Do you think you know what it takes to get clean and sober? Unless you’ve already done it, think again. There are so many myths, mistakes, and misunderstandings when it comes to addiction treatment and recovery. From detox to residential treatment and beyond, these are the most common myths about addiction recovery — and the truth about getting clean and sober.
Addiction Recovery Myth #1: I only need detox.
So maybe you have looked into your treatment options and have worked up the courage to get help. Congratulations! Any step towards addiction treatment is a good step. However, maybe you are telling yourself and loved ones that you only need to go to detox, and that you will stay clean after that. (Side note: No one should detox at home. Detox should always be done under medical care.) While we all wish it could be as simple as going to a detox center for a week and then being good as new, it’s not. Not only do you need to get your body back to normal and through withdrawals safely, but also, it is important you give yourself a break from drugs, alcohol, and the environment in which you used. This is just one of the important reasons why residential treatment after detox is needed. Residential treatment will also provide you with a staff that understands what you are going through. They can help you learn the tools you need to stay clean and sober in your daily life after addiction treatment.
Addiction Recovery Myth #2: Recovery is just reciting cheesy quotes.
Even if this is your first time getting clean, you’ve probably heard famous quotes such as, “One day at a time,” or “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” Maybe you think they are cheesy sayings, and that it’s proof that getting clean and sober is completely lame. In that case, here’s another recovery saying you need to know: “Take what works and leave the rest.” Sayings are like song lyrics. If you don’t like one, it doesn’t mean that you’ll hate any music in that genre. Every single one doesn’t have to connect to you personally, and that’s fine. The reality is that when you finally get help, you will need some inspiration to get clean and stay clean. You need to find what works for you. That might be listening to music by sober artists like Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kills), Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), or Becky Wreck (Dirty Cakes). That’s not all it will take, though. Finding a rehab that works best for you is important. The clinical staff will help you in finding what it is that’s going to inspire you and keep you motivated to stay clean once you’ve left. They’ve been there too.
Addiction Recovery Myth #3: I’ll have no contact with the outside world in residential treatment.
A myth many use as an excuse to put off getting help is the myth that you will be completely cut off from the outside world during addiction treatment. First, this is not entirely true. While residential centers don’t allow you to use your personal phone, they provide you with phones and plenty of phone time to talk with your loved ones. If there are things you need to take care of, such as paying your bills, or making important phone calls, the clinical staff will help you take care of those things. Not only that, but they will help you get short term disability if you are taking time off from work. Second, taking a break from the stresses and triggers of daily life while you try to get off drugs and alcohol is actually a good thing that will give you a break and help you focus on doing recovery right.
Addiction Recovery Myth #4: I can’t afford rehab.
Rehab isn’t just for rich people and celebrities. Most residential treatment centers will work with you to figure out your financial situation. If you can’t afford the first place you call, they could help recommend other options that might be a better fit. The staff’s main priority is to help you change your life for the better — and yours should be too. If there ever was a time to splurge, this is it. Getting clean is a matter of life or death. If you reach out and ask for help, addiction treatment center staffers can help you in contacting insurance, figuring out payment plans after you’re better and doing anything else that will help you focus on getting clean.
If you’re starting to think that your assumptions about addiction recovery might be BS, or you have other questions we didn’t address here, send our awesome team a chat on the bottom right corner of this page, or call us here.
If one of your assumptions is that you can’t go to rehab and keep your job, check out our ebook below!
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Getting Clean & Sober at Home
Today, more than 75% of hospitals and healthcare providers offer access to telehealth treatment, with 29 states having gone so far as to enact telehealth parity laws, which force insurance companies to reimburse patients for telehealth at the same rates as they would for in-person treatment.
If you’ve been thinking about getting clean and sober, or if you’ve been wanting to work on and strengthen the recovery you already have, it’s never been easier to do it through telehealth.
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