Sobriety is hard work, and you may be scared about life after you’ve finished your in-house rehabilitation program. So what’s next?
Coming back home after treatment can be daunting, but there are many ways you can work to stay sober. What you need to realize is that the recovery process can continue to be a struggle long after you complete rehab.
When you are in treatment, you receive 24/7 support. This promotes solace and safety, and makes it simpler for someone who is struggling with addiction to stay on task. It gives a solid foundation and tools to help you heal and deal with your issues even after leaving rehab.
Of course, moving on from rehab can be very exhilarating, but it may also create challenges as you learn how to navigate your new and sober life.
You should realize that temptations are there in your home life that you may have to face after leaving rehab. By recognizing this you can figure out how to avoid or manage these issues. This helps you to to stay sober as you move into the future.
Avoid Common Temptations
Of course, moving from a supported environment back to your typical life can be a difficult transition. When you leave the facility, you may see that you are being tempted by trigger situations, or have thoughts of moving back into old habits and harmful behaviors. Issues like coming back to your old home, socializing with old friends or family, and even familiar emotions can make it difficult to stay sober and not go back to using or drinking.
Here are some ways to avoid or manage these temptations:
Stay supported. Socialize with sober people, or with people who believe in your recovery and want you to be successful. Look for a support group in your city or even a friend you can call when you need a little extra help to avoid temptation.
Adjust your environment. Before coming back home from rehab, ask a close friend or a person you trust to help get rid of any paraphernalia from your home. Stay away from places that may make you feel like using.
Set your future goals. This makes it much simpler to keep your temptations at bay – because you will have those temptations. When you have a game plan on why you want to stay sober and how it will improve your life, it is much easier to stay on target.
Keep all your follow-up appointments. If you are working with your rehabilitation center or a doctor, always continue going to the appointments you schedule with them. While you may feel tempted to skip out or believe that you can go it alone, truthfully it’s much easier to manage any temptations when a health professional is in your corner.
Give thanks every day. We should always appreciate the life we have, and recognizing that promotes healthy thinking. Writing five things each day in a gratitude journal can make you feel fulfilled and blessed.
Make new healthy habits. It can take up to two months before a new habit becomes automatic, so find something that you enjoy doing – and stay with it!
Take Part in Sober Pastimes
Replacing destructive behaviors with positive, healthy habits is crucial during recovery. Sober activities can be fun – even without drugs or alcohol. Here are a few examples:
- Exercise or play sports
- Meditate
- Read
- Create arts and crafts
- Go back to school
- Study a new language
- Garden
- Volunteer
Find Ways to Receive Community and Support
No matter where you are, there are places that provide community and support. Surround yourself with like-minded people in a support group, by attending counseling and getting involved in meet-up activities. There are also many types of continuing care, such as individual therapy, check-ups, and 12-Step programs.
The help of an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab works on each level of treatment, helping individuals physically and mentally. Discovery Place is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable, alternative drug and alcohol addiction recovery programs. Discovery Place is here to help you overcome addiction. If you’d like to learn more about our many programs, sure to browse our treatment programs page today. Our caring experts can help you find the right course of treatment that will begin your path to recovery.
