Hi everyone. I am off to a short spell in a rehab. leaving on 29th May. NOT GOING TO DRINK BEFORE I GO!! I have had to borrow money from the family but they have been lovely about it and just want me to get well. 5 days today since my last 'slip' and I pray that will be my last ever and I can now finally move on. Will be working on the steps at rehab just 1-3 and then I can continue with the rest when I get out. Thanks everyone for letting me tell you all what is going on with me.
Trudi, u r truely making a step of courage. I rember when I hit my bottom after bieng "out" for five years. I wanted to change my life and I knew I needed to get back into the program, but I had never been to rehab before and I had wished to do something different than I had before, so I chose to goto rehab. I do not regret going because I really feel as if I wouldnt be sober today if I hadent. I was not strong enough at that time to stay sober I was facing a jail sentence and I was a bit overwhelmed by it. Rehab is discovery and A/A is recovery. Just a few ideas take them or leave it, take with you your own bedding, for one thing the sheets they have are washed in commercial soap dry n scratchy, the pillows are very flat also this will help when you get homesick. So many people in rehab start relationships with the opposite sex be aware of this, because starting a new relationship will only distract you from "opening up" and discovering yourself. It can also be very chaotic, be aware that there is going to be alot of rules, view this as a way of the first step to living life on lifes terms. Ummm tell them of any allergies such as food. Be honest, take this time out for yourself. Also you may make new friends and develop a bond with people, but be aware some of them u may never see again. Ne way I dont want to over whelm you. Just rember that you are on the path of recovery. Send me a pm or email if you have anymore questions. (((hugs))) Carmie
Sounds like a great idea Trudi. My experience with rehab was really good. In rehab getting drunk isn't really an option and there are alot of positive things going on. It gives you a chance to dry out and get your head on straight. I agree with Carmie. Stay away from the men. I've seen people relapse over that countless times. It's really nice that you have family supporting you. It's really hard going this alone. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks everyone I dont go untill the 29th but I am on holiday next week. I will let you all know how I get on in rehab when I get back. Thanks to you all for being there for me.
Hi there, I went to rehab almost 7 years ago, and it was the best 21 days of my life, can/t begin to tell you how happy I am that I went. I am so proud of you, it was a huge decision for you, and it is wonderful that you are going. In my rehab, the sheets were fine, we didn't have phone priviledges for the first 5 days,and we weren't allowed to talk to the men, which was cool. I pretended I was in "boot camp" and simply followed the rules. Did just fine. They had us really scheduled, and I learned about all kinds of drugs, not just alcohol, which was my drug of choice. there was no smoking in the center, so had to go outside, but the weather was ok, so several of us who got to be friends would sit outside, kibitz and, believe it or not, laugh!! I think the thing is, I felt very safe there, couldn't drink, everything was structured, and so life was ok. Getting out of there was scary for me, I realized I had to change a whole bunch of my life and wasn't sure how to do it. Rehab sent us out with a phone number to AA in my area, which I called the first day, and I went! Did 90 meetings in 90 days, sometimes went twice a day, it was a "safe" place for me to be. The first year was tough, not because I craved drinking so much, had to change habits, had to change thinking, had to find a sponsor, had to fire one before I finally found the right one, had a whole bunch of grief issues to work thru, had to learn to trust my higher power, and learned to be careful what I asked for, I asked my hp to remove my grief, so I cried at the drop of a hat for 6 months. But, it was all part of the healing and growing that we all have to do to get well. Now, after almost 7 years, as long as I don't drink, I have the same life problems that my neighbors who are not alcoholic have. No more, and certainly no less. I am still responsible, except when I am not, and I pay the same price for my screwups, but it isn't because of alcohol, it is because I am lazy, or irresponsible, or I don't think things thru, "not because of alcohol, because I DON"T DRINK!", but because I am an imperfect person who is doing the best she can at any given day. I have a modicom of peace and joy in my life, have re-established relations with my family and I put the turning point at the day I went into rehab. I wish for you, in your own way, a marvelous journey that begins for you on the 29th, we are all artists painting our life one brush stroke at a time. It is your turn to have a beautiful life picture. I wish you much love and peace and you will be in my prayers. Wanda
