Let’s face it: the idea of going through rehab can be a daunting one. While deciding to enter a addiction treatment program is an crucial first step in the recovery process, too often the misconceptions and false beliefs about rehab programs can keep someone from getting the help they need. Some of the most common falsehoods about rehab are listed below – recognize any? If so, read on to gain a better understanding about how rehab works, and how it can help you or someone you love to live a life free of destructive addictions.
Rehab is a fix to addiction: False. While many believe that rehab treatment will “fix” or ‘cure” their addiction, this is not the case; addiction is a life-long illness, with no cure except a dynamic, on-going lifelong recovery plan.
Rehab is a lonely, depressing place: False. Rehab centers like 12 Palms feature a strong, compassionate community where patients find the support and encouragement they need to make a successful recovery. Many even make life-long friends while in treatment.
Rehab is a “prison”: False. Patients are free to come and go as they please, assuming there are no legal judicial circumstances involved. Rehab itself may often seem restricting, but structure and restrictions are often required for successful treatment. Remember: rehab is the start of a new direction in life, not the end of it.
If you’re forced to go, rehab won’t work: False. While it is true that treatment can start helping faster if there is less resistance to it, someone that is less than willing to go into treatment still receives the same therapies and education on addiction as everyone else. Typically, those who don’t go into rehab treatment willingly often come out the other side wanting sobriety.
Rehab is a waste of time and money: False. A recent study shows that rehab treatment reduces use by up to 60%. Statistics show that those who have gone through rehab stay sober longer than those who have not. Another factor is dual diagnosis, where there is an underlying mental or emotional disorder that needs to be treated alongside the addiction itself. Rehab can treat both.
Needing treatment makes you a failure: False. Recognizing that you need help is a sign of strength. Going to treatment takes courage, and many very successful people have been through the rehab process. Needing treatment is no indicator of your worth or success.
All rehab facilities are the same: False. Just as people are individuals who respond differently to different treatment approaches, no one facility is the same. The best rehab centers, like 12 Palms, tailor their programs to the unique needs of each individual, in order to ensure a lasting recovery.
All rehabs push religion: False. There is often a misconception in the distinction between religion and spirituality. While many rehab centers (and 12-step programs) often strongly endorse spirituality or a “higher power” as part of recovery, they do not push one to believe in God in a religious sense.
Rehabs “brain wash” their patients: False. In fact, substance abuse itself does the “brain-washing” by changing and impairing the brain’s processing and decision- making abilities. Rehab does just the opposite, by teaching patients how to make healthy decisions in life and cope without the need for mind-altering substances.
At 12 Palms Recovery Center, we understand that considering rehab treatment can be frightening, especially if you have misconceptions like the ones listed above. We welcome you to call anytime with any questions or concerns you may have about seeking treatment. We also invite you to stop by and visit our tranquil center and speak to our staff, to help you make an informed decision that can change your life – or the life of a loved one – for the better.
