If you have finally reached the point where you are emotionally and physically exhausted from the roller coaster of addiction, now is the ideal time to reach out for help. Few humans are able to quit a drug or drinking addiction without medical guidance and support. If you've never visited an inpatient rehab center before, you may be wondering what to expect when you get there. Not all rehabs are the same, of course, but here are some of the basics:

The Intake Process

Rehab typically begins with a phone call. You may call an inpatient rehab center, or somebody who cares about you may place a call on your behalf. You might decide to go into inpatient rehab on your own, or your family and friends may stage an intervention. In any case, a confidential consultation with a rehab facility is the way it generally starts.

During the intake process, you will meet with a variety of clinicians and staff members. You may have conversations with counselors, doctors, social workers, and insurance specialists. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire that describes your current and past drug history. You will also be asked about your rehab goals and why you're there.

If you have hidden health issues such as high blood pressure or asthma, discuss them with the medical team when you check in. You may be required to take a drug test to determine whether or not you have recently used. If you are in withdrawal, special detox medications may be administered shortly after you check in to the inpatient rehab center.

Once you are checked in, you will be probably be taken to your room. This may be a private room, or you may have a roommate. Most rehab facilities offer dormitory style housing where two to four guests share a sleeping room. High-end luxury rehab centers typically provide private bedrooms and bathrooms for a premium price.

If you arrived at rehab with a suitcase or backpack in hand, expect to have it searched. Every new guest goes through this process that effectively ensures nobody brings in drugs, liquor, weapons or other contraband that would be counterproductive to rehab and sobriety. Many rehab centers will take control of your phone and laptop but allow you to use them at predetermined times. If this concerns you, ask about the communications policy when you call any inpatient rehab center for information. In fact, it's a good idea to ask every rehab center you call about their policy regarding what you can and cannot bring with you.

Your First Day in Rehab

This is the day you'll be shown around the facility and adjust to your new temporary home. Chances are you'll feel a bit disoriented, especially if this is your first time to rehab. You may feel angry or sad or resigned. Don't worry. These feelings are normal for people who are on the verge of great change. The staff at the inpatient rehab center is there because they want to help you. It's hard to stop an addiction alone, so you're sure to meet other patients who are there to get help, too. As rehab progresses, these strange new people may wind up being some of the best, most real friends you ever had. Be patient with yourself, and remember that things will get easier as rehab moves forward.

Daily Meals and Responsibilities

Healthy, nutritious meals are part of the plan at every inpatient rehab center. Food is important, of course, but so is the camaraderie and support found around a dining table. The healthier your diet, the better your chances of getting well again. If you have food allergies or special dietary restrictions, tell the intake staff when you check in, and they will do everything they can to accommodate you.

Many inpatient rehab facilities require guests to participate in household chores. Typically, these chores are minimal and include such things as washing dishes and cleaning up after communal meals. Not only do these activities allow the client to participate in their own environment, but it may also teach them how to set a goal and get things done without relying on artificial stimulants and drugs or drinking.

Not every aspect of inpatient rehab is work. In fact, many rehabs now offer a range of extracurricular activities, including horseback riding, hiking trails, yoga classes, and meditation sessions. Art and music therapies help many people recover from addiction, and they may be presented as an option at the inpatient rehab center you attend.

How Long Does Inpatient Rehab Last?

There is no pat answer for this particular question. Some rehab clinics offer short-term programs that last for three to six weeks. Others provide long-term residential care that serves as the recovering addict's home for six months to a year. Short-term residential rehab programs provide brief albeit intensive treatment that may be based on the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Designed originally to treat alcohol problems, the 12 steps can be very effective in the drug addiction recovery process, as well.

Aftercare programs and continued attendance at peer group support meetings are imperative to a lasting recovery. A therapeutic community or "halfway house" where clients gradually "re-socialize" back into the community may be offered as part of the extended recovery plan provided by some inpatient rehab centers, explains the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Does it Matter how you got Addicted?

The easiest answer to this question is no. Good people develop bad drug and drinking habits for all sorts of reasons, but each person can be helped in a qualified inpatient drug rehab center. If you are like many patients, you became addicted through no deliberate fault of your own. Maybe you were hurt in a car accident, and your trusted family physician prescribed OxyContin or other strong narcotic analgesics. While these medications can be very useful to treat severe short-term pain, they also come with an astounding capacity to "hook" the user. If you go back again and again for refills, you could be looking at a legal, but quite serious, addiction.

Some people experiment with drugs as a way to feel part of a certain social group. Others start taking drugs to self-medicate when they feel bad. The thing is, every sort of drinking problem or substance issue is best dealt with via inpatient detox and therapy. This is not to say that you won't someday be able to live happily and productively without the crutch of alcohol or opiates. Many people "graduate" from inpatient rehab and go on to live wonderful lives. You can, too.

Willpower Alone is not Enough

For someone who has used drugs or consumed alcohol to the point of addiction, stopping suddenly can lead to all sorts of horrible feelings. Typically, withdrawal sets in from 24 to 72 hours, explains WebMD. As the body metabolizes the remaining drug or drink, anxiety and restlessness may set in. This is when the addict or alcoholic is most susceptible to giving up their attempt to quit.

Addiction is not a matter of weakness or lack of willpower. Even the most highly motivated person will find it practically impossible to stop using without professional guidance and medical support. If you've tried to stop drinking or drugging again and again, now is the right time to have a confidential talk with a counselor at an inpatient rehab center near you.

Addiction is a Chronic Medical Condition

You wouldn't poke fun at someone for having diabetes or high blood pressure, right? That's because these are chronic medical maladies over which the person has little if any control. The same can be said about addiction. Certain brains seem to be "wired for addiction" and when a person with that kind of brain takes drugs or starts drinking, they find it very difficult to stop. That's why inpatient rehab is a brilliant idea. Temptations to use are not available, and medical and emotional support can be had 24 hours a day. With this sort of dedicated backup, a person increases their chances of getting sober and staying clean for life.

Benefits of Inpatient Recovery

The structured environment and 24-hour supervision provided at an inpatient center are just what most people need to get off drugs and learn how to live without them. The detox process by which the client eliminates intoxicants from their system is crucial, but it's not the only thing that matters in rehab. Counselors, therapists, and peer group meetings enable the client to understand why they started using -and misusing- drugs or drink in the first place.

Medically managed withdrawal is oftentimes the very first stage of inpatient treatment. Special medicines may be given to manage the miserable and dangerous physiological effects of withdrawal, explains the NIH which also reminds readers that detox by itself does nothing to address the mental, social, and behavioral difficulty associated with addiction.

At a typical inpatient rehab center, clients learn to be personally accountable and honest with others and more importantly -with themselves. Inpatients learn better ways to cope with life's challenges that to turn to drugs and drinking.