There are now many addiction rehab programmes to choose from in the UK. The availability of so many options means there will almost certainly be something to suit your exact requirements; however, it is worth spending a bit of time going over your options. One of the things you would want to consider is the duration of the treatment. Many programmes have a duration of 30 days, but there are some good reasons why you might want longer than this.
What Are Long-Term Rehabs?
Some rehabs have programmes that last 90 days, and there are third stage facilities where you can stay for a year or even longer as well – these are usually referred to as ‘dry houses’ or ‘clean houses’. Some people can do well with just a short stay in rehab but there are some definite reasons why one might want to stay for a bit longer.
Benefits of Long-Term Rehab
Choosing long-term rehab will involve more of a commitment, but it is well worth it in the end. If you are paying for your own treatment then it can be a great investment, as it will increase your chances of success. Some of the benefits of long-term rehab include:
- It means you are going to have more time to pick up the tools you need to build a successful sobriety – you will also have the opportunity to experiment with these tools before you return to the real world.
- By staying in rehab for longer, you will be further along in your sobriety journey by the time you return home. This can mean that you are going to be stronger and better able to handle the challenges of daily living.
- If you do not have a safe environment to return to following rehab, it will be better to choose a longer-term option.
- It means you will be protected from temptation for much longer, giving you more time to strengthen your sobriety.
- You will be able to learn advanced recovery material that you would have time for in a shorter programme.
- It means you will have more time with a therapist to really start digging down to your underlying issues.
- Some people can feel lonely during the first few months of recovery; by staying in rehab for longer you have the opportunity to build up a strong social network.
You will have the rest of your life to enjoy recovery, so it does make sense to spend longer in rehab in order to make sure you can get the most out of future.
Can Staying in Rehab Longer be a Bad Thing?
Staying in rehab for longer would always be a good thing, but there are reasons why it might not be appropriate in your case. If you have too many commitments, it just might not be a practical possibility. There is also the concern that staying in this protected environment for too long could mean that the return to normal living is more bumpy; although this is rarely the case because aftercare is usually top-notch and you slowly move back into the community once you are in a third-stage facility anyway.
It is well worth considering going to rehab for extended stay. If you are serious about giving yourself the best possible chance of achieving long-term sobriety, this may be exactly what you need.
