While there are more than 10 million individuals in the United States who are struggling with a substance abuse problem, only a tiny fraction of them receive the help they need. Addiction is an all-consuming disease that rewires the brain to prioritize your substance of choice above everything else.
Unfortunately, it becomes incredibly easy to make excuses and find countless reasons to not seek treatment. Opting to attend an out-of-state drug rehab removes many of the reasons why someone might be inclined to avoid seeking help at a treatment facility.
Should I Travel for Rehab?
For many people, even the remotest chance of coming across someone they know in their own hometown is enough to put them off joining a drug or alcohol treatment program. Staying closer to home also puts a significant amount of pressure on you to stay strong in moments of weakness and avoid the temptation of calling a loved one and asking them to bring you home.
Unless you have severe mental health issues that hold you back from spending time far from family, traveling to rehab is character-building and healthy.
Many people who struggle with addiction end up stuck in a rut where they don’t do much outside of finding, taking and recovering from alcohol or drug abuse. Taking a trip out of town to work on your wellness is exactly the shake-up most people need.
Read on to discover the top seven reasons why traveling for rehab can be an excellent idea.
1. You and Your Loved Ones Get a Fresh Start
If you continue to live the way you lived before starting treatment and don’t make the necessary lifestyle adaptations, you’re at an increased risk of relapse. Seeking substance abuse treatment near you makes it much harder to hit the reset button. Going to an out-of-state facility gives you a realistic shot at a fresh start.
By actively removing yourself from the setting you’ve been living and using in, you remove yourself from its memories, triggers and temptations. With all those negative influences out of the way, you’re giving yourself a chance to reframe your outlook while getting specialized care and support.
2. Out-of-Town Drug Rehab Means No Distractions from Friends and Family Members
When you spend time in a rehab facility, your only priority should be yourself, your recovery journey and how you relate to the support system within your treatment program. Recovering from a substance use disorder takes an enormous amount of effort and energy, and all of your focus should be directed inwards. You might experience a certain level of emotional fatigue as a result of uncovering truths and making tough decisions, so you mustn’t overexert yourself in any way.
When you’re out of state in unfamiliar surroundings, all the places, people and things you’re connected to are at a healthy distance. This gives you a better overall chance of getting sober and developing the tools necessary to maintain it.
3. There’s Additional Privacy in a Nonlocal Addiction Treatment Center
Of course, all medical treatment is confidential. However, when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, there’s additional motivation to make sure no one you know sees you. Even though substance use disorders are clinical mental disorders, there’s a stigma that means people who don’t understand the condition are prone to judge.
Even though you have nothing to be ashamed of, it’s completely understandable you’d want your personal life to remain private. Thinking people you know might start talking could lead to anxiety, which will only hinder your addiction recovery efforts. Going out of town for rehab provides a level of autonomy that’s simply not attainable in a local addiction treatment program.
4. It’s Harder to Leave Than a Local Rehab Center
Another major reason to travel away from your hometown for rehab is the challenge you’d be faced with if you tried to leave. In an unfamiliar area with different sights and sounds, you’re less likely to feel like it’s easy to make a quick escape. When you’re in the acute stages of withdrawal, it’s best to put as many barriers as possible between you and the temptation to use substances.
Opting to seek drug or alcohol treatment in an out-of-state rehabilitation facility puts distance between you and the temptation to use drugs and makes getting home harder.
5. Travel Encourages Reflection
Anyone who has traveled a significant distance knows that it’s always a learning experience. Getting out of our comfort zone is one of the best methods for self-development. Plus, the journey on the way to and from the drug rehab center prepares you mentally for the transition from the outside world to drug detox and then onto your treatment plan.
6. Your Focus Is on Yourself in an Out-of-State Treatment Center
Lots of people who abuse drugs and alcohol have difficulty looking inwards and expressing or dealing with emotions. While it’s often believed that only negative emotions lead to addiction, some people even have difficulty regulating positive emotions. When an individual has trouble switching between states in this manner, one of the best ways to move forwards is by learning to focus intensely on the self.
Away from your local area, you’re less likely to concern yourself with external factors that are beyond your control anyway.
7. It Demonstrates a Clear Commitment to Recovery
Taking the decision to pack your belongings and make a journey across the country to get help is symbolic as well as practical. The first step towards recovery is always the hardest, and by committing to travel the distance, you’re signaling to yourself that you’re prepared to “go the distance” to get sober.
Get Help for Drug Addiction Today
If you or someone you love has fallen victim to a substance use disorder, our drug rehab center in Ohio has the tools to help them recover. Call New Day Recovery today at 330-953-3300 to get medical advice from a friendly expert.
