What should I bring to the rehab w/ me?
 

Hello my name is Christine. According to my doctor I need to be sent to a rehab asap which is next week & I am very nervous.

So I was wondering if anyone on this site knew what items to bring to the rehab center with me (my stay is going to last for about a month, and I have no family member or friends who I can ask for my material needs).

And I am worried about how many pairs of sweat pants, how many quarters for the laundry machines, a toothbrush, tampons, etc.

So if you know any tips on that issue, please let me know.

Thank you so much in advance.

Pack as if you were traveling for a month.
(No cameras):)

Some centers do have stores
where toiletries can be purchased.

:thanks very much for your advice Chicagoan!

toiletries must be sealed and unopened.
so buy new toothpase and keep it in the box. i once heard of a girl who shoved pills in a toothpaste tube

Christine, it is perfectly natural to be nervous about going to rehab, but you can do this! Perhaps you can embrace the experience as an opportunity to stop the merry-go-round and focus on your needs in a protected time/space. :hug:

Does the facility have a suggested list of what to bring (or not bring) on its website?

You can buy quarters there for laundry. Bring calling cards, your own pillow (theirs are horrible). Laundry soap and dryer towels. Soap for you and your face. The soap there is harsh. If it's even slightly cold where you are going, bring a sweater to wear. Shampoo/rinse. Razor. Lots of cigs if you smoke.

omg now THAT sounds screwed :( I am sorry to hear the person had to feel like she needs to hide what she thought she needed :cries3:

Anyway :thanks so much for your advice & response :) I will make sure those items are sealed

Again thank you pblack177! :)

Your welcome!

Other than that I just brought regular clothes,

they will have a washer/dryer. Some good books. And maybe some excercise cothes.

Obviously you can't bring a cellphone or anything so books are good, and they'll have tvs too.

Hello Applecake,

thank you so much for your response. The person at the facility is yet to tell me which items to bring, etc. but my doctor has kindly given me a list of what items to bring, like 7 outfits & pajamas.

i would not be checking myself into a rehab if i had that many outfits to begin with (i only have 2 outfits & no pajamas)

anyway thank you so much for your response. I feel very less alone.

anytime :)
best of luck
I loved my rehab, was there for 60 days last year.
unfortunately i relapsed but am trying to stay back on the wagon this time.
hope you find it fun and informative!

omg i cannot bring my cellphone?? thank you again for the information i am contacting the facility very soon

Awww :( that does not sound great to me

I hope someday I can help you with your relapse

And again thank you so so much for talking to me

Thank you very much for your response. I now have a so much greater idea of what i should do right now.

Please take care :)

see if the facility has a list of what to and what not-

Take an ipod or mp3 player download tunes on it from your phone or computer before you go- helped me a ton

List of important phone numbers

Cigs if you smoke, enough for 30 days

Books or magazines (middle of the road ones) they will give you tons of reading material, its good just to read a book or magazine

Bible- if that's your thing

Clothes/ personal items above as everyone has said.

Best of luck, look at it as a gift.

anytime!:)

Some rehabs do not allow smoking,
even outside!

:thanks very much for your list :) really thank you very much. i do not know what else to say

i do not smoke, so that would not be a problem at least for me, but thank you again Chicagoan! :)

Warm socks even if it is summer. Air conditioning might be too cold, comfortable shoes that you can stand wearing every day.

Exercise street smarts. People have been known to steal things so don't bring valuables or a bunch of money. If you hVe a hobby bring the things you like to do. One woman I knew made bead jewelry and brought her stuff with her to do that.

Bring a notebook and pens or pencils. Photos of your family.

We couldn't have electronic devices including cellphones. We each had a locker that staff would open for us if we needed things and our phones were stored in that.

Again, with toiletries, everything has to be sealed in the original container. No mouthwash unless it's alcohol free. And depending on if you are doing detox and where you are detoxing try not to bring things with strings-sweats, duffle bags, etc. The hospital I did detox at didn't have a specific detox unit and I was housed in the psychiatric unit, co-mingled with the psych patients, some of whom had been suicidal.

Most of all, bring an open mind to the experience. So many people came in with bad attitudes and just really didn't want to be there. You sound like you are willing, just nervous. I think we all were if it's the first time. Good luck! I had a great experience where I did rehab.

A positive attitude :)