Making the decision to go to rehab can be a difficult one for teens and families to make. However, for many, it’s an important and necessary step in their road to recovery. However, there are a variety of misconceptions that can damage or confuse a person’s understanding of rehab. Here are five common myths and the realities behind them.
Rehab Isn’t Necessary for Recovery
Does your teen really need rehab? Can’t they just quit when they want to, or go “cold turkey?” While a strong desire to recover is important, the benefit of rehab is that those in recovery receive information, attention and assistance from professionals who understand how to treat addiction. Rehab is an opportunity to strip away some of this mystery as your teen heals. Furthermore, not only is support from professionals important, but so is support from family and friends. Rehab helps your teen learn how to ask for help and build stronger relationships. It can also offer learning opportunities for supporters.
Rehab is Too Expensive
It’s true: rehab comes at a cost. But not all rehabs are priced the same. In fact, with the help of insurance and possible funding support, some rehabs are more affordable than others. It’s simply important to do your research and see what kinds of facilities are available for your budget. Be sure to research treatment options in your city, further away, with both inpatient and outpatient options, and you’ll be sure to find something that works for your family. After all, is the cost of recovery ever too high in the long run?
You Have to Hit Rock Bottom
The idea of “hitting rock bottom” can be a confusing one in the process of recovery. After all, what exactly is “rock bottom?” And is it really impossible to recover unless you’ve reached it? In fact, there is no milestone your teen has to reach before their situation is bad enough for rehab. It’s simply a matter of no longer wanting to live with an addiction, and desiring (or requiring) professional support to recover. Still unsure? Speaking with friends, family or a mental health professional can help them decide.
Rehab is a Permanent Cure
While it would certainly be nice if rehab was a one-stop-shop, cure-all option for addiction, the reality is that it’s not. Rehab can help your teen on their recovery journey, providing them with the tools necessary to live a life of sobriety. However, recovery doesn’t end when your teen walks out the doors of a program—it can even take the rest of their life. Each day they might face new struggles, but they’ll also experience new successes. Just remember to show your child support and encourage them to never be afraid to ask for help—even after they’ve left a rehab program.
A Relapse After Rehab Means You’ve Failed
As mentioned previously, recovery is a process and one that doesn’t end with rehab. As a result, your teen might experience struggles, hiccups or even relapses along the way. The important thing to do is to remind your teen that there are people who love them and want to support them on their journey. It’s not a matter of whether or not they’ve failed; it’s about the steps they take to get back on their path towards recovery.
Feature Image: Yanko Peyankov
