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Some individuals experience issues with boredom during inpatient treatment for addiction; below are some ways to combat it. Inpatient care is one of the best recovery options for addicts.
Participate in Activities
Most inpatient rehab programs offer more treatment options to patients as well as a considerable amount of activities. Classes, workshops, and recreational programs offered in rehab centers of this type might include:
- Exercise
- Yoga
- Tai Chi
- Nature walks
- Meditation and mindfulness training
- Nutritional classes
- Arts and crafts
- Socializing events
- Massage
The more you participate, the less bored you will feel during your stay, as well as the more benefits you will receive from the program overall.
Socialize with Others
You can combat boredom by taking up a new hobby.
Part of what you will learn in rehab is how to interact better with other people. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treatment in long-term inpatient programs (such as therapeutic communities) “is highly structured… with activities designed to help residents… adopt new, more harmonious and constructive ways to interact with others.”
Getting to know and spending time with the other patients will not only give you something else to focus on, but it will improve your social skills and allow you to create a stronger recovery.
Find New Interests
Even though you are in a controlled treatment center, it is still possible for you to seek out new interests. Searching for and using drugs can take up a considerable amount of one’s time, but realizing now how much time you do have to devote to other interests will help you make a big change in your life.
If one of the activities offered in your treatment facility doesn’t particularly interest you, you could always search out something else. You can even revisit an old passion that fell by the wayside when you began using drugs.
Is It Depression?
Especially during inpatient treatment but any time during your recovery, it is extremely important to make sure that the boredom you are experiencing isn’t actually just masked symptoms of depression. According to the NIDA, “Drug abuse may trigger or exacerbate… mental disorders, particularly in people with specific vulnerabilities.”
Depression is also a symptom of many different withdrawal syndromes, and it is necessary that it is caught as early as possible so you can be treated for it safely. If you are having intense feelings of boredom, apathy, or weariness during inpatient care, make sure your doctor also checks you for depression.
Inpatient Addiction Rehab Works
While it can be hard to fight feelings of boredom during inpatient rehab, there are many ways to occupy yourself. Eventually, you may begin to feel that there aren’t enough hours in the day. Most importantly, though, inpatient care is a very beneficial program for addiction treatment that helps create a solid foundation of recovery.