What to expect at a rehabilitation clinic?
I had my own ideas about coming to a clinic for addiction treatment. Would it be a boot camp or would it be people in white coats giving me a clinical point of view on my illness of alcohol addiction? I was desperate to get some help as I did not want to continue living as I was. And yet I was afraid of what was ahead of me – both in rehab and in terms of a future without alcohol. How would I function without it? How could I live a daily life? Would I ever get back to normal without alcohol to make me feel comfortable in social situations? It was a scary time.
Arrival
When I arrived at the Haynes in August of 2010 my ideas could not be further from the truth. No white coats and no boot camp. All the staff were in recovery so knew exactly how to help me. It was a relaxed, caring environment, a world away from what I left behind. The rural setting was ideal for me to relax and focus on my recovery.
One of the first things that surprised me was the mix of clients in recovery at the Haynes, from students to people of retirement age and from all walks of life and backgrounds. From my first day after handing in my mobile for my first week I could start to focus on recovery with the help of all the staff and of my house peers. I started to get back into a routine that I had lost as my addiction to alcohol took over.
The therapeutic duties around the house helped me to work as part of a team again and to build up a bond of trust and respect with other clients, which forms a major part of recovery. The group sessions at the clinic were an important part of recovery. They helped me to work out issues that I had built up over the years. The 1-2-1 counselling also forms a part of the recovery process. The counsellors are all in recovery and with many years of experience between them there aren’t many situations that they have not come across before.
During my stay
At the rehabilitation clinic I built a strong bond with the staff and peer group which is still ongoing. Weekly after care sessions are offered. They gave me support and a chance to catch up with other clients who are no longer in residence at the clinic. I also enjoy meeting new clients who are getting the help and support I needed to recover from my addiction.
As a result of my time at The Haynes Clinic, I have learned to trust people again. I have built up my self-confidence and self-esteem and I have begun to believe in myself. I now believe and know that there is a future without alcohol – and one in which I can be happy.