health issues may benefit immensely from the one-month rehab.

Yes, rehab was supposed to be a fresh start, but some need far more than a month in treatment. One month is not long enough to make the lasting changes required for sustained sobriety. Rehab durations of 3-6 months, even a year, may be beneficial in these cases.

The extended rehab stay provides the time for new brain pathways to develop and for new behavior patterns to solidify. Plus, you’d be surprised that many insurance policies cover a portion of the extended rehab stay.

The plasticity of the brain enables it to rewire itself in addiction recovery. During treatment, new neural pathways are developed that replace the dopamine-driven ones. The time it takes to rewire the brain in recovery varies according to these factors:

• The severity of the substance use disorder
• The duration of the substance use disorder
• The specific substance or substances involved
• Whether there is a co-occurring mental health disorder
• Whether there is brain damage or nutritional deficiency

In recovery, the brain goes through a restoration process. While true that with severe addiction some brain damage may be permanent, but in most cases the brain regenerates. It just takes time, and sometimes a long time. But with sustained sobriety, regular exercise, ongoing therapy, and a healthy diet, most brains heal within one year. Once the substance is eliminated, the brain gets busy repairing the damage incurred by prolonged substance abuse. Consider the various ways the brain rewires and heals itself in recovery:The plasticity of the brain enables it to rewire itself in addiction recovery. During treatment, new neural pathways are developed that replace the dopamine-driven ones.

• Brain matter increases
• Motor skills improve
• Cognitive skills improve
• New brain cells are produced
• Visual-spatial abilities improve

Residential Treatment: What to Expect in Rehab

If you have not yet started on your path to recovery, it helps to know a little about what to expect in treatment. Unless you have a very mild substance use disorder, aim for at least a three-month stay if possible. The best outcomes are attributed to extended rehab stays.

Here is what to expect when you enter a residential treatment program:

• Intake and assessment. A thorough evaluation helps the intake clinicians arrive at an accurate diagnosis, which may include a co-occurring mental health disorder. From this assessment, a recovery blueprint is created for you.

• Medical detox. Most individuals will need to complete a medically supervised detox and withdrawal at the outset of the treatment process. This allows the residual substance to be purged from the body, resulting in a more stable, clear-headed condition.

• Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a core treatment element. Using evidence-based therapies, you’ll be guided to change certain thought and behavior patterns that kept you in the addiction cycle. Therapy also helps you work through past traumas or other emotional issues.

• Group therapy. Under the guidance of a licensed addiction counselor, you will join others to share your thoughts and feelings.

• Family-focused therapy. Family sessions address enabling, codependency, lack of healthy boundaries, or ineffective conflict resolution habits.

• Education. A key treatment element of addiction recovery is acquiring important recovery skills to help you cope with stress or triggers.

• Dual Diagnosis. Dual diagnosis treatment infers that both substance use and mental health disorders will be treated while you are in rehab.

• 12-Step. A.A. and SMART Recovery offer structured programs to aid in your recovery journey.

Nutrition and Recreation. Nutrition and exercise help restore physical wellness and contribute to improved brain health.

Are you or a loved one struggling with drug or alcohol abuse?

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It took a certain period of time for substance misuse to cause chemical dependency or addiction in the brain. The changes in the brain happened gradually as the brain adapted to the presence of the substance by altering neural pathways. Rehab was supposed to be a fresh start, but substance recovery is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Each person has a unique situation and features than impact the time it takes for the brain to recovery. Too short a stay in rehab, and relapse is very likely to occur. This is because it takes time to acquire and practice the new coping skills, and for the brain to rewire. Sometimes it just makes sense to return to rehab for some much needed extra time in treatment.

Make a Fresh Start After Rehab

If you have relapsed after completing a rehab program, and feel you are on shaky ground, why not re-enroll in a residential program. Your brain just needs more time to heal, and that process is aided by therapy and practicing holistic activities. Yes, that first stint in rehab was supposed to be a fresh start, but sometimes you just need more time. Consider returning to rehab where you can get the time you need to stay strong in recovery.

Bright Futures Recovery Rehab For Extended Treatment Periods

right Futures Recovery offers comprehensive residential treatment for individuals battling substance use disorder. Sometimes it takes additional time in rehab to achieve a full recovery. We sure to consider re-admission to rehab if you need more time and support to reach your recovery goals. Call us today at (831) 245-1623.

Location and Directions

Bright Future Recoveryalso owns and operatesAvila Heights Recovery.
Avila Heights Recoveryis our luxury executive rehab inSan Luis Obispo.