It is an achievement to complete a rehabilitation program. People who assume a treatment program can solve all your problems vastly underestimate what you’re going through. Getting back to where you were before your addiction takes some time. Many people want to help you succeed after rehab. After rehab, you may be perceived differently by friends, family members, or coworkers. People who leave rehab may have to find new friends and adjust to their new lifestyles.
Keeping up with the same friends who encourage drinking or drug use does more harm than good. Other people might be more supportive than you expect. Let yourself adjust, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. You are not alone in this – there are a lot of people who want to help you succeed. Ultimately, the journey ahead starts with maintaining sobriety, building a new social network, preventing relapses, and seeking individual or group therapy as required.
Sustaining Sobriety
After completing detoxification and inpatient rehabilitation, a person in recovery returns to normal life. That includes work, family, friends, and hobbies. All of these factors can trigger cravings and temptations. Most relapses occur within the first six months after treatment. You can support positive change by creating healthy relationships with drug-free people. An individual who is leaving treatment and maintaining sobriety can benefit from thinking of a plan for maintaining sobriety. Before you leave an inpatient treatment center, you should have a plan for continuing care. By identifying your triggers, you can develop a plan for avoiding them. You are more likely to succeed in your recovery if you have a solid support system in place.
Building a New Social Network
People in recovery need to prepare for changes in their lifestyles and how this will impact their social lives. It can be challenging to start a sober life, as it is filled with boredom, loneliness, and helplessness at first. During recovery, activities that once revolved around using drugs or alcohol may seem boring. Drug-free and alcohol-free activities provide a mental and social outlet. In recovery, many people find that volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to the community and feel connected to others. Staying active and making new friends can also be achieved by participating in sports or other hobbies. Support and fellowship can also be found in groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. As you adjust to your new life in recovery, it is important to stay busy and connected to others.
Preventing Relapses
The journey to long-lasting sobriety should continue after rehab. To avoid relapse, it is crucial to continue receiving support after rehab. The options for continued support are many, and all should promote a healthy life. Many people join churches or engage in hobbies that promote independence, or they join social groups that celebrate sobriety and keep them clean. The changes a person experiences after rehab include cherishing their experience in treatment while honoring their new lifestyle. Different forms of support can be beneficial in remaining sober after rehab.
Resuming Therapy
It is important to remember that addiction is more than just chemical dependency. Lifestyle factors such as stress can lead to drug abuse. For this reason, individual counseling is so effective. Patients can explore why they feel certain emotions and how they cope with using substances. This is crucial since patients relate to different treatment methods. Regularly checking in with a mental health professional will ensure that you are making progress. Joining a support group is another option. A key feature of the 12-Step method is relying on a higher power. This includes accepting responsibility and admitting wrongdoing. People in recovery learn how to live without drugs and alcohol and build a support network to stay on track. Addiction is a lifelong battle. But with the right help, you can win. You are not alone if you are struggling with life after rehab. Counselors are available 24 hours a day to suggest any resources you might need. Please call 833-846-5669.