The Importance Of Aftercare
Aftercare is important once you complete your inpatient treatment for drug addiction. Aftercare is a continued treatment plan that you execute regularly in your everyday life.The professionals of addiction prevention and treatment at our facility will help you in designing a relapse prevention plan. This relapse prevention plan is your aftercare plan. It’s the plan that you suppose to follow after release from the program to regular life schedule. This plan helps in staying clean or sober.
In case you’re wondering what to do after a drug rehab center to avoid relapse? The following information will surely be valuable to help you to stay sober for the long haul.
Important Steps for Aftercare
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Create a Support Network.
Those who have long-term recovery oftentimes report that had always safe people to go for support in tough times. Some of them got that support by attending 12 steps groups. While others may have surrounded themselves with positive, sober friends. Others may have gotten involved in some sort of hobby or program in the community that helps them under positive influence.
All of these are great ways to connect with others, which can help you stay sober and clean. It might not always be easy to connect with others, especially for introverts, but it’s worth the effort. Loneliness and feeling alone can trigger people to start drinking or using drugs again. So be sure that you create a positive supportive network as you continue your recovery path.
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Change Your Environment If Necessary.
If you’re getting out of drug rehab center and going back into an atmosphere that is toxic or full of drug activity. You might seriously consider changing your home environment. This goes for your neighborhood too. Is your neighborhood full of drug dealers and party people? If you are just getting out of drug rehab, chances are you will not be strong enough to avoid the temptations when the alcohol and drugs is in your home or close by. If you’re serious about staying clean and sober, evaluate your immediate surroundings and make the necessary changes to help you continue on your path of sobriety.
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Get To Therapy
There’s quite a few people who get out of drug rehab center and know that they should go see a therapist to work on various issues. However, they tend to use the excuse that they cannot afford one. Maybe their insurance doesn’t cover it, or they realistically are struggling financially.
It’s in your best recovery interest to do whatever it takes to find yourself a good therapist and go to at least six sessions. Many therapists will offer a sliding fee scale. You might be able to get free counseling by calling your local mental health agency and having a discussion with the appropriate staff.
Digging underneath the addiction and dealing with issues such as depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues can have a significant impact on your future recovery progress. So again, do whatever you can to make that commitment to counseling.
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Tend To Your Emotional And Physical Health
Life can have its ups and downs regardless of whether you have a past with substance abuse. Emotionally, it can get rough, so take time regularly to tend to your emotional health. Discover what helps you emotionally. Maybe it’s meditation or prayer for 15 minutes every morning. Or maybe it’s listening to something inspirational on YouTube or on your iPod. Maybe it’s talking to your pastor or your mother, who always offers you some wonderful advice and encouragement.
Tending to your physical health can also help you stay clean and sober. Recovering addicts that determine to get into shape report that their cravings for their drug decreases significantly. Whether you enjoy taking a brisk walk around your neighborhood or hiking up a 10,000-foot mountain, get out there and exercise your body. It will not only help you physically, but most likely mentally and emotionally as well.
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Go To Support Group Meetings
A great way to stay connected with others who are successfully walking the recovery path and receive encouragement and hope is to attend support group meetings. There’s Alcoholics Anonymous if alcohol was drug of choice and there’s Narcotics Anonymous if drugs were your problem substance.
In early recovery, many report that it helps them to get to several meetings a week. At the meetings you can always share if you’re having a rough time with cravings and you can also get yourself a mentor or sponsor. Working through the 12 steps helps you grow on your recovery path and learn value lessons about yourself, others, addiction, and life in general. Some people love going to meetings and others not so much. Do what works for you, but at the very least, try several to see for yourself.
Recovery Continues After Drug Rehab
If you’re wondering what to do after drug rehab take these ideas and run with them. It’s your responsibility to find whatever works for you and it doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Try one or try them all, it’s completely up to you. The reality is that having an aftercare plan can help you overcome cravings or getting relapsed. It also helps in connecting with others which will be a good influence on you. Continue to work on your emotional and mental health, and more.
Take some time and work on your Aftercare Plan or relapse prevention plan today. It helps when you can write down your plan and keep it somewhere where you see it often, so you don’t forget about it.