Just called a residential rehab place.....
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 313
Just called a residential rehab place.....
.....and am seriously thinking about going.
It is eye-wateringly expensive but sounds excellent (and is very highly regarded, they are based at a few different sites here in the UK), and it may be the best money I ever spent.
It's a 28 day programme.
Can anyone who's done something similar please tell me their experiences? Did it really help in a way that nothing else has done?
It is eye-wateringly expensive but sounds excellent (and is very highly regarded, they are based at a few different sites here in the UK), and it may be the best money I ever spent.
It's a 28 day programme.
Can anyone who's done something similar please tell me their experiences? Did it really help in a way that nothing else has done?
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Hi.
They can certainly help and their track record can be 100% IF THEIR plan is closely followed daily after completing the course.
We are dealing with alcoholism with many different people in attendance, many wanting to sober up their own way, that’s why there are so many relapses.
The bottom line is when there pay attention as if we’re in grade school and study because this is not a place for feely touchy experiences as this disease is deadly sooner or later.
BE WELL
They can certainly help and their track record can be 100% IF THEIR plan is closely followed daily after completing the course.
We are dealing with alcoholism with many different people in attendance, many wanting to sober up their own way, that’s why there are so many relapses.
The bottom line is when there pay attention as if we’re in grade school and study because this is not a place for feely touchy experiences as this disease is deadly sooner or later.
BE WELL
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 313
Do you know what was great, as well? The woman I spoke to when I called is a recovering alcoholic herself (most of the staff there are) and it was beyond fantastic to talk to someone who has been there and totally gets where I'm coming from.
She was lovely and it was so good to talk to her. It's great to have you guys here too, thank you again.
She was lovely and it was so good to talk to her. It's great to have you guys here too, thank you again.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: leeds
Posts: 124
Hi a whole new !!!
I went to one in the North of England last December - won't say the name etc
yes it was expensive but most of others in there were funded somehow - I was not and paid £3500 for 10 days mostly to detox - could not afford longer though in hindsight maybe I should although on day 23 now
what's it like ?
clean / safe and excellent for detox and the staff were mostly recovering themselves
Days were structured to meds / morning greeting / therapeutic duties (cleaning basically) meals and group sessions on relaxation / addiction etc before free time after 6
Had my own room - basic but fine shower etc
phone calls only after 6 visitors max 2 sunday afternoons for 3 hours NO mobiles / internet and room searches at times
Food was average to be honest but ok -one night we had sausage / hash browns and tinned spaghetti which for 325 per night seemed a but rough especially as I was cleaning the place as well !!!!
It was useful and got me through a tough patch BUT aftercare was hopeless (one hour a week after 6 on request) and bear in mind they are out to make a profit - bottom line
I met some nice people and some interesting ones to say the least but after 10 days I felt instatulationised so after 28 I have no idea
hope that helps and good luck
Mike
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I went to one in the North of England last December - won't say the name etc
yes it was expensive but most of others in there were funded somehow - I was not and paid £3500 for 10 days mostly to detox - could not afford longer though in hindsight maybe I should although on day 23 now
what's it like ?
clean / safe and excellent for detox and the staff were mostly recovering themselves
Days were structured to meds / morning greeting / therapeutic duties (cleaning basically) meals and group sessions on relaxation / addiction etc before free time after 6
Had my own room - basic but fine shower etc
phone calls only after 6 visitors max 2 sunday afternoons for 3 hours NO mobiles / internet and room searches at times
Food was average to be honest but ok -one night we had sausage / hash browns and tinned spaghetti which for 325 per night seemed a but rough especially as I was cleaning the place as well !!!!
It was useful and got me through a tough patch BUT aftercare was hopeless (one hour a week after 6 on request) and bear in mind they are out to make a profit - bottom line
I met some nice people and some interesting ones to say the least but after 10 days I felt instatulationised so after 28 I have no idea
hope that helps and good luck
Mike
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 313
Ah, Mike, thanks for your reply, good to hear from someone else in the UK too who has done similar.
The place I am thinking of gives you your own ensuite room, loads of counselling, group work, a dietician, access to fitness facilities and so on.
No-one has mentioned having to clean the place - I don't get the impression this is the case although I know a lot of rehabs do get you to do this (one of my favourite authors is Marian Keyes, and her novel 'Rachel's Holiday' deals with a girl going to a rehab in rural Ireland where they have to cook and clean, and share a room too).
Of course, Marian Keyes is a recovered alcoholic herself, and she wrote about Rachel from her own experiences of rehab. Sorry to derail my own thread, but talking is good......Marian wrote a piece years ago, for one of her books of short stories, about her own alcoholism, and I remember identifying with it so much. I knew away back then that I was a bona fide alcoholic, but I always denied it to myself.....I didn't drink every day and so on......but my goodness I identified with what she said about having that first drink in your teens and feeling like all the world's problems had been solved. That was me, completely. But then twenty years later it totally bites you in the bum.
Anyway, sorry to digress. Thanks again for sharing your experience, Mike, it means a lot. X
The place I am thinking of gives you your own ensuite room, loads of counselling, group work, a dietician, access to fitness facilities and so on.
No-one has mentioned having to clean the place - I don't get the impression this is the case although I know a lot of rehabs do get you to do this (one of my favourite authors is Marian Keyes, and her novel 'Rachel's Holiday' deals with a girl going to a rehab in rural Ireland where they have to cook and clean, and share a room too).
Of course, Marian Keyes is a recovered alcoholic herself, and she wrote about Rachel from her own experiences of rehab. Sorry to derail my own thread, but talking is good......Marian wrote a piece years ago, for one of her books of short stories, about her own alcoholism, and I remember identifying with it so much. I knew away back then that I was a bona fide alcoholic, but I always denied it to myself.....I didn't drink every day and so on......but my goodness I identified with what she said about having that first drink in your teens and feeling like all the world's problems had been solved. That was me, completely. But then twenty years later it totally bites you in the bum.
Anyway, sorry to digress. Thanks again for sharing your experience, Mike, it means a lot. X
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Earth
Posts: 607
I went to rehab. I was not welcome at home and was desperate for help. I had already been through detox and was sober for two weeks so they told me my insurance wouldn't pay because it was not medically necessary. They told me to drink before I came in so it would show up on my blood tests. (3 places told me this, Not recommended). So I did. (Detox and withdrawals all over again). They promised me one on one treatment, a peaceful environment, beach access and a long term plan with support.
It turned out to be a month spent in an overcrowded facility, stripped of any personal freedom, late night drug tests, large group meetings with kids swearing and throwing stuff at each other, no beach trips unless you could afford to stay for the longer program, forced AA meetings put on by outside volunteers twice a day. Angry disgruntled staff Met with my assigned counselor twice for 15 minutes in 34 days. No actual doctors on staff when I got the flu (They sent me to sit in line at a local clinic). .You were put in a bus once a week and sent to the grocery store to get your food. (It was very comical watching 50 drunks and addicts raiding the store). Miraculously when my insurance would no longer pay, I was deemed to be recovered, no long term help offered, unless of coarse I wanted to pay to stay in a halfway house they owned. This place is popular and was featured on a TV show.
What I did get out of it were some great supportive lifelong friends. Time to reflect and make a plan, and it removed me from a volatile situation for a while. I also was turned on to some really helpful reading material by some of the staff. Luckily they also honored the promise to take what insurance paid.
They are for profit organizations you have to remember. They do seem to hire mostly ex substance abusers.
I'm just giving you my experience and I'm sure all facilities aren't the same. Do your research and check reviews on some unbiased websites. Just don't trust the first "addiction specialist" you talk to on the phone. If it's a 12 step program you desire, remember, AA meetings are free, same program.
I have been sober for over two years. I wouldn't give rehab credit. I just don't ever want to go through the self induced personal hell again.
Good Luck!
It turned out to be a month spent in an overcrowded facility, stripped of any personal freedom, late night drug tests, large group meetings with kids swearing and throwing stuff at each other, no beach trips unless you could afford to stay for the longer program, forced AA meetings put on by outside volunteers twice a day. Angry disgruntled staff Met with my assigned counselor twice for 15 minutes in 34 days. No actual doctors on staff when I got the flu (They sent me to sit in line at a local clinic). .You were put in a bus once a week and sent to the grocery store to get your food. (It was very comical watching 50 drunks and addicts raiding the store). Miraculously when my insurance would no longer pay, I was deemed to be recovered, no long term help offered, unless of coarse I wanted to pay to stay in a halfway house they owned. This place is popular and was featured on a TV show.
What I did get out of it were some great supportive lifelong friends. Time to reflect and make a plan, and it removed me from a volatile situation for a while. I also was turned on to some really helpful reading material by some of the staff. Luckily they also honored the promise to take what insurance paid.
They are for profit organizations you have to remember. They do seem to hire mostly ex substance abusers.
I'm just giving you my experience and I'm sure all facilities aren't the same. Do your research and check reviews on some unbiased websites. Just don't trust the first "addiction specialist" you talk to on the phone. If it's a 12 step program you desire, remember, AA meetings are free, same program.
I have been sober for over two years. I wouldn't give rehab credit. I just don't ever want to go through the self induced personal hell again.
Good Luck!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lakeside, Ca
Posts: 10,208
Originally Posted by awholenewlife52 
Can anyone who's done something similar please tell me their experiences? Did it really help in a way that nothing else has done?
it helped me to learn a lot regarding alcoholism
stayed sober that time for almost 3 years
then I deceived myself yet again
but -- the wanting to be sober seed had been planted.
I know of many who went to treatment and have not had a drink since.
Another plus -- in most cases
your family and friends will be pulling for you and proud of you for going.
MM
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 313
Just want to say thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. 
I'm still considering what to do. I know I definitely need to stop drinking completely and that I need proper help to do so. My past attempts have had me living dry, not properly recovered, and that's what needs to change.
Everyone with long term sobriety talks about joy in sobriety, and peace and serenity, such that they would never want to go back to drinking. How do I achieve this? It's what I want more than anything in the world.
I'm still considering what to do. I know I definitely need to stop drinking completely and that I need proper help to do so. My past attempts have had me living dry, not properly recovered, and that's what needs to change.
Everyone with long term sobriety talks about joy in sobriety, and peace and serenity, such that they would never want to go back to drinking. How do I achieve this? It's what I want more than anything in the world.
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Originally Posted by awholenewlife52
Everyone with long term sobriety talks about joy in sobriety, and peace and serenity, such that they would never want to go back to drinking. How do I achieve this? It's what I want more than anything in the world.
That’s how I feel after many years of AA meetings for the directions. Many others in the program feel the same.
Getting and staying sober are different, sort of like starting in school again at the first grade. We learned by example and listening, we didn’t graduate after one week with an MBA. It takes a word not many alcoholics don’t like, TIME.
BE WELL
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 283
have you looked into local Alcohol services where you live? in my town, i accessed a daily outpatient program, had one-to-one support and they can fund rehab for me if i relapse and need it (223 days sober - i hope not to need it today).
the funded rehabs in my area are excellent and i know many people in the rooms of AA who are alive because of it.
i hope it all works out - but have a look into funding - it can widen your options.
the funded rehabs in my area are excellent and i know many people in the rooms of AA who are alive because of it.
i hope it all works out - but have a look into funding - it can widen your options.
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Midwest
Posts: 9,029
There are a couple of points you brought up that intertwine. The inpatient stay and the living a joyful sober life. The inpatient stay is a good start to getting that but isn't a guarantee unless you do the work to stay sober.
This isn't coming out right on paper. I did inpatient here in the states. I can't see that it would be so different in the UK. I liked it. I detoxed at a hospital and then transferred to the rehab. It was a mixed group of people, very structured. There were AA meetings pretty much every day. No one on one counseling but we did have a counselor and met in small groups. It was not chaotic as esinger described but there are facilities like that. I had my own room but some people shared. Food was decent. No frills although we went bowling once a week.
Bottom line for me is that I absolutely could not string together two days sober on my own. I had to do something drastic. It was totally worth it for me to get to a safe place.
As for the being happy and joyous. Well. After my stay in rehab I stayed sober for ten and a half months and relapsed. Misery had been creeping into my life and I just gave in one day and drank. I stayed drinking for three months and quit. I had stopped working on me. Stopped attending AA meetings. I wasn't a member here yet. I didn't reach out to tell people what was going on. But, I managed to drag myself back to being sober on my own. I had a taste of it. This time around I joined here. I started reaching out to AA people in real life even if it wasn't just to discuss not drinking. I've learned a lot about myself and I am finally starting to be at peace with myself and the joy is coming. It's taken time. I will have one year of continuous sobriety tomorrow.
I think it is well worth considering. Sobriety is constant growth which is sometimes uncomfortable. It's been worth it.
This isn't coming out right on paper. I did inpatient here in the states. I can't see that it would be so different in the UK. I liked it. I detoxed at a hospital and then transferred to the rehab. It was a mixed group of people, very structured. There were AA meetings pretty much every day. No one on one counseling but we did have a counselor and met in small groups. It was not chaotic as esinger described but there are facilities like that. I had my own room but some people shared. Food was decent. No frills although we went bowling once a week.
Bottom line for me is that I absolutely could not string together two days sober on my own. I had to do something drastic. It was totally worth it for me to get to a safe place.
As for the being happy and joyous. Well. After my stay in rehab I stayed sober for ten and a half months and relapsed. Misery had been creeping into my life and I just gave in one day and drank. I stayed drinking for three months and quit. I had stopped working on me. Stopped attending AA meetings. I wasn't a member here yet. I didn't reach out to tell people what was going on. But, I managed to drag myself back to being sober on my own. I had a taste of it. This time around I joined here. I started reaching out to AA people in real life even if it wasn't just to discuss not drinking. I've learned a lot about myself and I am finally starting to be at peace with myself and the joy is coming. It's taken time. I will have one year of continuous sobriety tomorrow.
I think it is well worth considering. Sobriety is constant growth which is sometimes uncomfortable. It's been worth it.
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PA
Posts: 12,000
Rehabs are mostly staffed by former addicts - alcohol or other. It doesn't matter if it costs $1.98 or $1980.00. There are two important aspects of it. First is that you are in a safe environment (relatively speaking) for 28 days. Your day is structured and you learn to get into a routine.
The second aspect of it is that they try to teach you about addiction and how to address it. 98% are 12 step based and they expect you to go to 90 meetings in 90 days when they let you out. You are on your own the day you leave.
All of this aside, if you don't want to get sober and are not willing to do what it takes to stay sober, it doesn't matter if you spend a million dollars on a rehab facility. You can't buy sobriety, you have to earn it.
The second aspect of it is that they try to teach you about addiction and how to address it. 98% are 12 step based and they expect you to go to 90 meetings in 90 days when they let you out. You are on your own the day you leave.
All of this aside, if you don't want to get sober and are not willing to do what it takes to stay sober, it doesn't matter if you spend a million dollars on a rehab facility. You can't buy sobriety, you have to earn it.
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