It can be scary going to rehab for the first time to overcome your addictions and other mental health issues.

To help, here are six suggestions on what you should and should not do when going to rehab for the first time and where to get help for anxiety.

  1. Follow the Rules: The most important thing a person should do is to follow the rules when entering rehab. Your goal is to get better. Focus your energies on getting better and don’t do anything that could get you kicked out of the place.
  2. Listen to the Counsellors: A person who goes to rehab must follow the advice from their counsellors. The counsellors you’re dealing with are professionals and they have dealt with many people in your situation. These counsellors are experts and following their advice will help speed up your recovery.
  3. Ask Questions: Going to rehab can be a new and stressful experience. Always ask questions about anything you’re not familiar with to help make your stay more pleasant. The people in rehab are there to answer your questions and to help you out.
  4. Be Friendly With Others: Do not take out your frustrations and fears on the staff or on your fellow residents. A person going to rehab can get be scared and frustrated so it’s important to find other ways of dealing with these issues. Blaming others for your problems is not the way to go and can interfere with your recovery. Be nice to others and in turn, most people will treat you with respect.
  5. Write Down Everything: When talking to the professionals, it’s impossible to remember every detail of the advice given to you. Most people forget what their counsellors say after a few days. Talking to these experts can provide valuable advice on how to deal with your fears and anxieties and you don’t want to forget what you were told. If possible, find a way to write down the advice given to you by the doctors and staff.
  6. Go to the Programs and Meetings: Many of the rehab facilities offer 30-60 minute programs in the mornings, afternoons, and at night. Make sure you attend most of these daily programs. The purpose of these programs is to help educate you in finding the right way of overcoming your fears and addictions. If you decide to sleep in – or decide to just skip the programs altogether – you could miss valuable information and delay the recovery process.

Your road to recovery is likely going to be a bumpy one. But you’ve already taken a huge step deciding rehab might be the best option for you.

Heed the advice above and keep your head held high. You’re going to make it through this – one step at a time.

About the Author:

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non-Resistant Methods” – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to http://www.managingfear.com/