For many addicts, a residential addiction treatment center is the best option for recovery. At an inpatient addiction treatment center, you have all of the medical and psychological support and resources you need to detox and begin the road to sobriety and wellness. Once you leave rehab, you may find that maintaining your sobriety is more difficult unless you do a few specific things to help set yourself up for success. Here are three ways to do just that.
Join an Addiction Support Group
A recovery support group like Alcoholics Anonymous can be invaluable once you leave your residential addiction treatment center. Support groups allow you to form connections with other people who are going through a similar experience, which can help counteract the loneliness you may experience post-rehab.
You may also be able to sign up to have a sponsor, which means having a supportive, honest, encouraging, and non-judgmental person in your life providing you with advice and rooting for your recovery. Addiction support groups are a great way to continue the supportive group environment of rehab even once you are back home.
Focus on New Hobbies
One of the dangers of post-rehab life is that your days may not be as busy or as structured as they were in your residential addiction treatment center. Instead of being tempted to fill this void of time with your former habits, turn it into a positive by spending time on some new hobbies. This is a great time to pursue something you were always interested in but never made the time for before, whether it's studying French, taking up running, or signing up for a painting class, the idea is to fill your time with things that enrich your life and make it more interesting and full.
Request a Treatment Plan (And Actually Follow It)
Most addiction treatment centers will create a treatment plan for you, though in some cases you may have to ask for it. This will give you a detailed, step-by-step plan for remaining healthy and sober after you leave rehab. It will likely have recommendations for visiting a doctor, setting up appointments with a therapist to address any underlying emotional issues, and more. Simply follow one step at a time and be proud of yourself for staying on track.
Recovering from an alcohol or substance abuse addiction is never easy, but following these tips and continuing to seek the support you need will help ensure a sober and healthy future.
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