People considering enrolling in a residential addiction treatment center often ask what comes next. How can I be best supported in my recovery? How can I minimize the chances of relapse? Read on to learn more about this important phase in your healing.
What Comes After Addiction Recovery?
There is a range of available choices for you following a session in an addiction treatment center. Not all may be available where you live, but there are alternatives.
- Outpatient program: You may graduate to an outpatient program after completing your residential inpatient program. You can live at home or in a sober living facility while still working or going to school. This may take place in a variety of settings: treatment centers, mental health clinics, medical clinics, hospitals, office settings, or residential facilities.
- A range of therapy options are provided, including individual counseling, group therapy, family therapy, or occupational therapy. as well as education about the recovery process. Support groups may also be offered. These services are more flexible than in a rehab center and less costly.
- Alumni program of your residential treatment center: Most reputable centers offer an alumni program. It offers a very supportive environment with people in a similar situation as you. Education seminars are offered, usually in the evening and on weekends to allow most people to attend. Other people at various stages of recovery can provide invaluable support and knowledge. It is also a great way to socialize and have some fun.
- Sober living community: Also known as transitional living, halfway houses, or recovery residences, sober living residences offer a highly supportive substance-free place to live for a period of time with others in recovery. They offer a bridge before moving back home.
- Recovery support meetings, such as 12-step or SMART Recovery, provide a highly supportive place to meet others in recovery and participate in sessions to learn coping skills, be supported by peers, and transition to sobriety.
- Sponsors provide 1-to-1 peer support from someone in recovery who has gone through the process and achieved their sobriety goals.
- Individual and group counseling sessions provide intensive therapy to explore your issues and develop skills to maintain recovery
Preventing Relapse During and After Recovery
Preventing relapse effectively requires using a variety of strategies, including [1] [2]:
- List Situations or Triggers (People, Places, Things): List high-risk situations or triggers for your addiction (e.g. bars, weekends, etc.)
- Develop Plans to Deal With Triggers: Decide how best to avoid, minimize, or cope with triggers. Have a clear plan to follow if you’re tempted
- Define Alternatives: Decide what you’re going to do today instead of choosing substance use
- Develop Ways to Cope With Negative Emotions: Anger, anxiety, boredom, depression, and loneliness are common triggers to substance use
- Focus On Your Successes: Focus on how you were able to become abstinent or reduce your substance use, even if only for a short period
- Decide How To Handle Cravings: What will you do when this inevitably happens?
- Join 12-step or Other Programs: This has been shown to reduce relapse and can be helpful in rebuilding your network
- Reconnect With Family and Your Social Network: For many, family is the most powerful motivator for change. Contact your friends who are not associated with substance abuse
- Do Meaningful Activities: Do things you like and have a positive impact in the community to strengthen your self-worth and pride in what you can do sober
- Practice Self-Care: Not taking care of yourself physically and mentally can be a trigger. Focus on getting good sleep, eat nourishing food, clean your home
8 Activities for Recovering Addicts
Here is a list of 8 things you can do and enjoy. Of course, there are many more you may think of.
Journaling
A very powerful practice to record your thoughts and emotions and be able to reflect on them to see where you’re at and where you’ve come from in your journey. Capture your momentary thoughts or take a longer view and write a poem or short story. You may wish to keep this all private or share some with someone you trust. This can be very healing.
Mandala Coloring
Various books are available with outline drawing in many shapes that you can decide how to color in. This simple activity can be very calming and grounding, helping you to quietly process your feelings.
Meditate
Quiet your busy mind by removing distractions and focusing on your well-being. Lie down and breather into and through areas of tension in your body. Take slow deep breaths, focusing on a slow gentle exhale.
Painting
Express yourself freely with no worries about technique. Choose a theme to explore or just paint freely and let it flow. You may be surprised at what you can do.
Listen to Music
Create a playlist with relaxing, calming music to your moods. Or play a motivational set of up temp tunes to get you going in the morning.
Go for a Walk
Clear your mind with a mindfulness walk. Just follow a path and empty your mind of thoughts as you take note of what you see, then let it go. Good for the soul and good for the body.
Get Your Game On
Simple games like 21 questions or I-Spy can be fun. Plus they improve your cognitive skills and memory and ability to focus on the task at hand. They are also good for communication skills among players.
Cooking
A delicious way to relax and create. Relish the sensory aspects of food preparation, cooking, and eating. It’s a form of mindfulness and wonderful self-care while you nourish your body with the end result.
Is a Loved One Struggling with Addiction?
Located in Anaheim, California, Restorations Health Care can help you or a loved one overcome their addiction or mental health issues. Our mission is all about saving lives. We offer detox and inpatient treatment programs that help people get back on their feet. Our dedicated team of trained addiction professionals and counselors provides individualized addiction treatment programs for recovery. Reach out to our Admissions team now.
Sources
[1] Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Fundamentals of Addiction: Preventing and managing relapse.
[2] Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Fundamentals of Addiction: Preventing and managing relapse.
Author
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CLINICAL DIRECTOR
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Lacey graduated from Brand University with a MA in Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy. Lacey is a skilled clinician, supervisor, and administrator with extensive therapy experience. She is responsible for providing clinical leadership and policy direction for our program and maintains accepted standards of medical practice throughout the facility.