Helpful Tips to Stay Sober After Completing Addiction Treatment
The complex mental health disorder known as addiction requires continual recovery. While rehab treatment centers help, there is no instant cure for substance abuse. This doesn’t have to be disheartening, as ample resources outside addiction treatment exist to help.
Once you or a loved one has exited drug addiction treatment, it’s best to set up a strategy that works for you to prevent relapse. This is what we consider aftercare, and Torrance residents seeking a fulfilling after-treatment life will benefit from the tips below.
Like other chronic diseases, addiction treatment concerns lifestyle choices over instant cures. Read on to learn about rehab treatment aftercare’s benefits and best practices.
Benefits of Aftercare to Recovery
Individuals who participate in regular aftercare following their exit from rehab treatment centers can reduce their risk of relapse. This reduction occurs for a variety of reasons.
Aftercare paves the path to long-term sobriety by helping you or a loved one develop a system that works for them. This system can include counseling, a 12-step fellowship, or even IOP (intensive outpatient treatment) for the initial period following recovery.
Aftercare is often focused on implementing coping mechanisms that help persons with substance abuse disorder manage the symptoms they’ll encounter throughout their daily lives.
Considering Outpatient Treatments
A common first step following addiction treatment in rehab centers is outpatient rehab. It’s an extension of inpatient treatment that aids in the transition between treatment centers and daily life.
Outpatient treatment programs take place several times a day and consist mainly of therapy sessions. Group therapy sessions are beneficial as they provide peer support and an ability to connect with those who share substance abuse disorder.
OP is a safe space where persons with drug addiction can turn when they encounter difficulties in treatment. This support system reduces the likelihood of relapse by introducing you to those who can join you on your recovery journey, sometimes for years.
Join a 12-Step Fellowship
Another opportunity to find community and support in the journey to recovery is in 12-step fellowship programs such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous). The spiritual foundation of these groups offers a sense of purpose, support, and guidance.
Another benefit of these programs is they offer a chance to meet with similar individuals with the same purpose and hear relatable stories of recovery and substance abuse. This adds emotional support as well as a sense of community.
These programs are designed with a 12-step process each individual must complete, usually alongside a sponsor who acts as a coach, mentor, and supportive listener. These altruistic groups have an impressive reputation for helping persons with substance abuse disorder rebuild themselves following time in rehab treatment centers.
Therapy: A Tried and True Method
Mental health challenges can often increase the likelihood of someone experiencing a substance use disorder. For this reason, therapy and counseling are a beneficial part of addiction treatment aftercare.
One-on-one therapy with a licensed professional allows individuals to discuss issues or experiences they may not be comfortable sharing in a group setting. They can receive guidance and helpful tools to aid in their recovery.
Therapy helps prevent relapsing by providing proper coping mechanisms facilitated by professionals as a method to help with mental health challenges. These challenges often drive people to abuse substances to find solace. By providing a different, healing outlet, you’ll reduce the likelihood of relapse.
The Ongoing Journey of Addiction Treatment
Inpatient addiction treatment is the first step in recovery. Aftercare strategies are recommended to prevent relapse and lead a fulfilling life beyond addiction.
These include 12-step fellowship programs, one-on-one counseling and intensive outpatient treatment. These strategies aim to provide a support system and tools that can guide persons with substance use disorder as they move forward in their lives.
Twin Town Treatment Centers provide comprehensive, personalized outpatient treatment to help you or a loved one transition from a rehab center to daily life. Contact us at 866-594-8844 or online for addiction treatment. Our Torrance and Sherman Oaks are one of our six facilities in Southern California equipped and ready to support you or a loved one in the journey to recovery.
