Are you ready to get help for an addiction? Here are a few simple steps to take to begin your journey to recovery. If you have questions about any of these steps, please call us at (888) 477-5453 and a caring, knowledgeable counselor will help you 24 hours a day.
1 Determine where you want to go.
Finding a location for treatment is one of the most important first steps in your recovery journey. You may have a great job in the town where you live, so a treatment program close to you may be appropriate. Or you may not trust yourself in your town because your friends all do drugs and your neighbor is your dealer. In that case, treatment in another state may be your best option. Finding a location that’s right for you may have a huge impact on your relapse prevention efforts.
Pillars Recovery offers cutting-edge addiction treatment in the beautiful Orange County communities of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.
2 Determine what services you’ll need in treatment.
Determining what services you need is one of the most important parts of selecting a treatment center. Treatment centers vary greatly in scope of practices and focus areas, so finding one that’s right for you is important. Treatment centers may provide services for detoxification, dual diagnosis, religious focus, executive, 12-step, LGBTQ, or a myriad of other specializations. Determine what you think you’ll need before you pick up the phone to call a treatment center.
3 Research treatment centers in the area you choose
Once you’ve decided where you want to go to treatment and which services you’ll need, your next step is to make a list of the treatment centers that interest you. You’ll want to have a list of questions prepared to determine if the services they provide are adequate for your needs. If the treatment center is near you, you can ask if a tour is available. Most will accommodate your request.
If you need help coming up with a list of questions for treatment centers, take a look at this article from The Fix entitled 10 Questions to Ask Before You Go To Rehab.
4 Determine how you’ll pay for treatment
Payment is a barrier to treatment for many people. If you have health insurance that will cover the cost of treatment, then you’re set. You can call the phone number on your Health Insurance ID to find out what your eligibility for treatment is, or you can call a treatment center to determine if they will accept your health insurance.
Two other options for payment are financing and cash discounts. There are financing companies that lend with the purpose of helping people pay for treatment. Creditworthiness may be an issue, but most lenders will accept a cosigner, or a borrower on your behalf. Cash discounts are discounts from full price that treatment centers will offer for people who wish to pay out of pocket. The discount may be as much as 40% off the regular price, or payment plans may be available directly through the treatment center.
If you aren’t sure which option is best for you, ask your preferred treatment center for help. An intake counselor can explain all of your options in detail and help you decide which one is best for you.
5 Plan travel arrangements
Once you’ve selected a treatment center and arranged for payment, you’ll need to plan how you’re getting there. Most treatment centers offer local pickup service from your home or local airport.
If you are seeking help for a loved one and you need an interventionist, your treatment center may be able to provide you with a referral. An interventionist will handle all of the travel arrangements to transport your loved one to treatment.
If you are seeking treatment for yourself, ask the treatment center if they can help you book travel arrangement. Some treatment centers provide this service free of charge, but all treatment centers will be able to assist you with travel plans.
6 Go to treatment
Congratulations, you’ve arrived! Receiving treatment for an addiction is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself. While you’re in treatment, absorb as much as you can and listen with an open mind. You will hear many different things that will help you, and some that may not. You will build relationships with the others there – usually strong ones as you’ll be sharing your struggles with each other.
No matter what, relax and enjoy your time away. Remember that you’re not just getting clean or sober, you’re re-learning how to live your life without substance use. You’re building a strong foundation for recovery that last a lifetime.
7 Plan aftercare programs and relapse prevention
You may want to consider aftercare programs that will provide you with support when you complete treatment. Most insurance companies will pay for an Intensive Outpatient Program after your initial treatment ends. Its a wise idea to take advantage of this as the more support you have, the more solid your recovery will be.
Your treatment center may offer an outpatient program, or if you’ve traveled far from home for treatment you’ll likely also be able to find one near your home. Some IOPs have partnerships with local sober living homes and will house you while you begin your new life. Sober living homes provide another avenue of accountability and support for those new to recovery.
8 Attend meetings, get a sponsor, work the steps
Simple, but not easy. For the first 90 days, you’ll likely be challenged to attend a meeting a day. This will provide a huge amount of support, encouragement, and accountability for your recovery.
If you choose a 12-step fellowship, you’ll be strongly encouraged to ask someone to be your sponsor. This person will guide you through the 12 steps and should be the first person you seek out when struggles arise. Your sponsor will answer any questions that arise about your recovery.
Once you’ve completed working the steps, you may begin sponsoring others yourself. But always keep close to your support groups – they will become a community of people that you can rely on like family.
9 Call us for help
We want to partner with you on this journey. At Pillars Recovery, we are addicts helping addicts. We’re opening up our doors to you in any way we can to assist you in your recovery.
It doesn’t matter whether you need treatment or you simply have a question about your recovery, please give us a call today. Addiction is a serious disease, but we’re here to help you.
