Table of Contents
Top 10 Things to Do Before You Go to Addiction Treatment
- Positive Thinking Time
- Stay Out of Harm’s Way
- Joining a Support Group
- Build Your Support Network
- Learning to Manage Cravings
- Find Sober Hobbies You Enjoy
- Let Yourself Relax
- Put Your Physical Health to the Forefront
- Deciding How You Will Respond When Someone Asks About Your Recovery
- Write Down Things You Are Grateful For
- Get Into a Treatment Program Today
Change is difficult for everyone to some degree. So, you are thinking about going to substance abuse rehab, but you have so many fears about doing so? This is alright. It is normal human behavior to be scared of big changes like this. You are about to give up alcohol and/or drugs, along with the lifestyle you were living. You might be scared that some of your relationships will fade away because you think people won’t support your life in recovery. If that is the case, maybe you should rethink these relationships anyways, as they may not be able to see what is best for you at this time.
If you are ready for addiction treatment, there are 10 things you should do before you go to treatment. Now is the time for positive thinking and so many other great things.
1. Positive Thinking Time
Positive thinking is a concept that has been scientifically studied for a long time. Time and time again, it has proven to be beneficial in multiple scenarios.
Some of the things that can help you to change your attitude into a more positive one include:
- Smiling and laughing more
- Learning to adapt to different circumstances
- Practicing acceptance (especially for what you can’t control)
- Practicing reframing or changing negative situations into positive ones
- Focusing on the things you have to be grateful for
- Doing multiple mindfulness and yoga techniques
- Receiving mental health and/or addiction treatment
If you have already started your recovery, but you are struggling, just know that a slight shift in your mood could make all the difference. If you haven’t begun your recovery yet, but you would like to do so, reach out to our Dessert Rose team today. We can help you to develop a positive recovery plan that will work the best for you. If changes need to be made, we will work with you to fine-tune them, so they best fit your recovery needs.
2. Stay Out of Harm’s Way
Another thing you should do before you go to treatment is to stay out of harm’s way. What does this even mean? Well, if you are regularly in situations where your mental health symptoms are triggered or where you have high cravings to drink or use drugs, that won’t be good for the start of your recovery. So, whenever possible, it is vital that you put yourself only in positive, substance-free environments. Even when you attend a treatment program, it would be a good idea to avoid places where there will be drugs and alcohol or harmful people, too.
3. Joining a Support Group
There are some people who join a support group after they leave the addiction or mental health treatment center program which is fine. However, if you are attending an outpatient program (of any kind), it may be a good idea to join a support group right away. This way, you have more people to turn to for support and to hold yourself more accountable to your recovery. You might be able to make some lifelong friends or find a sponsor in these support groups, too.
4. Build Your Support Network
Whenever someone is going into recovery for a mental health disorder or addiction, our Dessert Rose team recommends they build a solid support network. This doesn’t just mean going to support group meetings. You should have a list of trustable, reliable, sober people who you can turn to for help when you need it. These people should be around when you are struggling and when you are doing well. Some people that might be part of your support network include:
- Counselors
- Case manager
- Therapists
- Friends
- Family members
- Neighbors
- Co-workers
Not only should you be able to talk freely with these people, but they can go with you to events where you might struggle to stay clean and sober, such as weddings.
5. Learning to Manage Cravings
Everyone has cravings for something – shopping, alcohol, drugs, etc. These are normal and expected during the early parts of recovery, so being prepared for them is one of the best things you can do.
Rather than being mad at yourself each time you have a craving, learn what you can do to manage them well. For example, when you have a craving, you might call your best friend to talk about your struggles. They can be there for you, so you have a lower risk of relapsing. You can also go on a jog, go to a meeting, journal or do other recovery-related activities. If you aren’t sure which activities work best for you, don’t worry, you will figure it out. When you attend our Dessert Rose treatment program, we can help you with this list, too.
6. Find Sober Hobbies You Enjoy
Hobbies are extremely important during recovery from a mental health disorder or addiction. It is important that, as you work through your recovery, you are focused on what makes you happy. Yes, recovery is hard work and you should stay dedicated to it, but part of that is taking care of your whole self. If you aren’t sure which hobbies you enjoy anymore, pick one to try. Do it a few times to see if it sparks any interest for you. If so, maybe add that hobby to the list of things you can do regularly or every once in a while throughout your recovery.
7. Let Yourself Relax
Relaxation is one key to a happy, healthy recovery. The less stress and tension you have, the lower your risk of relapsing will be. If you start feeling overwhelmed, do something to help yourself to relax. There are many common activities that people in recovery often enjoy doing to help themselves relax. Maybe, these activities would help you to bring about more relaxation in your life, too.
8. Put Your Physical Health to the Forefront
If you have been struggling with an addiction or mental health disorder for quite some time, you may not have taken care of your physical health. If this is the case, and you plan to attend an outpatient program, you should get yourself in to see a doctor, as well. They can do a physical assessment to determine if you need any conditions taken care of . You should also focus on eating three healthy, balanced meals each day along with healthy snacks. Exercising daily would be a good idea, as well.
9. Deciding How You Will Respond When Someone Asks About Your Recovery
It would also be a good idea to decide how you will respond when someone asks about your recovery. That way, you aren’t feeling pressured by their questions and you can answer quickly and effectively.
10. Write Down Things You Are Grateful For
Before you go to treatment, it would also be a good idea to write down the top 5 to 10 things you are grateful for. Making this list and keeping it with you can help you to remember the things that motivate you in recovery – your job, children, other family members, your house, your recovery, etc.
Get Into a Treatment Program Today
Now that you know these top 10 things to do before you go to treatment, you can start doing them, so you can finally get into a treatment program right away.
Contact us, here at Dessert Rose, to go to addiction treatment today.
