my boyfriend has just come back from rehab, in a pretty destroyed and low shape. I am trying to be supportive, so I come here to find some answers maybe. He is 27 and has been very far already in his addiction. So now apparently they gave him pills, a lot of medication as he says... and some sedatives apparently, he almost sounds as dizzy as when he is drunk on the phone in the evening, can't talk a clear sentence. Is that normal procedure? he says he has to take those for 6 months...isn't that the similar risk of addiction as before, just in a different shape?
I know recovery is an ongoing process, a lifetime, everybody has to struggle through it in some way or another. But pLease can anybody of you highlight me a little bit the steps into recovery of alcoholism after rehab...because I am missing a lot here, and I don't want to be in his way. Maybe even being in a realtionship isn't the best thing for him now. It would be good to hear what state of mind one is in, starting a new episode in life and having to go through so much change. Any advice or experience sharing si welcome. ...hope you don't mind, just trying to follow...
Not all Rehabs are created equally ... most have a program for 'the family' ... orientation actually ... so you know what to expect and do in support of the person coming home ... You might want to check with the Rehab center he went to ... depending on how close your 'relationship' is with your BF, they may allow you to come to a few sessions ... ... ...
A good Rehab center will set the patient up with a Doctor who is also an 'addictions' specialist ... the 1st 30 days usually requires some pretty intense drugs and other meds to help with the 'withdrawals during detox' ... then the drugs are usually tapered off pretty quick to prevent another dependency ... If a patient doesn't have someone to monitor them closely when they 1st get home, then they will have a hard time taking the prescribed dosage with their meds ...
As for him, ... he needs to be going to AA meetings right off the bat, at least, one a day for three months ... he also needs to get a sponsor ASAP ... He should have all this info with his 'discharge' papers ... But I will warn you of one thing in particular, ... He must have a desire to stop drinking, or nothing you or he can do will help ...
Have him get on this site and talk with us if you can get him to ... We are a family, around the world, helping one another to stay sober ... He will get the truth here about his situation ... He may not want to hear it, nor admit it... But WE know what the hell we're talking about, and we know how to stay sober if that's what he wants to do ...
May God Bless You and be with You, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Welcome tortuga...I've never heard of a rehab giving someone 6 months worth of sedatives when they get out...That's a new one on me. I tapered off what they gave me for detox in 7 days I was there...I was pretty clear after I left after 3 weeks....Foggy but clearing up. As far as staying stopped goes....I agree with Pappy...It was straight to meetings for me...As many as possible and finding a sponsor to help me work the 12 steps...That is the solution in AA.....It is a 12 step program....Best of luck to you both....It takes some effort....But it can also change your life.
Not all Rehabs are created equally ... most have a program for 'the family' ... orientation actually ... so you know what to expect and do in support of the person coming home ... You might want to check with the Rehab center he went to ... depending on how close your 'relationship' is with your BF, they may allow you to come to a few sessions ... ... ...
A good Rehab center will set the patient up with a Doctor who is also an 'addictions' specialist ... the 1st 30 days usually requires some pretty intense drugs and other meds to help with the 'withdrawals during detox' ... then the drugs are usually tapered off pretty quick to prevent another dependency ... If a patient doesn't have someone to monitor them closely when they 1st get home, then they will have a hard time taking the prescribed dosage with their meds ...
As for him, ... he needs to be going to AA meetings right off the bat, at least, one a day for three months ... he also needs to get a sponsor ASAP ... He should have all this info with his 'discharge' papers ... But I will warn you of one thing in particular, ... He must have a desire to stop drinking, or nothing you or he can do will help ...
Have him get on this site and talk with us if you can get him to ... We are a family, around the world, helping one another to stay sober ... He will get the truth here about his situation ... He may not want to hear it, nor admit it... But WE know what the hell we're talking about, and we know how to stay sober if that's what he wants to do ...
Sometimes I believe I needed some medication when i was ripped off alcohol. Other times I remember my spirit telling them I didn't want a certain sedative, it made me feel lousy and I felt they were giving it to me just to give it to me. I was probably right about that if my spirit remembers it that way, I tried to speakfor myself but just couldn't.
So I might have needed some but not THAT much. Sometimes they give people meds across the board to keep everyone calm and I think that's murder for an alcoholic, there IS no pill for alcoholism.
It's a case by case basis thing.
Anyway, the thing that saved my life was the night I came home from treatment, I unpacked, ate, paced a little bit then instead of giving up and drinking I went STRAIGHT to an AA meeting, that first night. What I saw gave me the enthusiasm to keep going back and I never had to drink again.
One other thing: if you're a drinker too I'd get on your own program. If you're not and this is a serious relationship, Alanon is a very good idea.
I have to disagree here...If you were drinking like I was drinking...I needed the Librium they gave me just to keep me from going into siezures...That's why I detoxed there to begin with. Coming full stop off alcohol on your own can cost you your life. Not a game I was ready to play.
There are certainly meds for making the 'withdrawal' symptoms 'less' severe ... ... and they CAN keep you from 'stroking out' due to sky high blood pressure and such ... and they are quickly decreased to prevent co-dependency during detox ...
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
hi speaking from experience the only medication your partner should be on now is vit b and thiamine, doctors would never substitute another mind altering substance for alcohol as this is known as cross addiction. your partner needs to get to as many meetings as possible and get a sponsor with good sobriety as well as reading his litreture, he's got to be prepared to go to any lengths to get his recovery, and above all else he's got to want it, remember he's still in early recovery so be patient and tolerant with him. hope this has been usefull......god bless
