The substance abuse recovery process can feel daunting when you’re first getting started with it. That’s why many people research things like, “How long will I be in recovery?” before they commit to beginning it.
That’s we’ve put together this blog post. It tells you the amount of time that you can expect to spend in each phase of the addiction treatment process. Keep reading to learn more.
How Long Detox Takes
If you’re not familiar with it, detox is the first stage of the substance abuse recovery process. It’s when the body gets rid of the last remnants of the substance that you’ve been abusing from its systems. You need to complete your detox before you can move forward with the substantive portion of your treatment.
Detox can take anywhere from a few days to several months. The exact amount of time that you spend in detox will depend on factors like the severity of your addiction, the specific substance that you’ve been abusing, and other personal health factors.
Although your most severe withdrawal symptoms may pass early in your detox, the process could still last for days, weeks, or even months after they do. Every person is different but speaking with an addiction specialist individually will give you a clearer sense of how long you can expect to spend in detox.
Rehab Timeline
After completing detox, the vast majority of patients take the next step towards their long-term recovery goals in rehab. There are several different types of rehab that you can choose from, including:
- Residential rehab
- PHPs
- IOPs
- Other types of outpatient care
Each of these rehab options can be a good choice for people with varying needs. You can use our website to research each of them and to figure out which is right for you.
Rehab can last anywhere from a few days to over a year, but the most common lengths are 30, 60, and 90 days.
Generally, you’re going to want to spend at least 30 days in an intensive rehab program. This is because you need time to work through the root causes of your addiction and to come up with new ways to deal with the issues that have led to your substance abuse.
In rehab, you’ll get to work individually with a therapist who specializes in addiction. You’ll also get to complete group-based healing activities, which can provide you with a helpful sense of communal support as you pursue a healthier lifestyle.
Aftercare Length
Your recovery process won’t be over after you complete rehab. Instead, it’s important that you continue receiving support as you transition your life away from an intensive rehab program and back out into the real world. This is done through aftercare.
Aftercare is an ongoing process. Unlike detox and rehab, it’s not something that you will complete within a set amount of time. Rather, your aftercare plan should last until you have completely recovered from substance abuse, and perhaps even beyond that time. This could be anywhere from one year to the rest of your life.
That timeline may sound daunting. But keep in mind that aftercare is far less intensive than the other phases of your treatment and it often gets even less intensive as time passes by.
For example, you may start by spending some time living in a sober living home. But as your recovery becomes more secure, you can transition into simply attending weekly group meetings or continuing to work with a therapist.
It’s important that you have this type of after-rehab support because you need a healthy way to deal with problems that could lead to relapse if left unchecked.
Choose Your Best Recovery Timeline at Zoe Behavioral Health
Although we often talk about substance abuse recovery timelines in generalities, it’s a very personal process. The exact amount of time that you spend in detox, rehab, and aftercare can vary significantly based on how you respond to treatment and the exact nature of your substance abuse recovery problem.
This means that you do have some flexibility in picking a recovery timeline that fits your needs. If you need help figuring out the recovery timeline that’s right for you, consider getting in touch with Zoe Behavioral Health.
We provide a wide variety of personalized substance abuse recovery treatments. We also have addiction specialists on standby who are ready to answer any questions that you might have about the process. They can help you select both the right recovery programs and timelines for your unique situation.
So why wait? Get in touch with us today to learn more.