What to Do When Rehab Doesn’t Work

As sad as it might sound, drug and alcohol rehab works for a small portion of the population. In most cases, patients are forced to redo the same process over and over again, until they finally quit their habit. The biggest reason why this happens is that returning to the real world will expose you to the same troublesome factors that led to your vice in the first place.

In fact, a person should get accustomed to the idea that they might fail, even before visiting a recovery center. That way, you’ll at least be able to gauge your expectations and avoid falling into mental traps. In this article, we’ll talk about alternative approaches you can use when a rehab doesn’t work, and how to rewire your brain for success. 

Understand Why You Failed

Before anything else, you should clearly analyze the reasons behind your failure. Not only will this increase your chances the second time around, but it will make the entire situation less emotional. 

• Wrong Approach 

Many clinics use a similar approach to treating addictions. Although this methodology carries higher success rates than some other tactics, it is still highly flawed. For example, it takes approximately 5.35 tries for an average person to quit their vice. The reason for that is that each one of us is different and requires a unique approach. 

This is why you should carefully plan where to go for addiction recovery, as it will affect your recovery odds. Otherwise, you’re just losing money, time, and nerves on something that had minimal chance of success in the first place.

Even if you haven’t heard of a treatment, or it seems too complex, you should still give it a chance. For example, in the last few years, more and more people from the West US have been giving ibogaine treatment center a shot. 

• Lack of Commitment

Many people falsely presume that going to rehab is enough to get rid of an addiction. They presume that a different environment, coupled with medical support, will be enough to eliminate just about any vice. However, as they’ll quickly realize, patients must apply themselves wholeheartedly for the program to succeed. 

One of the problems with the commitment is that many people don’t want to be in a clinic. They might be forced to rehab by their family and friends, as a form of intervention. As it turns out, until a person is fully committed to getting better, there’s no point in trying a forceful approach. 

• Multiple Issues

In many cases, the therapy doesn’t work because a person is suffering from several issues. For example, it isn’t uncommon for addicts to have at least one mental problem. So, as the medical staff is trying to focus on their vica, there are layers and layers of issues underneath it. 

The best way to address the situation is by performing a comprehensive assessment. This should be done as soon as the person arrives at the clinic and will significantly improve the outcomes.

What to Do if Therapy Fails?

Addiction recovery is usually a long, multi-step process. This is why you must create a backup plan that you can implement if the initial treatment doesn’t work. Here are a few strategies you should use before and after visiting a clinic, as a way of increasing your recovery odds:

• Set Realistic Expectations

Going to a rehab clinic unprepared can lead to numerous issues, potentially affecting the success of future treatments. If you fail on your first try, it might affect your confidence and self-perception, which is why some people never try again. 

Patients must set realistic goals for themselves, not only prior to visiting a clinic, but throughout the entire recovery process. They must assess their current mental state as well as the severity of their addiction. Furthermore, you must celebrate each small victory and have a pragmatic outlook when you “fail.” 

• Family Support

Ideally, you should have your family on board before visiting a clinic for the first time. Everyone should be on the same page and fully committed to your recovery. Depending on your particular case and whether you have childhood trauma, you might even have to persuade your loved ones to have joint family sessions.

No matter what, family members should get educated about your specific problem and devise their own strategies on how to help you. Foster open communication with each other, so you can come clean about relapses and other issues that have been bothering you. 

• Modify the Treatment

Perhaps the most important step of the process is assessing the treatment plan and its future viability. In an ideal world, you should be able to create a customized solution that will focus on your particular problems and be suitable for your character. Consult with therapists and addiction experts to devise a better methodology or slightly alter the previous treatment.

• Join Support Groups

Many addicts falsely presume that the recovery process finishes as soon as they leave a clinic. Unfortunately, this is a long-term process that will last for at least several years after going clean. 

During this time, it is advisable that you get in touch with a local support group. Aftercare programs and psychological counseling are vital for addressing underlying issues and opening up about your weaknesses. 

• Identify Triggers

If you failed your rehab the first time over, the reason for that might not have anything to do with the actual treatment. Instead, you might be struggling with being exposed to triggers that are continuously luring you to drugs and alcohol. 

In most cases, people relapse immediately after going to rehab, as they will hang out with the same individuals who introduced them to drugs and alcohol. Besides changing your company, you might want to introduce major lifestyle changes that will help you adopt healthier habits.

Improving Your Rehab Odds

No matter what, it is vital that you stay positive throughout the process. Learn more about different tactics that can help you, and try to implement every single positive practice.