When it comes to meeting doctors or medical professionals or seeking medical treatment, patients often have to be their own advocates. Medical professionals are here to help us with our short-term and long-term illnesses, but, unfortunately, the medical community, in general, can be slightly dismissive at times. For example, a person getting an annual wellness visit might feel as though their doctor is rushing them, robbing them of time that can be used to discuss questions or concerns they have. Perhaps you’ve gone to a therapy session with a new counselor, but something they said made you feel misunderstood or, even worse, like your feelings are invalid.
If situations such as these are experienced repeatedly, you may begin to lose faith in the medical community or a medical professional’s ability to help you. It’s important to keep in mind that not every doctor or therapist is like this, but for those that are, we must learn to advocate for ourselves when it comes to treatment. The same goes for seeking addiction treatment.
There may be thousands of rehabilitation programs and facilities to choose from, and it can be difficult to know which is best for you. The program that is right for you is the one that empowers you to take some control in your recovery. Our Ohana Addiction Treatment Center professionals will never make individuals feel dismissed, rushed, or invalid, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you learn how to be an effective advocate for yourself.
What Is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy is the ability to speak up for yourself and make the best decisions for you, your health, and, in the case of treatment, the future of your recovery. During the initial stages of seeking treatment, there may be a lot of misinformation or misguidance that you may face. Even the people with the best intentions have the potential to lead people astray. Someone else’s opinions and experiences can be informative but at the end of the day, whatever you need in your treatment and recovery is more important. Part of being your own advocate will require you to know your options for treatment, begin creating a support network, and work toward empowerment.
For those who may not be used to speaking up for themselves, the concept of self-advocacy may seem strange or even terrifying. The more you learn to speak your mind, the more comfortable you’ll become. The process of finding your voice can seem difficult, but it can also be exhilarating. Years of addiction can take time away from your life. You may wake up one day and suddenly not recognize the person looking back at you in the mirror. Finding your voice can be a process of rediscovery, and you may begin to know yourself a little better without the drugs or alcohol.
Understanding What You Need Out of Your Treatment
Amidst the struggle of addiction, it can be hard to know where to begin with your recovery needs. Once you have made it through the detoxification process, you may slowly but surely begin to gain more clarity. Upon getting a bit of a clearer head, you can have a better idea of what you’re looking for in your addiction recovery. For some, that may include a program full of clinical treatment, while others may prefer holistic or unorthodox approaches to treatment. Either way, treatment programs should give you the power to choose which works best for you.
Sometimes understanding your needs means trying different things. Upon entering a treatment facility, you should have access to an array of diverse programs and curriculums. Feel free to experiment with those different programs. If you’ve never been much of a yogi, give yoga a shot. When therapists suggest keeping a journal as an outlet for intrusive thoughts, remember that it can’t hurt to try. Consider the options presented to you, and you’ll soon know what does or doesn’t work for you and your treatment.
Choosing the Right Facility
When researching the right treatment facility for you, things to consider include researching the facility or facilities in question and assessing how they fit your current circumstance. Upon researching The Ohana Addiction Treatment Center, you will learn that we focus on individualized treatment for all our clients. We meet you wherever you’re at and create a plan tailored to you and your needs because we know that you are the only expert in your life.
The beauty of individualized treatment plans is the collaboration that happens between medical professionals and their clients. At The Ohana Addiction Treatment Center, we work together with you to focus on your goals in the way that works best for you. We hope that you will never feel like you have to work hard to be an advocate for yourself at The Ohana because, if we do our job correctly, you’ll teach us exactly what you need for your recovery. Just by speaking up, you have the power to control your recovery adventure for yourself.
