What is a Rehabilitation Center Like? What to Expect on a Normal Day

by Amy · September 9, 2019

Out of all Americans, 22 million are in recovery for drug and alcohol addiction. So what is a rehabilitation center and what happens there?

Only 10% of people who struggle with addiction get professional help. Going to rehab is one of the most life-changing things a person can do.

This is your chance to learn about life in recovery. The truth about what happens at rehab will surprise you.

Here’s what happens during the average day at rehab:

What is a Rehabilitation Center?

What does rehab mean? The term “rehab” refers to a rehabilitation center. A rehabilitation center is a facility where people seek treatment for drug and alcohol addiction disorders.

Inpatient rehab programs are more intensive and require patients to spend 24 hours at the facility. People in outpatient programs arrive at the beginning of the day for treatment but leave later in the afternoon.

Depending on the drug rehab they can have both inpatient and outpatient programs. Plus, some of the more upscale options, also offer specialized therapies. But all rehabs will provide treatment plans to meet patients’ individual needs.

Detox

Does rehab work? Yes, but first, patients have to go through a detox. Detoxing is a process that removes drugs and alcohol from one’s body. It can take up to 7 days or more to fully detox your system.

So what happens in detox? Patients receive necessary medical supervision. This medical supervision is critical when a patient is experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

The staff will also prescribe medications to improve a patient’s condition during withdrawal.

Morning Routine

What is rehab like? Well, it’s very structured and organized. Maintaining a regular schedule helps patients establish healthy habits.

Patients wake up in the morning and shower. Then they eat a healthy breakfast around 8 AM. At some point, they take their medications.

Some rehabs often have morning activities like meditation, journaling, groups, or yoga.

Afternoon

What happens in rehab? A lot of therapy.

Afternoons consist of group therapy sessions (including family therapy) and therapeutic activities. This allows patients to share their feelings, learn from each other’s experiences, and acquire skills to facilitate recovery.

During the afternoon, patients have a healthy lunch at some point.

Each person has at least 1 individual therapy session during the day. The therapist will then evaluate each patient’s psychological state, provide a diagnosis, and prescribe treatment.

Night

As it gets later, the schedule gets lighter. The 12-step program meetings often occur at night. Inspirational speakers also come in to talk about recovery topics.

Patients eat a healthy dinner before unwinding with activities like art therapy, watching movies, and more. Bedtime is usually around 10 or 11 pm.

Some rehabs have snack time before bed.