Do you have a family member or a friend who’s in rehab? If you do, do you have an idea how hard they’re going through and how many phases of rehabilitation they need to undergo in order to achieve full recovery? If you don’t, then it’s time for you to start reading more about the rehabilitation steps, as it would also help you support them during their journey to recovery.
In the year 1977, a man from the University of Rhode Island named James O. Prochaska – with his colleagues – developed the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change. It is a model that lets you understand the process of an individual’s intentional change of behavior. In addition to this, when it comes to addiction treatment, Transtheoretical Model aka TTM is an essential element for the patient’s recovery.
Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change
5 Rehabilitation Steps
Stage 1 – Precontemplation
In the first stage, it is normal for the patient to be in denial whenever someone tells them to quit. It is normal for them to not accept the fact that they’re suffering from an addiction. In this stage, none of the patients ever thought of stopping their addiction and they also tend to think that they don’t need anyone’s help with their condition.
Stage 2 – Contemplation
The second stage is the stage where the patient is finally accepting the fact that he or she is experiencing addiction. This stage is where the patient finally starts to acknowledge the things that the people around them are telling him or her. They are starting to open up to knowing the consequences of their condition. This is also the stage where the patient finally considers stopping his or her addictive behavior.
Stage 3 – Preparation
Once the patient is already open to change, the next thing the patient needs to do is to prepare for the change that he or she had been waiting to do. The patient needs to prepare for the processes that he or she needs to undergo to achieve recovery. This is the stage where you could show your support to your loved one who is going through rehab. Your support as a friend or as a family member is crucial for the patient.
Stage 4 – Action
The reason why stage 3 – preparation – is crucial is that the next stage, which is action, is the hardest and most stressful stage for all the patients. This is the stage where specialists come in and guide the patient to the programs that they’ll need to undergo in order to help them slowly let go of their addiction. You, on the other side, could show them more support. If they need your help in stage 3, how much more in stage 4, right?
Stage 5 – Maintenance
The 5th stage is an additional stage. As you can see, the title of this stage is maintenance. This is the stage where the patient needs to maintain the condition he had when he finished his rehabilitation. During this time and onwards, you need to help your loved ones to stop their self on taking a small amount of whatever they’re addicted to. A small amount could lead them back to their addiction.
Besides all these 5 rehabilitation steps that an individual needs to undergo during rehabilitation, it would be a great idea if the individual would inquire at the nearest sober living home. Staying in such a facility wouldn’t only be very helpful for the patient but it would also make them feel better. Especially knowing that they’re not alone in everything that they’re going through. And also, don’t forget to choose the best facility that fits the patient’s lifestyle so that they wouldn’t have a hard time adjusting.