5 Ways to Crush Your Addiction Treatment Program
1. Be a rule follower.
Prepare for a dress code (nope, no walking around in your pj’s) and a military-style wake-up time. “Your day will be very, very structured,” says Jennifer Fernández, PhD, a clinical psychologist in San Francisco. The strict rules about relationships and flirting may feel like overkill, but don’t fight them. You’re here to focus on you.
2. Step away from your phone.
“You need to fully invest in being here,” says Erin Goodhart, senior clinical director of women’s services at Caron Treatment Centers. It’s hard to focus on your recovery while tapping through Insta Stories. In many programs, staffers will play secretary for you, alerting you to urgent texts from your dog sitter. There may also be short windows of the day when you can make important calls.
3. Talk about yourself.
A key feature of rehab is tons of group therapy. And honestly, it will do wonders for your shame to know that others have also flaked on friends’ birthdays while high or stolen money from their parents. “I’d own up to something, and then two or three other girls would say, ‘Oh, that happened to me!’” says Caroline, 30, a hairstylist who is eight months sober.
4. Be the she who persists.
The first time you’ll be tempted to pull the escape hatch is right after detox, says Luke English, clinical director of Recovery Centers of America in Devon, Pennsylvania. This is when your drug-free body might trick you into thinking the tough part is over. Two weeks in, many patients feel restless, bored, or exhausted, says English. Anticipate these feelings—and stick it out.
5. Stay longer, if you can.
While 28 or 60 or 90 days may already seem major, it’s very possible you’ll end up wanting to extend, as many women Cosmo spoke to did. Your treatment team will help you decide, says Kelli Grant, corporate director of business development and case management for Caron Treatment Centers.
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