Before You Start Residential Treatment

Every program has a philosophy or belief system that it is based on. Make sure you agree with the philosophy of the program before you start.

Some programs are designed for cultural groups that have a bearing on your lifestyle and are part of your addictive process. For example, there are programs geared towards the needs of women and young people, as well as specific addictions and related conditions.

Ideally, you will have the support of your family in overcoming your addiction, but do not assume that this will be the case. Even when they support your recovery, they may not understand why you need to leave home in order to quit. However, you do have to explain to them why you are going to be away.

Have a frank and honest discussion about what you need during and after your time in residential treatment. While you should be sympathetic to their points of view, do not allow them to decide whether or not you should enter residential treatment -- this is a decision that you alone have the right to make.

Partners' responses to the news that you are entering residential treatment vary greatly. Some are extremely supportive, and will do whatever it takes to help you overcome your addiction. In other cases, partners may feel abandoned by your need for residential treatment, and may feel unable to cope without you. They may have emotional or addiction issues themselves that you have been helping them with, and despite loving you, may fear that you will leave them if you get well. If this is the first time you have been honest about your addiction, they may express anger for past lies and deceit.

Your children may not understand what you are doing by entering treatment for an addiction. Change and uncertainly can be scary for children, even when they have been hurt by past behavior.

They might not want you to leave for the period required for the program, although it is in their best interests for you to get treatment. They, and you, may suffer from separation anxiety while you are away.

Encourage your partner to frame your recovery in a positive light to your children and anyone else.

Allow your child to have the feelings they have. Try to arrange for counselling or other support for your children.

If you work, you will likely have to come clean with your employer about your addiction, so you can arrange time off. This may or may not affect your future career prospects.

Similarly, if you normally care for children, you will have to arrange childcare. This can lead to difficulties with explaining to others your reason for needing 24/7 child care for several weeks or months.

For many people, the hardest part of overcoming an addiction is to maintain abstinence or moderate living while managing their normal life. Ongoing support after you have completed your residential treatment is highly variable across treatment programs -- some follow up, others do not.

One solution is to build a relationship with a community- or hospital-based outpatient program before going into residential treatment. The residential program is a springboard for making bigger changes in your life. You will then get the support you need as an outpatient, to maintain the good work you do in residential treatment.

At the very least, you should have the phone number of the local hotline relevant to your addiction, and the location and time of a support group in your area. Ideally, you should make at least one call and attend at least one group before treatment, so when you need support afterwards, you know what to expect.