Everyone wants a “quick fix”. Something that will easily dispel of the addiction and return a person back to normal functioning – but the reality is that addiction is far more powerful and destructive than that. It’s incredibly hard to simply “quit” – otherwise many people would’ve succeeded by now. At-home detoxes are incredibly dangerous because the mind and body are accustomed to high and frequent doses of a particular substance; of all the options, inpatient treatment offers the most intensive care.
What Does Inpatient Treatment Mean?
It may seem confusing after reading up on all the various types of treatment – but inpatient treatment is typically the longest and provides those in recovery with optimum recovery services. Many people who struggle with addiction fear the process of recovery – which is quite normal because recovery can involve many aspects that are difficult to predict. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that these programs,
“…focus on the ‘resocialization’ of the individual and use the program’s entire community – including other residents, staff and the social context – as active components of treatment.”
Inpatient treatment programs provide structure every day, which can greatly help a person in recovery establish routines that benefit their total wellness. The structure of inpatient treatment may go something like this:
Morning Wake Up: Residents may be expected to rise early and to enjoy a healthy breakfast, along with morning rituals such as meditation or prayer, yoga and relaxation.
Afternoon: During this phase of the day, residents will attend a number of different recovery-related activities, such as 12-Step meetings, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, specialized sessions and more.
Evenings: By the evening, residents may have some free time to relax and focus on their own recovery-related pursuits. With inpatient treatment, it’s important for residents to establish a nightly bedtime and routine so they can carry this with them once they return home.
Inpatient Treatment at Cumberland Heights
Traditional inpatient treatment programs may offer a rigid structure of therapy, but Cumberland Heights aims to provide more than that for residents. In fact, programs are individualized based on our healthcare team’s assessments, psychiatric evaluation and other information collected. In turn, residents may partake in a number of creative, adventurous pursuits to uplift their spirits, such as:
- Adventure Based Therapy – physically active and mentally engaging, our adventure therapy courses extract, through metaphor, the 12-Steps such as powerlessness and teamwork.
- Art Therapy – the exploration of thoughts and feelings can be opened through creative processes such as art therapy; those in recovery can even use art to articulate how they’re feeling if no words seem to surface.
- Labyrinth Experience – the labyrinth is meant to be used as a form of walking meditation and individuals can find deep, meaningful experiences that they can associate with healing.
- Music Assisted Therapy – with a trained music therapist, addiction recovery clients can improve their state of mind, reduce stress and anxiety through musical practices – both individually and as a group.
- Sand Tray Therapy – the sand tray is meant to serve as a symbolic “playground” where individuals can explore those struggling with intense thoughts and feelings. Some topics that may be addressed in sand tray therapy include but are not limited to trauma, grief, relational problems, identity issues and more.
- Spiritual Care Services – the idea of these services is to remind those in recovery that all hope is not lost; individuals of all faiths – or those with no faith – are welcome to attend these services. We offer a non-denominational church along with communion services to bring people together as they find healing and restoration.
- Yoga – the healing powers of yoga are undeniable; this practice has been used for centuries and can even help people in recovery develop the discipline needed to participate in 12-Step programs.
A Transformational Experience
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) publishes recovery success stories on those who’ve worked hard in addiction recovery programs. Emory Young, a man who once struggled not only with addiction but the aftermath of combat and trauma, stated,
“I have come full circle from being addicted, whose life was unmanageable to one fully involved in the helping professions of mental health services. I believe my path was chosen not by me but by a power greater than myself. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. Thanks to the God of my understanding for creating a path for me to contribute to the betterment of society.”
Inpatient treatment programs are transformational because they show those in recovery what a sober lifestyle – with extensive work on mental, physical and spiritual wellness – truly looks like. It then becomes much easier to apply what one has learned in recovery to their daily lives – and that’s why so many people have been so positively impacted by it.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-acre campus, we are made up of two 12-Step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first. For more information, call 1-800-646-9998 today.
