You’ll be sober in rehab, but what comes after? Leaving the structure of a treatment program can put you right back into the same environment that made addiction so accessible before. Old friends who use drugs, environments, and emotions that trigger your desire to use the very substance you sought to rid from your life will return, and you’ll need to have the skills necessary to avoid cravings, cope with triggers and stay sober.
Relapse Prevention Programs
Part of a quality drug treatment program is relapse prevention and aftercare. Rather than just focusing on detox and the early stages of recovery, rehabs with relapse prevention programs make sure that people are equipped to handle the stressors of sobriety.
Chances are that you will want to use again, especially when you’re exposed to triggers and temptations that you didn’t have to confront in rehab. Relapse prevention programs teach different strategies to cope with cravings, what to do if you do use again and how to get help ASAP so you don’t spiral back into addiction.
Relapse Prevention Skills
People all have their own ways of dealing with substance abuse recovery; developing the ability to cope with uncomfortable emotions, mental illness symptoms and stress from work and relationships will help you be able to stay afloat and avoid returning to your old ways.
Some of the skills that can help prevent relapse include:
– Self-care.
– Time management.
– Mindfulness awareness.
– Grounding techniques.
– Imagining the scenario, often called the “play the tape through” technique.
The most important factor in your recovery is you. While group therapy, support groups and sobriety coaches can help you stay on track, no one is going to keep you sober. The only person on the planet who has the ability to stop you from using drugs again is you.
But does this mean you have to face all the challenges of sobriety alone? Not at all. Rehab will teach you that being vulnerable is a strength, not a weakness. Sharing your feelings with people you trust can help you get the support you need at any time; all you have to do is reach out.
How Friends and Family Can Help
Your loved ones will serve an important role in your recovery. Many rehabs and drug centers offer family therapy programs as well as support groups for spouses, parents and friends of addicts.
These groups are led by licensed counselors and may include guest speakers such as doctors, psychologists or even people who have been sober for long periods of time. Doing so helps people understand the complexity of addiction and serve as a better support system for their loved one.
Make sure that you let your loved ones know that you are committed to your sobriety. Tell them that it would be helpful if they did not drink alcohol or do drugs around you. Ask them to not discuss any triggering topics or take you anywhere that may be too tempting.
You may want to ask them to accompany you to a support group meeting, which will allow them to get an inside look at your recovery and learn alongside you. The most important thing is to set boundaries and enforce them kindly.
You are not obligated to associate with anyone who encourages you to do drugs again or does not respect your recovery. It doesn’t matter how close you were or what their relationship to you is. Staying sober and leading a healthy life for yourself is always the top priority.
How Rehab Can Help
With a good rehab, you’ll never feel alone, even after you’ve completed your treatment program. Most inpatient drug rehabs see their patients for three to six months, and over that time, they get to know their unique personalities, strengths and challenges. To make sure that you feel ready to leave rehab, the staff will get you connected with local support groups in your area. They can also recommend substance abuse counselors to continue individual therapy.
If you’ve already completed rehab, you may still be able to sign up for relapse prevention training at a local outpatient drug center. Contact us today at 844-903-2111 to explore all of your treatment options. We’ll come up with some goals together and find a rehab that offers everything you’re looking for.
