How do I Prepare for Rehab?

In this article, we offer some practical tips that will prepare you for going to rehab. It’s best to plan for your stay in a rehab clinic as much as practically possible. Doing so will help to improve your overall rehab experience. It’s not uncommon for people to experience stress and mild anxiety about going to rehab, and this article aims to quash these anxieties by helping you fully prepare for this life-changing experience that awaits you.

Once you have psychologically committed to the idea that going to rehab is the best possible cause of action to take, it’s now time to practically and logistically prepare you for this experience.

Initial preparation for going to rehab

Once you have followed all the steps in this article, your mind will be fully at peace. This is important because it is difficult to focus on your treatment goals if you are worried about responsibilities you would normally take care of if you were not inside a rehab.

Below, we outline 7 practical tips that will help you fully prepare for rehab:

#1. Arranging suitable work cover

Telling your employer about going to rehab is perhaps embarrassing and potentially career damaging. Thus, in many situations, you may better serve your interests by telling your employer you are going on an extended holiday. If your employer is aware of your addiction, then it’s likely your interests will be better served by telling your employer the truth about going to rehab. After all, it may be considered unlawful for your employer to reprimand you for seeking out professional help.

If you are a valued employee, then it’s probably the case that your employer will positively welcome your decision to go to rehab. After all, employers understand that addiction negatively impacts your productivity. Some employers will even continue to pay your wages whilst you go to rehab. If you are not entitled to company sick pay, then you will be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) which is around £92 a week at the time of writing. You will need to acquire a doctor’s ‘sick note’ in order to qualify for this benefit.

#2. Taking care of family responsibilities

Many people going to rehab will be parents. If you have young children, then the thought of leaving your children for 4-6 weeks may cause you considerable anxiety and stress. It’s important to put solid plans in place because your children will still need to receive care whilst you are in rehab. You may need to ask close family members or friends to look after children, pets or your elderly relatives whilst you undergo your rehab treatment.

If possible, it’s advantageous to include family members and close friends when making the decision to go to rehab. Doing so will increase the chances of these people agreeing to help with your family responsibilities whilst you undergo rehab treatment.

It is also important to prepare loved ones for your imminent departure. Making it clear that you won’t be going away forever and that your stay in rehab will help you regain your health. As long as your loved ones realise that going to rehab is for the greater good, they will support your decision with open minds.

#3. Paying your bills whilst you are in rehab

Just because you are in rehab, life outside still goes on as normal. If you are responsible for paying bills, it’s important to ensure direct debits or some other form of automatic payment is set up to ensure all bills continue to be paid whilst you are in rehab. It may also be a good idea to get somebody who you trust to pay bills on your behalf whilst you are inside the rehab clinic.

#4. Sorting legal issues

If you are due to make a court appearance whilst you are undergoing a rehab programme, then it might be a good idea to have your solicitor write to the court to vacate the hearing until after you have completed your rehab programme. If the court proceedings relate to your addiction, then the court is likely to welcome the news that you are seeking out professional treatment. In some instances, your decision to attend a rehab clinic may actually reduce the punishment arising from these court proceedings.

#5. What to bring along

Perhaps this point would be better framed as ‘what not to bring along’. This is because people going to rehab are known to bring many items along that they simply will not require. Worst, some of the items you may bring along to rehab could serve to distract you from your treatment. That’s why it’s always good advice to only being along the bare essentials. This includes your clothing, your toiletries and reading material. If you smoke, then bring along tobacco or cigarettes, but note the rehab clinic will be able to purchase these items on your behalf whilst you are in their care.

#6. Write down a list of goals before you go into rehab

Goal setting is believed to possess power in helping you actually achieve your goals. If you do not formalise your goals by writing them down on a piece of paper, then it’s much less likely that you will actually achieve them. Although your goals will evolve whilst you are in a rehab clinic, still write down your early goals so that you may stay true to those goals throughout the treatment process. Revise your goals as you see fit later on down the line.

#7. Take the time to relax so that you can truly assess your current situation

Before you enter rehab, try to relax as much as possible so you may accurately take stock of your current situation. This will also help you write down your goals that we mentioned in point #6 above. In order to relax, go for a walk, listen to some soothing music or soak in a bath. Take some ‘me time’ and don’t feel guilty for doing so. When you attend rehab, you will discover the pivotal role ‘me time’ takes when it comes to sustaining your recovery, so get used to this small commitment before you go to rehab.

Taking the necessary steps to getting into rehab

If you have decided that the time is right to go into rehab for either drug or alcohol addiction, then contact Rehab 4 Alcoholism today on 0800 111 4108. When you contact us, we shall assist you in selecting suitable rehab facilities in your local area.