Life changes, but not always on your terms. And even if you’ve come around to admitting that help may be the way forward, it might be hard to explain exactly what that looks like in the early stages.
The process of undergoing addiction treatment can be difficult in terms of understanding, because treatment facilities all have different approaches and methods in their programs.
What the first week looks like at a residential treatment center Los Angeles will not match what it looks like somewhere else. Generally, though, the first week consists of building an understanding of your personal case, learning about how their program works, and preparing for long-term healing and support.
The First Days May Involve an Assessment
The assessment at the beginning of your journey through addiction treatment will consist of your treatment facility learning more about you as an individual and how your substance use disorder may have developed.
The treatment team will most likely ask questions about drug and alcohol use before entering the facility, previous treatment attempts, overall physical health, history of mental illnesses or disorders, prescriptions, family dynamics, and expectations from the program. Please take these questions seriously and answer truthfully — there is no shame in being transparent. Withholding vital information, like substance use before entering treatment, only makes it harder for the team to understand the full picture.
A New Routine Takes Time to Adjust To
The treatment facility will introduce you to a routine that will, from this point on, dictate your entire day and week according to your personal recovery plan.
You are no longer used to a routine like this — it can leave you feeling incredibly claustrophobic or like you have lost a part of yourself. That does not mean the program is not working. It usually means you have a lot to adjust to in the days to come, and building a predictable routine takes time, particularly when daily life has been disrupted by substance use.
Meeting the Treatment Team
You do not yet know the treatment professionals in charge of your healing and support, or the other clients going through the program alongside you. They are your safe space and support system; building that level of trust and comfort takes time, especially being thrown together like this at the beginning of your treatment. Do not worry if you do not feel inclined to share openly at first — those instincts are natural, and they ease as you get to know these places and people.
Group Sessions Can Feel Uncomfortable at First
Group therapy sessions are a common aspect of the addiction treatment process. These days you may feel like you do not have anything to contribute to the conversation, or that you would rather not speak up yet. That is fine. Listen to others, if that is easier at the moment.
Listening benefits you more than you think — hearing others’ pain and struggles will most likely bring greater awareness and understanding of your own issues and struggles. This is all part of a longer process, and in time you will find that these group sessions become an important part of your addiction treatment journey.
Personal Time Still Matters
The addiction treatment process does not revolve around endless hours of therapy.
Quiet time is worth taking seriously — reading, yoga, journaling, and other wellness-centered things can really benefit your mental health. If these are available to you at the facility, take full advantage of them.
Family Communication May Change
You are in an intense, difficult period of your life, and your loved ones want to know what is going on every single day. However, it is important to acknowledge the fact that communication outside of those four walls is up to your specific facility and how they operate. Ask questions and clarify rules as soon as you have the opportunity.
Progress May Not Seem Drastic
Your first week in treatment is not going to be the beginning of a new life. You are getting used to new surroundings while dealing with the discomfort of reliving your substance-related memories and experiences. The primary goal of that first week should be building a strong foundation for your future in recovery.
What Happens After the First Week?
The treatment team will most likely have a much better understanding of your needs by week two, and that means your personal plan of action will be developed by then. Your primary focus will turn towards substance use, mental health, relationships, and coping mechanisms while preparing for life beyond treatment. A plan concerning your post-treatment life is also crucial at this point.
Conclusion: Give Yourself Time to Adjust
Realistically, your first week in addiction treatment probably includes an array of difficult emotions and confusing new sensations. It may not be the easiest week in terms of your emotions and stress levels, but it sets you on a clearer path.
You are adjusting to new rules and a strict routine, working on building a rapport with new people, learning about uncomfortable experiences from your past, and thinking about your future in a new way. Give yourself enough time to adjust to each small change individually, and let the rest follow from there.