There are many conditions and situations we might have to face in our life, some of which are a lot harder to handle than others. Even then, some specific conditions are still capable of affecting our lives in a way that hinders us unable to deal with our responsibilities, and among them, addiction is possibly one of the most difficult ones to cope with.
Believe it or not, addiction is quite common around the world. Just so you know, back in 2019, more than 19.3 million Americans had some sort of problem-related to substance abuse, which is commonly referred to as substance use disorder. Most of them had problems related to alcohol, while others had problems linked to the abuse of medication and illegal drugs.
Here’s where the word addiction enters the play. As showcased in this article, addiction is considered a mental and physical disease that influences the brain and body of an individual in a way that makes it more likely to fall into the urge of consuming a specific substance without considering the harm said substance can cause them, either physically or mentally.
Thankfully, there are ways to treat this particular condition, but frequently speaking, the best approach to deal with this dilemma is a medical process known as rehabilitation. In this article, we will talk about rehabilitation as a medical practice, and some of the advantages you can get from having a health care insurance policy that provides rehab-related benefits.
The Core Basics of Rehab
Now, to understand why rehab is usually the recommended approach, we must first understand what rehabilitation all is about. First, rehabilitation is a practice that involves several approaches, often choosing them based on the situation at hand and the gravity of the addiction suffered by the patient.
Most of the time, though, rehabilitation involves a combination of routines and therapy, as well as counseling, for the sake of guiding the patient to surpass his or her dependency on a specific substance, and the one thing that most rehabilitation processes rely upon the most is detox, which involves a complete stop to the consumption of the substance causing the problem.
Because there are several types of substances out there that can cause dependency, and each one might involve various levels of addiction and withdrawal symptoms, at times, these routines and therapy practices might change, even involving medication or residential care in some extreme situations.
Understanding Withdrawal
As shown at https://www.everydayhealth.com/addiction/experts-how-long-does-withdrawal-last.aspx, withdrawal is one of the reasons why rehabilitation is so difficult. Some of the symptoms caused by withdrawal can be mild, while others can be extremely severe, affecting both the mind and the body.
Symptoms vary based on the phase in which the patient is at the moment. The first phase is the one that happens during the first 24 hours after the patient has stopped consuming the substance causing the dependency, and they usually involve:
- Muscle spasms and pain
- Different grades of stress and anxiety
- Sleeping disorders like insomnia
- Excessive sweating and trembling
- Lack of focus and motivation
- Tearing eyes and running nose
After the first 24 hours, the patient enters the second phase, and now the initially found symptoms worsen, while the patient might also suffer from other symptoms, such as:
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heartbeat rate
- Lack of appetite
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Muscle cramps usually focused in the abdominal area
- Dilated pupils, nausea, and dizziness.
The third phase involves a combination of all the aforementioned symptoms but might include long-term problems mostly related to the mental health of the patient, specifically linked to behavioral patterns and attitudes towards themselves, other people, and the consumption of different substances.
The Advantages of Having Insurance Rehab Coverage
Now, let’s talk about why healthcare is so important when it comes to rehabilitation. You see, it is very common for rehab to be expensive. Although you can receive certain benefits from public insurance policies, they are not as efficient as private providers when it comes to rehab, thus, it is important to understand which options are more reliable for your particular case, especially if a family member is the one needing rehab.
For that reason, looking for an insurance policy that is capable of handling and providing the right benefits is essential. You can check out Cigna addiction rehab coverage as a good example of what you should expect from a healthcare insurance provider that also, in many different ways, provides advantages when it comes to rehab.
Among the most common advantages people can enjoy, you have:
- Treatment coverage for alcohol and drug-related dependency
- Residential treatment coverage for long-term to short-term treatments, which are usually very efficient treatments yet relatively expensive
- Access to group therapies, as well as individual therapy and counseling
- Access to medical checkups and medication
- Easier access to high-end facilities and professionals
It is important, however, to always discuss the coverage of your policy of choice before making any decision, since the coverage you receive from the insurance of your choice can greatly influence your approach, thus, making a call to ask as many questions as you can is recommended.
Usually, you might want to contact the rehab facilities that catch your interest to see what type of patients and circumstances they specialize in, and if possible, visit said facility to have a feeling of how comfortable and professional it is.
This will make it easier on the patient since rehab is usually a combined effort between patient and professional. When you provide the patient with a comfortable and reliable environment where they can put all their trust, it greatly increases the chances of success and a much smoother rehab process, also making it easier for the professionals handling the case.
Of course, friends and family supporting the patient can also play a vital role, especially since it provides the patient with the motivation to surpass all the challenges involved in the journey, something that is especially necessary for such a hard task.
