Addiction treatment is not only about detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and behavioral therapies. It also provides people the chance to learn new life skills. These skills can help those in recovery maintain a healthy lifestyle for the long haul. They can also help them maintain long-term recovery while reducing the risk of relapse.
Life post-treatment has many challenges. The ability to handle those challenges safely and effectively is invaluable for people trying to get their lives back on track.
Before individuals can achieve recovery and learn life-changing skills, they must first seek treatment. Speak with a doctor or addiction treatment professional if you or someone you love is actively struggling with addiction. The road to recovery can begin today.
The transition from treatment to recovery is sometimes met with a few bumps in the road. Firstly, it's important to remember that addiction has no cure. Addiction is a chronic illness that can be treated and managed, but you never truly transition out of it. Admittedly, recovery takes a lot of hard work and determination, but it is always worth it.
There is, however, a transition out of treatment and into recovery. Time in treatment provides opportunities for your mind and body to reconnect and heal together. It is also a time to learn tools to help you achieve sobriety, maintain recovery, and prevent relapse.
Before leaving treatment, evaluate what you want your life to look like and set goals you'd like to achieve after treatment. Taking on too much all at once may not be conducive to recovery. Becoming overwhelmed can lead to anxiety, fatigue, and worry. This can also trigger or increase the risks of relapse.
Several factors can help make your transition from treatment to long-term recovery a bit smoother. These factors may include having a game plan of what support meetings you'll attend, how frequently you'll continue attending individual and group therapy sessions, and who is in your support system. Of course, you can't predict everything, but asking what happens after rehabilitation is prudent.
Life post-treatment looks different for everybody. Some people need time to settle into their newfound sobriety, while others may quickly return to work and everyday life. The one thing consistent across the board is that you must make serious changes to keep your sobriety intact.
Some changes you make may include:
To make these life changes, you must also prepare for potential roadblocks or barriers that may come along as you navigate life after rehab.
As mentioned, there are many potential recovery roadblocks to be aware of after leaving treatment. Potential roadblocks can include:
Your experiences in and out of treatment will be unique to your circumstances. You can plan for these challenges, but surprises will still come up. That is why learning new life skills during treatment is so critical. Without them, you may not have to tools to cope with difficulties.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) lists 10 guiding principles of recovery. These principles are:
The life skills you learn in treatment can help you live out these principles in a healthy way. Life skills that can benefit you as you transition to recovery and return to your everyday life include:
Life post-treatment will allow you to practice and become more familiar with skills such as these. If you struggle with life post-treatment, get help implementing these skills today.
You may already know that life after rehab comes with many potential barriers and roadblocks. Reintegrating into everyday life while successfully transitioning out of treatment is not an easy feat, but it is possible. Thankfully, many treatment facilities dedicate program time to teaching people the skills necessary to be successful in recovery. Those skills may include communication, setting goals, creating boundaries, advocating for mental health needs, stress management techniques, and several other practices. These skills can help you sustain your sobriety, but first, you must seek treatment. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, know you are not alone. Call NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400 for quality addiction treatment today.
