How is inpatient rehab? I may check myself in
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 709
As others mentioned, 9 days is detox, not rehab. Actually, detox usually takes less time. I went to inpatient rehab for 7 weeks and it was the best decision of my life. They had a detox unit, where I spent a couple nights. Once I was ok, I started the program. This was not an AA-based rehab. I did a lot of research to find one that had good reviews but was non AA. I felt very safe there and I learned a lot about myself. They encouraged introspection. Everything was very, very positive, no one was called out or challenged like I've heard about some places. It was about a 7 out of 10 on the luxury scale. I had my own room and tv, which was very important to me. My room was very small but it was fine. There were 2 chefs, both of them fantastic. No pool, equine therapy or acupuncture -- woulda been nice but not necessary. The people were wonderful. From the cleaning staff to the nurses to the counselors, I loved them all and still stay in touch. There was a ton of laughter, a lot of bonding between everyone as we walked this journey together. Every Saturday there was an outing. The rehab was in Florida near the beach so sometimes we went there, or the movies. One time we went on a dolphin cruise, another time putt putt golf. The days/evenings were spent in various groups, reading, art therapy. Sundays were kind of a drag b/c there were no classes or outings and the day felt very long (except for football!) I am very grateful that I was able to go to such a place and it changed my life. I didn't think I could do it on my own. If you decide to go to rehab (not just detox), make sure you research the place thoroughly. There are a lot of duds out there. PM me if you want more info. Best of luck!!!
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 88
Hmmm... Well... I detoxed in the hospital for 5 days then went to what they call the "mothership" of rehabs for 30 days. Then continued on to a local to me IOP (intensive out patient) 3 nights a week for 3 hours a night for the last few months. Now I have transitioned down to 1 night a week.
Did I do the right thing? I would say so, I turned myself and will over to people that are far better in making life changing decisions then my addicted/alcoholic brain could. Honestly I wish I would have done it a heck of a lot earlier in life. Thinking you can simply detox, hit a few AA meetings and such didn't work for me the number of times I tried it.
Further more, I would be straight up and honest with your employer, I was with mine and had a job waiting when I got out. First your admitting you have a disease which it is, and your going to get treatment for it. Personally I think hiding it, or feeling shame in going to get help further perpetrates the stigma ya all are so afraid of. I have done enough hiding, lying keeping secrets when using, now that is part of my past.
Did I do the right thing? I would say so, I turned myself and will over to people that are far better in making life changing decisions then my addicted/alcoholic brain could. Honestly I wish I would have done it a heck of a lot earlier in life. Thinking you can simply detox, hit a few AA meetings and such didn't work for me the number of times I tried it.
Further more, I would be straight up and honest with your employer, I was with mine and had a job waiting when I got out. First your admitting you have a disease which it is, and your going to get treatment for it. Personally I think hiding it, or feeling shame in going to get help further perpetrates the stigma ya all are so afraid of. I have done enough hiding, lying keeping secrets when using, now that is part of my past.
now's the time
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,181
Originally Posted by Bunny211 
The bad: It was run by alcoholics and addicts in "recovery." Most had been sober less than 2 years and really were not working a program. Some were very immature. Also, you are locked up with addicts and alcoholics ALL DAY LONG. Holy drama and insanity!
To the original Q... I'm glad I went. I'd tried probably over 20 times over a year and a half on my own. I'd gotten sober on my own once before, but things had gotten too bad. I needed help.
Mine was AA based but also CBT based. It was a good mix.
It was also terrible. I cried like crazy. I felt trapped. I got sick of being the only person who wasn't either 22 or 65 (apparently not a ton of people get sober in their 30s). I hated that we had to go to meetings every night even though we'd already spent 9 hours in therapy and doing step work. Every day felt like a century.
But that's exactly what I needed. I couldn't quit on my own because I couldn't handle sitting with my anxiety, my fear, my cravings, and my kind of messy life at the time. Being metaphorically locked up taught me that I could survive even days on end of feeling terrible, that it would pass, that if I could get through 2 hours daily in a small van with a bunch of other addicts I could definitely handle real life sober.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Europe
Posts: 440
I'm staying in rehab at this very moment. For the second time. I had another stay a the same place two years ago, and things went pretty well afterwards, but eventually I blew it. So well... here I am again after drinking daily for almost a year before I got admitted.
It's a hospital by definition, but the look&feel of the place doesn't suggest it. It's, well, more like a dormitory? The patients have their own rooms, some with a bathroom (those are prioritized for female patients). There are common dining areas, kitchens and living rooms which don't look much different than what you would find in any regular family home.
The nurses and therapists blend in nicely with the patients. They do a lot of focusing on a seamless environment here, and it's built upon trust. The doors are open even though some patients, on paper, have limited freedom of movement outside of the facility. There are daily activities, such as working out, hikes, swimming, team sports, etc. Some of them just within the institution, some with the general public.
Most of the patients are actually convicts, but they are still nice people with a common goal: to get off drugs/alcohol. While the majority are doing part of their sentencing here, the patients are still motivated to get a better life without drugs, or here to get that motivation. Their crimes are drug related.
That's not to say stuff doesn't happen. A couple months ago, some dude in the rehab unit, while I was in detox, had gotten ahold of alcohol/drugs, stole money from patient rooms (most don't bother to lock their doors), freaked out when he got confronted and threatened to kill the entire staff. The last time I was here, four patients overdosed at the same time (non fatal). These occurences happen, but are rare. Getting drunk or drugged while staying at rehab shows lack of motivation and people are often kicked out because of that, especially when it's that intense. As for violence, there is of course a zero tolerance policy.
Overall, I think this a great rehab center. However, that's just this place. This is a long-term detox&rehab facility, I've been here for three months now and am schedules for discharge in about one month. You say nine days... I honestly have doubts that would be enough time... Maybe for detox, but definitely not rehab. I have been to a few shorter stays (as in a couple of weeks) before at places I flat out hated... After discharge I would relapse right away. So obviously it varies from institution to institution. Though, what have you got to lose? It's worth a try.
It's a hospital by definition, but the look&feel of the place doesn't suggest it. It's, well, more like a dormitory? The patients have their own rooms, some with a bathroom (those are prioritized for female patients). There are common dining areas, kitchens and living rooms which don't look much different than what you would find in any regular family home.
The nurses and therapists blend in nicely with the patients. They do a lot of focusing on a seamless environment here, and it's built upon trust. The doors are open even though some patients, on paper, have limited freedom of movement outside of the facility. There are daily activities, such as working out, hikes, swimming, team sports, etc. Some of them just within the institution, some with the general public.
Most of the patients are actually convicts, but they are still nice people with a common goal: to get off drugs/alcohol. While the majority are doing part of their sentencing here, the patients are still motivated to get a better life without drugs, or here to get that motivation. Their crimes are drug related.
That's not to say stuff doesn't happen. A couple months ago, some dude in the rehab unit, while I was in detox, had gotten ahold of alcohol/drugs, stole money from patient rooms (most don't bother to lock their doors), freaked out when he got confronted and threatened to kill the entire staff. The last time I was here, four patients overdosed at the same time (non fatal). These occurences happen, but are rare. Getting drunk or drugged while staying at rehab shows lack of motivation and people are often kicked out because of that, especially when it's that intense. As for violence, there is of course a zero tolerance policy.
Overall, I think this a great rehab center. However, that's just this place. This is a long-term detox&rehab facility, I've been here for three months now and am schedules for discharge in about one month. You say nine days... I honestly have doubts that would be enough time... Maybe for detox, but definitely not rehab. I have been to a few shorter stays (as in a couple of weeks) before at places I flat out hated... After discharge I would relapse right away. So obviously it varies from institution to institution. Though, what have you got to lose? It's worth a try.
Friendly Folk
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Powers Lake, Wisconsin
Posts: 21,718
Rehab/detox was my last choice. I checked myself in because I could not detox at home. I was extremely anxious and afraid that I was going to seizure alone and die.
I was safe and looked after and got my head clear. Support was great and they helped me make a very good plan for my continued sobriety. I say it saved my life. Please consider it. It will help you in many ways.♡CR
I was safe and looked after and got my head clear. Support was great and they helped me make a very good plan for my continued sobriety. I say it saved my life. Please consider it. It will help you in many ways.♡CR
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 74
thanks again for the input everyone. so the plan is in motion now. i spoke at length with my insurance co's substance abuse hotline last night. they were great. and good news, step 1 is already done.. i took off work today/tmrw and all of next week. no turning back now. i can't waste this opportunity. work won't allow me to do this every month when i keep relapsing.
so now to find a facility. i'm starting to consider outpatient though. spend each day at the treatment center, detoxing and talking to therapists, come home and just go straight to my own bed, wake up and do it again. the inpatient facilities my insurance recommended had HORRIBLE reviews. all sounded more like prison than any comfy place to just stay and detox. fighting, screaming, stealing, sketchy nurses, terrible food, etc. etc. They make you sign papers that won't let you leave on your own for 3 days. they hold you until they decide you're ready. i don't trust that. plus next week's weather will be nice here. i think daily outpatient therapy + a little yard work and resume my old hobbies will be therapeutic. much better than being locked up with involuntarily committed criminals who were sentenced by a judge. i'm just an average early 30's middle class man who's otherwise quite responsible. i just need to man up and tackle this like a grown man should, with daily outpatient treatment and without all that extra drama i read about the inpatient places. i really like how the outpatient places seem so much more professional, like it's just going to visit a specialist each day. and all of them say it doesn't end after outpatient/intensive therapy/detox. they still will followup with me constantly, get me introduced to AA programs, network me with others in recovery. i'm good at staying committed to plans with goals like that (when they're made by someone besides me, i.e. an expert "authority" who's "in charge" of the "project" and expects me to deliver for it). especially when the reward is so great. pride is a priceless commodity. so here we go...
so now to find a facility. i'm starting to consider outpatient though. spend each day at the treatment center, detoxing and talking to therapists, come home and just go straight to my own bed, wake up and do it again. the inpatient facilities my insurance recommended had HORRIBLE reviews. all sounded more like prison than any comfy place to just stay and detox. fighting, screaming, stealing, sketchy nurses, terrible food, etc. etc. They make you sign papers that won't let you leave on your own for 3 days. they hold you until they decide you're ready. i don't trust that. plus next week's weather will be nice here. i think daily outpatient therapy + a little yard work and resume my old hobbies will be therapeutic. much better than being locked up with involuntarily committed criminals who were sentenced by a judge. i'm just an average early 30's middle class man who's otherwise quite responsible. i just need to man up and tackle this like a grown man should, with daily outpatient treatment and without all that extra drama i read about the inpatient places. i really like how the outpatient places seem so much more professional, like it's just going to visit a specialist each day. and all of them say it doesn't end after outpatient/intensive therapy/detox. they still will followup with me constantly, get me introduced to AA programs, network me with others in recovery. i'm good at staying committed to plans with goals like that (when they're made by someone besides me, i.e. an expert "authority" who's "in charge" of the "project" and expects me to deliver for it). especially when the reward is so great. pride is a priceless commodity. so here we go...
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 74
and no offense to any of you who went or are in inpatient treatment. i actually picture you as i picture myself in one, a sane human being with an alcohol problem, surrounded by lunatics. it sounds like some places are definitely better than others. around here though, only 3 choices, all 3 are psychiatric hospitals that happen to invite addicts too-- which would be GREAT if they didn't group everyone into the same room together. these facilities have your nextdoor neighbor with alcoholism sitting next to your borderline violent schizophrenic. that's a bit more than i'm looking for.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,601
Originally Posted by fantail
Haha yes and yes! Mine would always talk up how great it was that every single staff member was a recovering addict or alcoholic. And very quickly I started to feel like we could reaaally use some normies around. Like OH GOD I'M TRAPPED IN A BUILDING WITH 30 PEOPLE WHO ALL SHARE MY FAULTS, HELP, IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HANDLE A SCHEDULE AND NOT TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY AROUND HERE????
To the original Q... I'm glad I went. I'd tried probably over 20 times over a year and a half on my own. I'd gotten sober on my own once before, but things had gotten too bad. I needed help.
Mine was AA based but also CBT based. It was a good mix.
It was also terrible. I cried like crazy. I felt trapped. I got sick of being the only person who wasn't either 22 or 65 (apparently not a ton of people get sober in their 30s). I hated that we had to go to meetings every night even though we'd already spent 9 hours in therapy and doing step work. Every day felt like a century.
But that's exactly what I needed. I couldn't quit on my own because I couldn't handle sitting with my anxiety, my fear, my cravings, and my kind of messy life at the time. Being metaphorically locked up taught me that I could survive even days on end of feeling terrible, that it would pass, that if I could get through 2 hours daily in a small van with a bunch of other addicts I could definitely handle real life sober.
To the original Q... I'm glad I went. I'd tried probably over 20 times over a year and a half on my own. I'd gotten sober on my own once before, but things had gotten too bad. I needed help.
Mine was AA based but also CBT based. It was a good mix.
It was also terrible. I cried like crazy. I felt trapped. I got sick of being the only person who wasn't either 22 or 65 (apparently not a ton of people get sober in their 30s). I hated that we had to go to meetings every night even though we'd already spent 9 hours in therapy and doing step work. Every day felt like a century.
But that's exactly what I needed. I couldn't quit on my own because I couldn't handle sitting with my anxiety, my fear, my cravings, and my kind of messy life at the time. Being metaphorically locked up taught me that I could survive even days on end of feeling terrible, that it would pass, that if I could get through 2 hours daily in a small van with a bunch of other addicts I could definitely handle real life sober.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 709
picture, no offense taken! I imagine there are some places such as you described. The place I went to didn't accept court-ordered patients; you had to want to be there. I wasn't sure I'd do well with outpatient (plus there was child custody involved and I wanted to make sure I did everything I could), but it sounds like you're up for it. Good luck!!!!
now's the time
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,181
Originally Posted by Bunny211
LOL Mine was AA and CBT based too! And yes....I was in my 30s too. It was all kids and older women. And yes...the "Druggie Buggie" that would cart us off to meetings every night. Hahaha. You didn't go to Plymouth House, did you?
Nope, but I was on Cape Cod! Must be a MA thing. I heard the name Plymouth House, I think some of the staff at mine maybe worked there at one point or another. I got the sense that it was a pretty small community. We probably saw a lot of the same speakers! And met a lot of the same people, sadly. A lot of the people who came to mine had been in multiple others, especially the younger crowd.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: America
Posts: 4,136
To my knowledge rehab professionals are very caring, patient, but know how to handle challenging folks to take that next needful step; be courageous as it does take courage to learn to walk in a whole new way...
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