Why Choose Long Term Treatment?
Long-term recovery provides a safe place away from the enabling peers and environments that frequently interfere with successful sobriety. In long-term treatment, clients are able to focus on their recovery goals and develop the tools and coping mechanisms to support sobriety long after treatment is complete. While some may be concerned about the extended stay at the beginning, the proven success of long term inpatient treatment can be substantial, and it may be necessary for some depending on individual circumstances.
Studies show that the longer a person engages in treatment, the more successful the outcome. Longer stays provide clients with more time to focus on their recovery and more opportunities to develop life skills to support sobriety. Initial recovery often focuses on the physical detox process that allows a person to clear their mind and body from substances. In some cases, this may require medication-assisted treatment to ensure the detox process is safe and comfortable. Detox is critical to successful recovery and is the first step of many to come. Following detox, it is imperative to address the underlying causes of addiction. Through long-term recovery, clients are able to uncover the influences that led them down their path and develop coping mechanisms to prevent future relapse. With the trained staff in long-term recovery facilities, clients are better able to understand the nature of their addiction, discuss sensitive issues, and remove the influence of stressors that often lead to relapse.
Addiction can control a person’s life. It often becomes the driving force behind many people’s choices, actions, and behaviors. In most cases, this means that those in recovery must relearn how to live in the real world without those driving influences. Addiction consumes time and energy, and once conquered, it can be difficult to know what to do without it. Long-term treatment helps clients learn how to enjoy life again and develop new interests outside of substance abuse. The use of experiential therapies can help clients discover new interests or revisit old passions. Art, music, sports, and volunteer work are just a handful of the numerous activities clients can explore in treatment. This added component helps clients develop confidence in themselves and develop new, sober identities.
While a shorter stay in treatment may seem more enticing, the benefits of long-term treatment far outweigh most features of short-term treatment options. Long-term recovery stays vary from person to person, so it is important not to let a preconceived idea of how much time may be spent in recovery influence your choice. Short-term recovery may help a person overcome their physical addiction, but it does not explore underlying influences and develop a person’s confidence or ability to maintain long-term sobriety in the same capacity. Recovery does not happen overnight, and the amount of time and effort that long-term treatment requires is crucial to its success
