Life After Rehab: Navigating Post-Rehab Recovery

CBT is very useful when it comes to identifying how a person responds to certain triggers — or people, places and things that fuel their desire to use drugs or alcohol. Learning how to respond differently to these triggers, or how to avoid them in the first place, is something that can be worked on during a return visit to rehab. When someone relapses, their addiction is often worse than before. The feelings of shame and guilt further drive the substance abusing behavior in an effort to numb any uncomfortable emotions. Each day the person continues using makes recovery more difficult.

Mental

Recovery can travel both ways – up to sobriety or down to relapse. For a long time, they worried over you, stressed over you, fretted over you. Now you’re coming out of rehab and asking to pick up the broken threads of old relationships. According to a study reported in Psychology Today, the more ties you have to others, the happier you will be. Both strong ties (close, personal relationships) and weak ties (simply being around people you know) can both influence happiness.

What to Do If You Relapse

Many going back to rehab recovering addicts overlook the fact that what you think eventually becomes what you do, and what you do is who you become over time. So to maintain your new, healthy and sober lifestyle, you first need to think of yourself as a successfully recovering addict. You may feel hopeful about your new life after completing your first 30, 60 or 90 days in recovery. Suddenly, life without drugs and alcohol not only seems possible, but like it might be fun, too.

Why Do People Relapse?

• Life after rehab is when the real recovery begins and the true transformation and positive impact can take place.
• This starts with first knowing what triggers a relapse, so you’ll be better equipped to avoid it.
• It will be easier to integrate the next phase of treatment if you already know where to start.
• Be honest with loved ones, practice open communication,  rebuild trust slowly, and consider family or couples therapy as needed.

Therefore, it’s important to develop the self-awareness needed to recognize the warning signs. By becoming self-aware, you’ll have a better idea of how to change or shift behaviors through the help of the tips below. While many people may be prepared to leave rehab and create a new positive way of life, it’s still important to know the challenges that most face during life after rehab. Being prepared for these challenges can help you to set realistic expectations. It can also help you to plan ahead of time what types of strategies or techniques you’ll need to use https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/meditation-for-addiction-recovery-methods-and-techniques/ to overcome these inevitable challenges. If you’ve been in treatment before, it may also help to reach out to alumni programs (if any) for resources.

Support from family and friends can aid you in achieving your recovery goals. If you have loved ones willing to stand by your side through your journey, take all the support and encouragement you can get. Many treatment facilities also offer family therapy, which can provide support for all members of the family, as opposed to only the individual struggling with substance misuse. Also keep in mind that depending on the severity of your addiction as well as other factors, inpatient treatment may not be required; outpatient programs may be an option.