Rehab is never meant to be seen as a vacation. Thinking of it that way devalues its purpose and sets clients up for failure. Rehab is created for people who are prepared to work on themselves and embrace the learning process. Sometimes rehab is thought of as a resort stay because there are many rehabs that offer the same accommodations as a resort. However, this does not mean that the experience is the same at all. When one checks into rehab, they cannot expect to be on vacation. Instead, they can expect to do the following:
- Work. Retraining your thought and behavior patterns is work no matter how you go about it. The work that it takes to make an addict mentally healthy involves critical thinking, individual counseling, memory work, readings, workbook exercises, group therapy sessions and support group meetings.
- Discipline. Rehab requires clients to be diligent in the work they do, following a schedule at all times, concentrating when they need to concentrate, putting real thought into their required activities. Some discipline is essential to even staying in the program, but full discipline will get clients their money’s worth in mental healing.
- Cooperation. Attending rehab requires cooperation, collectivism and obedience. It is training in teamwork, respecting boundaries and putting the needs of the group ahead of the needs of individuals. There is individual counseling time given to clients in rehab to ensure they receive personal attention as well, but a majority of the activities are done as a group. Apart from that, rehab clients are under the supervision of rehab staff, and must therefore submit to them as authority figures.
- Personal growth. One can expect to experience a great deal of personal growth while they are in rehab if they take it seriously. Rehab allows a person many opportunities to gain insight into their lifelong patterns of thought and behavior. Wise people take advantage of this insight and use it to change their lives for the better.