Very Important
- For me going into a residential program was very useful and crucial to my recovery. It gave me something that I could not get on the outside. It gave me time away from alcohol/drugs, a lot of information, coping skills, people to talk to who understood what i was going through. There were also counselors that helped me to try and get to the root of my problem. Also I got introduced to meetings and had people to call when I got out and meetings have been one of the most important pieces to my recovery. An inpatient program can give you something that you can not get on your own and that is a solid foundation.
- —Guest Melissa K.
This is serious
- I did 28 days in a rehab away from home after 18 months in and out of AA. For me it was like giving myself and everyone else in my life a very clear signal that this was serious stuff and that I had to make it my No 1 priority. My life was still in "OK" shape, still had job, wife (just), house, some cash etc but until I made sobriety No1 AND told everyone important that was so, I couldn't get sober. It also happened that my wife got such a lot of insight from the family days that we grew into my sobriety together, which was an unexpected side benefit. I've since been sober and active in AA for 10 and a half years. I sometimes feel a bit lost in AA these days, like it's assumed it's easy because you have been sober a while. True, generally it is easier and life is way better but I still need support with emotional headstorms from time to time.
- —Guest Mustafa
Biggest Benefit of rehab
- Would be acquiring sober time so that you can think somewhat clearly and make important decisions. You will also more than likely, learn things about yourself you never knew. And possibly make life-long friends.
- —Guest jeff37oc
Desperation
- Rehab stopped my world long enough for me to get off. I was 59 years old, with the gift of desperation and disgust. I had lost all of my self respect. King alcohol had taken over all aspects of my life. About a week into the program I suddenly wondered when the last time I had thought about drinking, I couldn't remember. I have had maybe a half dozen thoughts of drinking through the years, but thinking the drink through to the other side has stopped the stupidity. Last month I celebrated 22 years sobriety. I am comfortable in my own skin and my position in life. Because of a family condition, I have cut down on meetings and sponsorship but still go to my home group, Thursday night. I even sit with my back to the door! Today I have the gift of Comfort and Sobriety!
- —gymweir
Staying in recovery
- I've been clean now for 8 years. I feel great I thank God each day. I also stay away from my old friends. I have plenty of good friends who always encourage me in my recovery
- —Guest gerard
Safe haven
- I found that I was in a safe environment, surrounded by recovering / recovered Alcoholics / Addicts both patients and counselors and the best bit was I had to get honest, I would be immediately be called on my BS. There were no distractions, it was waking hours recovery work, AA / NA , I was in such a mess I spent 7.5 months in rehab in Scotland, I've just celebrated 5 years clean and sober. Something was deeply instilled within me during that time, highly concentrated.
- —Guest IanS
State Run Rehab
- It was the closest I've ever come to having a nervous breakdown. It was a total hell-hole and I ended up grabbing my purse and running away on a rainy night with no place to go. Even just thinking about it almost makes me physically sick. They give those workers a little bit of power over a bunch of "prison or rehab" people and see what it does to them. Being homeless for a time was much better than being stuck there. I figured out how to get my life together on my own and am doing much better today. Beth
- —Mathildabee
The free items
- The only advantage of going to a residential alcohol and drug rehab is that they gave me an AA big book and a 28-day token without additional charge. Of course I could have gotten those in 5 minutes at an AA meeting without wasting 28 days and thousands of dollars.
- —Guest Roland
Residential treatment
- The best thing I got out of residential treatment was a Medicaid card. Once I had that, I marched myself into a mental health clinic and got some real help for the depression that fueled my drinking. The halfway house & treatment offered me little or nothing that helped with my sobriety other than a place to land without worrying about bills to pay so that I could work on myself. That was eight years ago, I'm still sober. By year two, I was the only one out of about 50 to have maintained continuous sobriety. I now work in mental health and facilitate substance abuse groups for people with mental health issues based on Motivational Interviewing.
- —raysny
Trish
- In the early 80's, it was the worst experience of my life. Both the staff and clients were physically and verbally abusive. I weighed 89 pounds when I finally got out of that hell hole. At 130 pounds now, I am considered thin.
- —Guest Trish
Rehabilitation
- Rehab did help me to be in the path of recovery. Sure.
- —Guest kmhlakshmanan
A better understanding
- People talked about tools. I wanted to have a better understanding and help about my alcoholism with other people that where there who wanted the same thing for themselves. The first time very little sunk in, but enough to give me an idea what rehab was about and knowing their was help.
- —Guest Jessie Louie
Family day
- The biggest advantage was the family day when they told me what I was like when I was drinking and using drugs. It helped me a lot. I have been in the program 7 years now.
- —Guest michael cullligan
Changed my thinking
- I couldn't stay clean on the street. I went to long-term rehab. I learned to change my thinking. I was forced to control my behavior, get along with other people and follow rules - things I never had to worry about in the last years of my addiction. There were no rules in my life, anything and everything went. I didn't realize how anti-social I had become. Anger and pain ruled. I was in rehab for enough time for the obsession to use to leave me. I was allowed to go to meetings and socialize with people with long-term clean time. I also walked out of there with eight months clean, a support system and a sponsor.
- —kathykkna
Biggest advantage of going to rehab
- I was safe. All 'choice' was taken away and I indeed was left with what the words of the Big Book say on pages 24 and 25. Going to a rehab gave me tools and structure. It gave me an opportunity to get my head quiet enough that I could hear someone else and just blindly let them guide me and on occasion, drag me into some order of sanity. I left the war outside and just began the spiritual battles of every day living. I still use the discipline and structure of those 28 days. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to re-remember.
- —Guest michele t
