The Difference Between Rehab and Recovery

The path to addiction recovery can be long and complicated. Many individuals who find themselves seeking help and alleviation from their addictions turn to rehab. Drug rehab centers are designed to help individuals struggling with addiction in any way possible, thus leading them down the path of recovery.

Though the terms ‘rehab’ and ‘recovery’ are often used interchangeably, rehab and recovery are in fact different. Both rehab and recovery work together to aid afflicted individuals in their quest for a healthy, sober life. Though the end goal of both rehab and recovery is the same, rehab is essentially a tool used in the recovery process.

Rehab

Rehab is the portion of recovery that gives individuals struggling with addiction the tools needed to begin recovering. Alcohol and drug rehab centers across America use various methods of rehabilitation to give people the best possible chances of ridding themselves of their addictions.

Typically rehab involves various forms of treatment that begin healing both the mind and body. Group therapy and individual counseling often help individuals identify the underlying causes of addiction. In these sessions addictive behaviors, triggers and warning signs are also identified. Equipped with that knowledge, individuals begin taking the first steps toward recovery.

Other activities in drug rehab centers seek to replace destructive habits with productive ones, thus many drug rehab centers provide struggling individuals with new skillsets. These skills include everything from cooking to wilderness survival, and are used to add value to life.

Drug rehab facilities also seek to connect struggling individuals with something greater than themselves — be it religion, nature or otherwise.

Whether long-term or short-term, rehab has an end date. At the end of a successfully completed program, individuals walk away clean and equipped with the tools needed to battle relapse temptations and the struggles that undoubtedly lie ahead.

Recovery

When rehab ends, recovery has already begun. Recovery is often a lifelong process that roots itself in drug rehab centers and branches out from there. With coping mechanisms gained in rehab, recovery is made possible.

A large part of recovery is battling the remaining drug temptations. With the help of professional aftercare programs and a homegrown support system, these temptations can be conquered. It is important to be vigilant post rehab, but when the temptations seem too great to surmount always reach out to your aftercare program.

It may be several months or several years before you are able to function without the assistance of aftercare programs provided by drug rehab centers, but recovery is completely possible.

Recovery requires and entire lifetime of diligence, but with time it becomes easier to attain. Using the tools given to you during rehab and relying on your support system are the best ways to achieve a full recovery.

Maddison Driggs is a health writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Odyssey House. Follow on Twitter.