Yankee73

Anyone else feel like this? When I sobered up, I had zero insurance and there were no options except for the standard "3 Day Dry Out Clinic"...

It just seems that people who have gone to decent rehabs come out with more knowledge & coping skills...

Just pondering while it's a slow day at work... I like to ponder...

Meraviglioso

I don't know your story so it is hard to say Yankee. I recently returned form rehab and although i went kicking and screaming, it was the best thing I have ever done.

That said, had there been a way to avoid it I certainly would have. It was definitely the last stop. So no, I don't think you missed out if you were able to get sober without it.

I live in Italy though and we have universal healthcare. Yep, I went to rehab for free, all tests, treatments, psychologists, doctors, meals, everything. The only thing I did pay for was a private room with an ensuite bathroom. You can read the story here if your day at work really is that slow.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ab-report.html

SoberLife90

Well are you sober right now? One thing rehab did for me was get it me sober initially. I could never have done it on my own. While in rehab taking a pill or grabbing a drink was not an option in rehab so I had no choice but to deal with my discomfort of sobering up. I stayed in rehab for 10 nights and listened to a few speakers. I also experienced AA and NA meetings while there. Those are just some of the things...

You could go to AA or NA and get a sponsor and work the steps. That should give you the tools you need to stay sober. You could live in a 1/2 way or 3/4 house if you would like too. As long as you want to stay sober you can do it.

IvanMike

I didn't go to rehab.

I went to NA. I kicked at home.

After I got clean I got into a 6 week outpatient.

I still go to NA. Have a sponsor, on my second go around through the steps. Made a lot of changes.

It's been working so far.

Delilah1

Hi Yankee,

I think you are pretty inspirational that you have so much sober time, and are here helping others. Did something happen to trigger how you are feeling lately?

AdelineRose

I have never been to inpatient rehab (I don't personally believe it makes a difference, anyone can stay sober when you are in an institution just like people are sober in prison) but I have done some of an out patient program. I ended up quitting it after 2 weeks since I wasn't ready to get sober then.

When I was ready to get clean finally, I decided that it was more important to get a doctor that specializes in addiction, a substance abuse counselor, and a psychiatrist that specializes in addiction. I made sure I armed myself with doctors and counselors that I can have for as long as I choose and made more of a sustainable LIFE plan instead of short term rehab.

You get whatever you put into your recovery. Going to rehab is not going to give you any magic information or skills.

Substance abuse counseling is a great way you learn coping skills and to get to the deeper meaning behind different actions you have taken and into what changes you can make to have a lasting recovery.

Also, most rehabs stick closely to the Twelve Steps of which information is online and available to purchase. Plus meetings are free.

Whatever way you choose to get sober, what is important is that you find true lasting recovery and continue to grow and move forward.

Aellyce

If you feel you have missed out, you could still go if you can afford it now? I went to rehab recently and it helped to break a bad relapse cycle. I think it could also be useful as education or as a break from everyday reality where we do nothing else but work on your well being? I did not find mine earth scattering but who knows maybe it indeed save my life as far as the actual relapse goes.

There are also many outpatient programs to choose from.

entropy1964

If you're still sober I'd say no.

Meraviglioso

Some people need this. I sure did. I had to be locked up to get and stay sober. I'm thankful that option was available to me.

Some do, some don't. We didn't have one mention of AA or the 12 steps. The closest we got was that our alcohol specialist would remind us to focus on taking it one ay at a time or one minute at a time as we needed to.

blue2

From my own personal experience of rehab I would certainly discredit their ability to keep anyone abstinent. I was at a therapeutic one rather than the usual 12 step approach but you can provide all the theory in the world and it will never keep anyone clean. If you have the desire, then that is all you need. Please keep perservering.

Saskia

IMHO, rehab - both inpatient and outpatient - can be a lifesaver for those of us who want desperately to be sober and did everything we thought we needed to do and still kept failing. All alcoholics (and other addicts) are not identical. Going to rehab when one is able to stay sober without it strikes me as similar in concept to taking antibiotics for the common cold. It's not a magic solution but for some of us it does make a difference. My 3-month IOP certainly made a significant difference for me.

I don't think any of us can judge exactly what someone else does or does not need.

Yankee73

Nothing has happened, it's just something I've been pondering. I got sober on my own, come here, Google the daylights out of stuff , but I've noticed that people who went to decent rehabs learned better coping skills, I guess. If that makes sense?

hopeful4

This. Many places have free psychologists/counselors if you cannot afford one. AA/NA are free, and she is correct, most rehabs follow those steps. I think it's really important to reach out to the community to see what free resources are out there.

Dime

My insurance would allow 7 days of inpatient dryout/rehab. The 30 day program they had focused primarily on AA's 12 steps. I obtained a sponsor while I was still in the hospital and started working the steps immediately. I called my sponsor daily and averaged two meetings a day for the first 90 days. I don't feel I missed anything the rehab offered and I did it for free. Either way the more action you take on your part the faster your recovery will be.

Bunny211

I did not learn a thing in rehab.
The only thing it offered me was a place to rest and be safely way from alcohol until I could get (some of) my marbles back.