Deciding to get help rehabilitating from drug or alcohol addiction is a brave and beneficial decision. Likely, your friends and family members helped guide you to this decision. Now that the days are getting closer for you to check into the rehab facility, you understandably have many questions about what it will be like and how things will work. You may wonder if the friends and family members that have supported you up to this point will be able to visit you.
Can Friends and Family Members Visit Me in Long-Term Rehab?
Yes, in most cases. However, each facility has its own rules and different guidelines. In some inpatient rehab centers, friends and family members are only allowed to visit during a specific time of the day. In other rehab centers, only immediate family members are allowed. Others require that the non-family member schedule an appointment and receive prior approval from the patient. The access you have to friends and family and the permission they have will vary based on the treatment center you go to and whether those overseeing your treatment feel that it is healthy for you to have these people around you.
In many cases, when you first arrive, there are stricter restrictions on visitors. This is so that you can go through the initial stages of the treatment process, including withdrawal, without distractions. Once the physical, mental, and emotional withdrawal symptoms die down, visitors are typically allowed. Families are often invited to participate in parts of the addiction treatment with their loved ones.
Family therapy sessions are an integral part of the recovery process. The support that families provide their loved ones during the recovery and rehab process is vital. Families will need to continue providing the same level of support to their loved one once the rehabilitation sessions have ended. Family therapy helps address underlying issues that could be contributing factors to a person’s substance use issues. These include communication problems, codependency, and anger issues.
Things Guests Should Keep in Mind When Visiting a Rehabilitation Center
If you are a person in rehab or a visitor, there are a few guidelines that should be kept in mind to make the visitation process beneficial for all.
Do’s:
- Follow facility rules
- Become familiar with the staff
- Offer encouragement to the person receiving treatment
- Be respectful to staff and other facility guests
It’s good to get a list of the facility rules before visiting the rehab center. This way, you can avoid inadvertently breaking rules that could inhibit your loved one’s rehab process. Becoming familiar with the staff can make visitors feel confident that their loved one is being cared for.
The better relationship visitors can form with the team, the easier it will be for them to visit the rehab facility in the future. The rehab process can be physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging for the individual receiving care. There are going to be times when they feel terrible about themselves and the situation they are in.
What they need from visitors is encouragement. They need to know that people outside the treatment center are willing to provide the needed emotional support. Finally, visitors want to treat everyone in the facility with respect. Treat others with the same respect you want your loved one to be treated with. Remember, you are just a guest.
Don’ts:
- Bring up past mistakes
- Use addictive substances
- Invite negative influences
Rehab is about getting oneself in a position for a better tomorrow. It’s not the time to talk to your loved one about past mistakes and try to get them to fix past behavior. The conversation should be enjoyable and light. You would never want to bring addictive substances with you into the rehab facility, use addictive substances, or converse about the joys of addictive substances. This would only derail your loved one’s rehabilitation efforts. Don’t bring people with you who were in an unhealthy relationship with the person getting treatment. The goal is to help your loved one get better, not relieve the pain of the past.
Are you ready to get help for substance abuse? Do you have a loved one you are encouraged to get help? Our counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can help you start your journey to long-term recovery. Call us today at 833-820-2922.