Saying yes to rehab, often means saying no to a lot of other things you might have on your plate. Traditional addiction centers required people to put their lives on hold for 30, 60, or 90+ days so they could get intensive in-person treatment. But the world is far different from the world when this model was designed. And in fact, people now more than even before need treatment methods that can adjust to real life.
There are countless reasons why people who want to recover from addiction get stuck if they don’t have solutions designed for their lifestyle. From being able to bring a beloved pet, to having solutions for parents, here are the reasons people hesitate and the opportunities they have to overcome addiction anyways.
When There Is No One to Take Care of Your Pets
Pet owners know that their animals are an important part of their everyday lives. When you walk in the door and your dog greets you happily, or your cat meanders over for a quick cuddle, these moments are valuable. And for people ready to get addiction treatment, their presence can even be an important source of healing. Unfortunately, some treatment facilities are unwilling to allow animals. This means you would either need to board them or find them a new home if you don’t have family or friends to care for them.
However, if you need your dog or cat nearby for any reason, it’s important to look for a rehab that allows pets. You won’t get 5-star service, a dog masseuse, or chef created dog foods necessarily, but they may let you keep your animal with you as long as you care for it during your stay. And for some people, this can be exactly what they need to finally say yes to getting help for addiction.
Parents Who Don’t Have a Village
Many parents nowadays don’t have the village that they so desperately need when hardships come. They don’t have family to babysit or close friends to rely on for meals and other help. When late night sips of wine and too many beers during a ballgame turn into something more than an occasional thing, these parents may not know what to do next.
Many moms and dads find themselves in need of addiction treatment, but struggling to figure out how to make it work when they have parenting responsibilities. They can’t necessarily leave for a long stay in rehab, but they also need help. For some people, they can start with group sessions that help them begin the process of recovery. Others may need a weekend stay for medical detox, but they can do their therapies virtually to help them get headed on the right path.
Work Culture Impacts Recovery Decisions
Many professionals struggle with addiction silently. Some of the issues impacting them include the stress of keeping a career, shame, pride, and even assumptions around what stress really feels like. High-stakes workers who are already prone to burnout, like doctors, EMTs, and other medical professionals are especially at risk of addiction. They are also less likely to pursue treatment for fear of repercussions like losing medical licenses or being looked down on by colleagues.
Because work culture can impact recovery decisions so strongly, it’s important to seek out options that offer a high degree of confidentiality. Some rehab facilities are used to offering an increased level of privacy and discretion for their clients. You can also pursue FMLA leave through your workplace if you qualify. This would give you the space you need to seek out addiction recovery and start healing.
The Future of Addiction Treatment
Traditional rehab models where you stay in a facility for a month or more are quickly becoming less relevant. They tend to offer rigid one-size-fits-all approaches to drug and alcohol addiction, and people are unique and need rehab approaches that meet their needs.
More centers are recognizing that some patients need to be able to keep their jobs. They notice that people can’t afford to put everything on hold, but still want the benefits of addiction treatment. Newer approaches offer hybridized models that leverage technology, connection, and emotional regulation approaches to help people come up out of addiction. These centers offer holistic options like equine assisted therapies, art therapy, and so much more. The future of
