Outpatient rehab sounds great. You can tackle your addiction head-on, while still making money and living in the comfort of your own home.
And while it may not be the right fit for some people, there are plenty of others for whom it is effective. It’s important to be clear on one point, though: outpatient rehab isn’t easy just because it’s outpatient.
In fact, in some ways it may require even more effort as many people still work or go to school while going through rehab.
Outpatient Rehab Goals
Outpatient rehab is based on the same principles as traditional inpatient rehab. That means discovering why you started using in the first place. Were you self-medicating to beat depression or anxiety? Did you grow up around substance abuse? Or did you simply fall in with the wrong crowd?
Whatever your unique situation may be, it will be addressed and taken care of. If depression is an issue for you, a team of therapists and doctors will help you tackle it. The same goes for anxiety, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental health issues. It’s hard to stay sober (not to mention enjoy life) if you’re not using but feel awful all the time.
Your addiction will be tackled using a combination of therapy and, if needed, medication. You’ll learn new ways of thinking about life, as well as techniques for coping with life’s inevitable bumps.
One big advantage of outpatient treatment is that you can test these skills out as you go. Let’s say you went to work and a co-worker made a disparaging comment about a project you were in charge of.
That would, of course, make you feel bad. In the past, you might have used to drown out those negative feelings. But, if you’re in outpatient treatment, you can practice your new coping skills—and then go to rehab after work and talk any issues through with your therapist.
Outpatient Rehab Schedule
All outpatient treatments are a little different but, typically, you’ll be putting time in during the hours before and/or after work—and maybe on weekends.
Most likely, you’ll be busier than ever, which—for some people—is a good thing. If the thought of going all day long is stressful to you, you might consider cutting back on your work hours while in treatment—or even taking some vacation time.
Outpatient Rehab Costs
Outpatient treatment costs are generally quite a bit lower than inpatient costs. To find out what you might be paying, it’s always best to just pick up the phone—or send an email—and start a conversation with the admissions department of the treatment center you’re considering.
The next phone call you’ll want to make is to your health insurance to see what’s covered under your policy. The good news is that the Affordable Care Act mandated that addiction be taken as seriously—and treated—like any other disease.
If money is what’s holding you back from getting help, don’t give up. You probably have more options than you realize.
Hope and Healing at The Raleigh House
The Raleigh House is a treatment center located in Denver that offers both inpatient and outpatient rehab. We’ll help you get sober but, more importantly, we’ll help you learn the skills you need to live a good life. Fill out our form or contact us today to learn more about our drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs.
