Some people go to rehab once only and never drink or use drugs again. They know they have had enough and have no desire ever to go again. They go home and stay clean and sober, and go on to lead a happy and fulfilled life.
Other people leave rehab and fully intend to stay clean and sober. They may do so for a period of time as they enthusiastically follow the advice they have been given. They attend 12 Step meetings back in the local community, get a sponsor and start to go through the 12 Step Programme with their sponsor. They do their daily disciplines, meditating or praying and taking daily inventory. They attend aftercare at the clinic they attended. However, after a time they get complacent or start to lack enthusiasm for this new way of life. They forget how bad their life in active addiction used to be. They stop taking it seriously and gradually cut down or stop going to meetings, doing their daily programme and communicating with their sponsor. They either go through a challenging life event and return to a drink or drug (even if it is something as small as having an argument with a family member) or they make an active decision to have a drink or drug thinking that now they will be able to control it. Soon it becomes apparent that this was a huge mistake as very quickly they will discover that they can’t control it. That one drink or drug will lead to another and then another. They will be back to square one or worse (as it is a progressive illness).
Should people who have relapsed return to rehab?
What is the point of going again? Will you learn anything different the second time? First it may be a necessity to return in order to get a detox and to get physically clean. If you cannot (safely) stop then you may need medication to help you stop. Going back to rehab will also give you chance to determine exactly what went wrong so that you do not have to make the same mistake again. What did you do not deal with the first time around? What element of the 12 Step Programme did you not fully accept as being for you? Do you really want recovery and are you prepared to start again? Are you prepared this time to put the work in and keep it up?
Deciding to return
If you decide to return to private drug and alcohol rehab, should you return to the same clinic as before or go to a different one? If you feel that the clinic you have already attended was right for you the first time round, then it is likely to be right for you again and you will have the benefit of the staff knowing you and your issues well. Certainly you should not let pride prevent your return. However, if it was too easy for you at the clinic you have already attended, if you were too comfortable emotionally and psychologically and ‘sailed through’ then maybe you should look to going to a clinic that will be more tough on you.
Don’t let it become a way of life
Some people make a habit of going to rehab and will go several times. It almost becomes a (very expensive) way of life. Is there any point in this? Often there is some enabling funder behind these numerous attempts at getting and staying clean. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Either the funder needs to stop funding or the individual needs to decide that they have had enough and this time they really mean to get clean and sober permanently. Otherwise it will continue and the spells in rehab are merely a respite, keeping the individual alive until next time….
Call The Haynes Clinic for further advice and to book a free assessment on 01462 851414.