Addiction

Women Rehabilitation Center Case Study: Rekha’s Recovery from Substance Abuse

Written By

Dr. Amar Shinde

Last Updated on: 31 Jul 2025

Patient Information

Age: 23
Gender: Female
Background: Hailing from Pune, Rekha is a fashion design student who lives in her college hostel. She shifted to Mumbai at 19 and was influenced into substance use to manage the stressful working hours, improve performance, and be a part of the group. 

History or Cause:

Rekha’s journey began when she shifted to Mumbai to get a degree in fashion from a prestigious college. While it was a dream come true, what she did not expect was the work pressure and the change in her new social circle. Coming from a conservative and close-knit family background, the sudden change in the environment led to confusion and helplessness overwhelming her. She struggled to make friends and perform well, as most assignments and projects were done in groups. The cultural shift was huge, and the design community influenced her to open up and ‘experiment.’

At first, she began smoking to be a part of the group, then she was introduced to marijuana by seniors who called it creativity boosters. She also figured that smoking marijuana (ganja) helped her stay up and work for more hours. 

Her lack of sleep led to increased anxiety and sleeplessness. She was then introduced to ecstasy (MDMA) by her friends in the hostel to feel better. She also got them at parties. She used alcohol and MDMA to relax and feel better. Some of her friends also gave her prescription medications, benzodiazepines (like Alprazolam/Xanax), to help her sleep when she couldn’t. 

By the time she reached her final year of college, she was dependent on one set of substances to function and another to sleep and relax. Her performance had dipped, and her creativity was gone. She suffered from terrible mood swings and panic attacks, distanced herself from the family, and struggled to keep her grades.

Her concerned parents took her to a doctor, who referred her to the Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre for professional help.

Diagnosis:

After a deep assessment - psychological and medical at Jagruti Rehab, the following diagnosis was made:

• Polysubstance Dependence - It involves the use of nicotine through cigarette smoking, cannabis, alcohol, and prescription benzodiazepines. 
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Mild Depressive Episodes - The causes were emotional exhaustion, physical and mental burnout, low self-worth, and competitive surroundings.

Psychiatrists and counsellors at Jagruti Rehab noted that substance dependency was rooted in connection with emotional coping instead of thrill-seeking. It means that she was dependent on substances to manage stress, work for long hours, relieve anxiety, relax, and sleep. While influenced in the beginning, addiction came from her needs, for example, belongingness, stress management, overcoming tiredness, and beating anxiety.

Treatment:

Approach:

A 90-day residential de-addiction program tailored for women was advised. It began with detox and stabilisation from the withdrawal symptoms. Therapy, lifestyle changes, and holistic wellness practices with a focus on routine building were introduced to address Rekha’s physical dependency and emotional triggers.

Program:

• Detoxification (Weeks 1–2): Medically supervised detoxification to manage withdrawal symptoms from alcohol, benzodiazepines, and nicotine. Nutrition and lifestyle changes were focused on to help Rekha with the process.
• Routine Setting (Weeks 2–4): Set SMART goals and healthy routines that include nutritious meals, sleep schedules, journaling, meditation, exercise, and yoga.
• Therapeutic Sessions (Weeks 2–12): Daily one-on-one counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and group therapy to overcome the dependency mentally and improve social skills.
• Skill Building (Weeks 5–12): Art therapy and life skill workshops combined with regular meditation for stress management, time management, and overcoming challenges the right way. 
• Family Counseling: Improve communication and understanding in the family. Rekha’s parents were guided on how to support Rekha and help her recover without pushing her to relapse.

Medical Treatments:

• Sleeping aids (non-addictive)—for the early weeks when she was losing sleep due to withdrawal symptoms.
• Nutritional supplements were given to help her gain weight and recover.

Therapy Types:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT sessions helped Rekha understand her fears and the real cause of her substance dependency. She understood that she did not need substances to overcome her stress and fears. Other skills could help her the right way and shop for the results she was seeking.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI): It helped her to stay focused on her recovery and see the end goal.
• Group Therapy: She could bond with other women in recovery and participate in group activities to exercise her cognitive and social skills in a fun and interactive way.
• Art & Movement Therapy: Rekha found expression and healing through art therapy, where she participated in sketching and colouring for expression only in a safe, constructive, and non-competitive environment.

Improvements/Recovery Timeline:

Our Success:

Impact on Rekha’s Life:

After completing her 90-day program, Rekha entered a new life with a complete transformation. She was no longer dependent on any substance and followed a healthy routine. On returning to her work life, she decided to leave the hostel and change her surroundings. She moved back to her home for a few months, focused on her daily routine while taking up freelance design projects. 

Rekha: “At Jagruti, I learned that the real wealth is health, and success comes from consistent small wins. Living in the present is the real win. I am not afraid to fail anymore, and surprisingly, that mindset has made me grow as a professional 10x and perform way better. I am often complimented on my daring designs, as they are fresh and new. I have understood a healthy mind and body is key to achieving every dream.”

Family and Community Impact:

Rekha’s parents have shared that she has become more participative in conversations. Her confidence is palpable, and her discipline is very inspiring to everyone. Her recovery and journey have inspired her college best friend to seek help and her cousin to be disciplined. Also, they have noticed she is always mentally and emotionally present in all situations.

Future Steps

Rekha is advised to stay connected with the support groups and schedule therapy once every four weeks. She can also make use of telemedicine and have a consultation with her doctor through a video call in case she has a busy schedule. Adhering to a routine that involves meditation, exercise, good nutrition, adequate hydration, and maintaining sleep hygiene is a must. In case of extreme stress and a relapse, she should get in touch with her doctor immediately.

Dr. Amar Shinde

Dr. Amar Shinde, founder of Jagruti Rehab, is a renowned psychiatrist in India with over two decades of experience in mental health, addiction recovery, and neuropsychiatry, dedicated to holistic, compassionate patient care.