I have only started the process and will not be going (if I go) until early next year. The facility is run by Christians which is fine by me seeing as I’m one too. It really isnt a drug/alcohol rehab although it focuses on women with life controlling issues.
Any questions?
Interesting. I apologize in advance for my nosiness.
This is not drug rehab, so it’s for mental illness or something else?
Why will you not be admitted for months? Issues that are significant enough for residential treatment seem critical to me. Not enough space for the demand?
What is the treatment protocol in this facility? How long will you be there? What level of access/involvement will you have with the outside world?
What do you expect your life to be like while being treated?
I, truly, wish you all the best. This cannot be an easy thing to do, no matter the circumstances.
It is post drug rehab, self harming, mental illness, eating disorders etc…
I have a few problems (ha), it is a private facility so not free. I need to earn the cash to afford to go. I also have to pack up my home and put everything in storage. Organise animals, debts etc.
And if I am accepted I will be put on the waiting list. They told me that the most likely spot will open up next Jan/Feb.
I have started filling out the 15 page admissions form - whoa! They want to know everything and I am finding it quite distressing. After it is faxed to them they will contact me to organise an extensive phone interview
I will answer the rest of your question a bit later.
What drug(s) were you in rehab for prior to your decision to start this process?
No questions, sorry, just hugs and wishing you all the best madrabbitwoman.
Is this program 12-step based? What kind of support will you get when you leave the facility?
And good luck. Problems like this (and I don’t know the specifics of your issues, but I can speak generally) are a bloody bitch.
It’s for when you can’t stop at just one rabbit…
(Seriously, Good Luck).
What is it that you hope to accomplish? As someone else has mentioned, the fact that you aren’t going for months seems to indicate that your problems are not extremely urgent. When you come out of the program, what do you expect will be different about your life? Do you just expect to be vaguely “healthier”, or are you expecting to be cured of certain specific things?
It is small - 10 women at a time (hence part of the long wait). Treatment is based on the therapeutic community model . They take a holistic approach: mind, body and soul. They provide counselling, access to whatever medical treatment is required, a safe environment (for women exiting abusive relationships particularly), education
(stuff like anger management, work skills etc.), they encourage lots of exercise, healthy eating, healthy relationships, bible study and church attendance.
For the first 3 month I will not leave the facility. I will have no more than one incoming call per week (probably mum or dad). I can leave at any time mind you and if I do so and wanted to come back I would have to wait 2 weeks and my return would be assessed yay or nay.
After that when I am deemed ready I may be allowed shopping trips to town, weekend leave and visitors. Also I would be able to make one phone call per day and receive one call per day. The idea is that as we progress through the program we receive more and more responsibilities. the latter parts of the program have the facility as basically where we sleep - we are to be engaging in part time work or study. The aim is to produce fully functioning well adjusted (as well as possible) members of society. I understand the not everyone is able to achieve this on the first go.
They deal with lots of different life controlling issues not just drugs. I have a chronic mental illness (and on huge does of meds), ptsd, ocd, phobias, relationship issues and some alcoholism. I was raped this year while drunk which is why I am finally - look what I have been doing to date is not working. I am unable to easily access resources I need in this small town. Maybe it is time to try something new, somewhere different (partially due to the fact that I have to live in my own personal crime scene and maybe a year away might change how i feel about that). New thing are of course scary, change is scary and I am not going blithely off la la la everything will be fine and easy and I will be fixed. There is a a lot of hard work involved and maybe it wont work for me but by god I want it to. I want my life to be better and to move forward coz I have been in a bloody holding pattern since 1995.
deep breath
Thank you
Not 12 step. They kind of slowly ease people out while making sure that wherever they end up they have community supports, coping etc… People exit when they are deemed ready (the program could be anything from 6 months to 2 years depending on the person)
Ha ha. So true. Well actually I only have one rabbit but in starting to pack up my house I already have 2 large crates of rabbit ornaments and stuff :smack: AND I haven’t:smack: finished:smack:
My problems are best described as chronic. They are supposed to be very good with ingrained long term issues.
I want to accomplish lasting change in how I look at myself and how I relate to others. I want to never self harm again. I want to be able to deal with my past traumas in a healthy way. I want to not be frightened all the time. I would like to be physically healthier/fitter. I want to be able to hold down more than part time work. I want a new life - I accept I probably wont get that so I will be happy with better than it is now.
Anything else?
No questions, but sincere congratulations on taking this step. I have a relative with similar issues, though a different mix of illness & substance abuse + self harm, so I’ll also say thank you on behalf of those who love you. I really hope it works out well.
Do you have a backup plan in case you are denied admission?
How much does it cost? I can’t imagine being able to save up enough over four months to live on for the next year or two. Once you’re working, will they take your money?
I’ve been in a similar (but probably much less nice) facility–not by choice–and it was difficult. However, beneath the bullshit there were benefits to be found if you could humble yourself to accept them. To get the new life you really do have to kill the old you, and that bitch can fight.
Best wishes!
Is there followup, so that after you’ve completed the program, you can check in with them for help/advice/support?
I join others in wishing you the best of success in this.
Hugs to you as well. (((madrabbitwoman)))
You mentioned that it is a religious program that involves Bible study and church attendance. How compatible is the program with your personal faith? Faith based rehab programs are somewhat controversial here in the US and there was at least one incident where a believing Christian enrolled in a rehab program run by another Christian denomination with the belief that the denominational difference would be immaterial, and the program turned out to be hours of harassment to renounce his church and align his faith with the beliefs of the sponsoring denomination in the apparent belief by the staff that Accepting Jesus on their (the rehab center’s) terms was what would free him from drugs. They just wouldn’t listen when the guy said that he had already accepted Jesus and wanted help with his drug problem.
What sort of social supports do you have? Spouse, siblings, parents, children, BFFs, or are you pretty much alone? Do they support you going into treatment?
As I understand it yes.