No, it is not recommended to do outpatient alcohol rehab completely by yourself. Having support and accountability is important in recovery.
While outpatient treatment allows you to continue living at home, it is best to have a strong support system of family, friends or a sponsor to help keep you on track.
In this blog, we are going to give you a detailed tour on the perks of doing outpatient alcohol rehab all by yourself, what you need to do and what not.
How To Do Outpatient Alcohol Rehab By Yourself
If you have a problem with drinking too much, you may wonder if you can do home alcohol rehab on your own.
Outpatient alcohol rehab is a type of treatment that lets you stay at home while you go to classes at a facility or online. It can be a flexible and affordable choice for people who have mild to moderate alcohol problems and a strong desire to quit.
Follow these steps for outpatient alcohol rehab:
Set Realistic Goals
Before you start treatment, you should know exactly what you want to get out of it and how you will track your progress. For example, you may want to go to rehab yourself from alcohol, stop drinking altogether, or avoid relapsing.
You should also set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, important, and time-bound) short-term and long-term goals. For example, you might want to go to three sessions a week for six months or not drink in social settings for a year.
Create A Support Network
When you do private alcohol rehab by yourself, you don’t have to cut yourself off from other people. In fact, you can’t get better without a strong network of people who care about you.
You should be with people who understand your position, respect the choice you’ve made, and support your efforts. This could be your family, friends, coworkers, or people in recovery with whom you hang out.
One of my college roommates was struggling with an alcohol addiction, and she really wanted to get better. All the mates in our wing helped her through it. We created our own support network for her. Eventually, we noticed that, along with her addiction problem, this support group helped many of us overcome other mental issues such as depression and anger issues.
You can also join online forums or chat rooms where you can talk about your experiences and get help from people who have been through similar problems.
Find A Therapist or Counselor
Even if you do outpatient alcohol rehab on your own, you shouldn’t ignore how important it is to get help from a professional. A therapist or counselor can give you evidence-based interventions that can help you deal with the causes of your addiction, deal with negative feelings, change your behavior patterns, and avoid relapse.
You can find an online directory, a recommendation, or a review to help you find a therapist or counselor who specializes in alcoholism. 45% of participants successfully completed treatment for drug addiction. You can also choose between therapy on your own or with a group, based on your needs and preferences.
Attend 12-Step Meetings
Attending 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery is another way to do outpatient alcohol rehab on your own. These are self-help groups that help people get over their addictions by following a set of rules and steps. They provide a safe, helpful place where you can meet other people who are going through similar things and have similar goals.
You can also get help from a sponsor, who is someone who has been clean for a long time and can guide you through rehab.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Lastly, if you do outpatient alcohol rehab on your own, you’ll need to make some changes to your life that will help your healing. Some of these are changing your diet, getting more exercise, getting enough sleep, and learning how to deal with stress.
Others are staying away from places, people, or situations that make you want to drink, finding healthy hobbies or activities that make you happy and give you a sense of accomplishment, and rewarding yourself for your successes.
Outpatient alcohol rehab on your own is doable but not recommended. It is preferable to seek professional assistance and support from individuals who can assist you in overcoming your addiction and improving your quality of life.
Potential Benefits of Attempting Outpatient Rehab Alone
If you have a problem with drinking too much alcohol, you may be thinking if you can do self rehab from alcohol. Outpatient rehab is a type of care that lets you stay at home while you get counseling, medicine, and support.
Inpatient rehab requires you to stay in a center for a certain amount of time. Outpatient rehab, on the other hand, gives you more freedom and flexibility.
Lower Cost Than Inpatient Rehab
One of the main advantages of outpatient rehab yourself from alcohol is that it is usually cheaper than inpatient rehab. Inpatient rehab can cost thousands of dollars per month, depending on the facility, the level of care, and the duration of the program.
Outpatient rehab, on the other hand, can cost much less, depending on the type and frequency of services you receive. You may also be able to use your health insurance or other financial assistance to cover some or all of the costs.
Stay In Familiar Surroundings
Another good thing about outpatient rehab is that you can stay in your own home or surroundings instead of moving to a new place you don’t know. This can help you feel better and less worried while you are getting better.
You can also keep your privacy and escape the shame that may come with going to a rehab center. My college friend still thanks us for creating a familiar support network for her in her time of need, which eventually led to an improved lifestyle and her better performance in academics.
She thinks that it would be impossible for her if we weren’t there for her. Be always there for your loved one!
Maintain Your Daily Routine
Outpatient rehab also lets you keep doing things like work, school, family, or hobbies that you normally do. You don’t have to stick to a strict routine set by a facility. Instead, you can plan your treatment sessions around your schedule and needs. This can help you find a good balance between your goals for recovery and your other responsibilities and hobbies.
Minimal Disruption To Work or Responsibilities
In the same way as the last point, outpatient rehab can make it easier for you to keep up with your work or other responsibilities while you are away from home. You can still work and make money to support yourself or those who depend on you while getting care. You can also avoid things like losing your job, missing deadlines, and getting behind on your work.
Increased Sense of Personal Empowerment
Lastly, outpatient rehab can help you feel more in charge of yourself and in charge of your healing process. You don’t have to follow someone else’s plan for treatment. Instead, you can choose the type and amount of treatment that fits your needs and interests.
You can also be in charge of your own actions and choices instead of relying on rules or supervision from the outside. This can help you gain self-confidence, independence, and a sense that you are good at what you do.
Challenges of Outpatient Alcohol Rehab by Yourself
Outpatient alcohol rehab is a type of treatment that lets people get over their addiction to booze while still living at home and doing their regular things. But this isn’t right for everyone, and it has some big problems that can make it hard to succeed.
Limited Support And Supervision
One benefit of inpatient alcohol rehab is that you always have access to trained staff, counselors, doctors, and peers who can help you, check on your progress, and step in if you have a relapse or a crisis. 40% – 60% of addicts will relapse within one year.
In outpatient alcohol rehab, you are mostly on your own, and your family, friends, or other sources may not be able to help you enough. This can make you feel alone, cut off, and overpowered by the process of getting better.
Presence of Alcohol And Triggers at Home
Another problem with outpatient alcohol rehab is that you have to stay in the same place where you started drinking and kept drinking. This means that you might have easy access to booze and be tempted to drink again by different things.
For example, you might have alcohol in your fridge, see ads for alcohol on TV, or deal with stressful situations at home or at work that make you want to drink. Without the right skills and plans, it can be hard to avoid these causes.
Lack of Accountability for Attending Sessions
In outpatient alcohol rehab, you have to meet with a therapist, a counselor, or a group on a daily basis. You need these meetings to help you learn new skills, deal with deeper problems, and get feedback and direction.
But if you go to rehab on your own, you might not have anyone to make sure you show up to these classes. You can skip them, be late, or not pay attention to them. This can change how you feel, how you work, and what you end up with.
Challenges of Staying Committed Without Encouragement
Outpatient alcohol rehab also requires you to be committed to your recovery and follow a treatment plan that may include medication, therapy, education, and lifestyle changes. However, if you are doing this rehab by yourself, you may not have anyone to encourage you, praise you, or celebrate your achievements.
You may feel discouraged, frustrated, or hopeless if you face setbacks or difficulties. You may also lose sight of your goals and reasons for quitting alcohol.
Continuing Stressors And Responsibilities at Home
With this rehab, you can keep living your normal life while getting help. But this can be hard if you have stressors and tasks at home that make it hard for you to get better. For example, you might have to take care of your family, work, go to school, or pay your bills while trying to stop drinking.
These expectations can be overwhelming and distracting, and they can also bring up negative feelings and behaviors that can lead to relapse.
Absence of Community And Shared Experiences
When you go to outpatient alcohol rehab, you might not be around other people who are going through the same thing. You might not be able to talk to other people who are getting over alcoholism and share your experiences, problems, and achievements.
You might also miss out on the benefits of peer support, like feeling understood, getting help, and being inspired. Having a sense of community and connection can be very important for staying sober and taking care of your health.
As you can see, outpatient alcohol rehab alone is difficult and fraught with risks. I advise you to seek professional guidance and examine other methods that offer more support, structure, safety, and efficacy. Know if Americans can attend rehab in Canada.
- How Does Out Alcohol Rehab Work? - December 3, 2023
- How Often Do People Relapse After Drug or Alcohol Rehab - December 3, 2023
- How to Deal with an Alcoholic After Rehab - December 3, 2023