By Naomi Casement LMSW, CAADC, CSAT on January 18, 2016
Life after rehab: You have completed a rehab program for substance addiction, now what? Rehab was the first step, but now comes the daily work of maintaining your recovery. Fortunately, there are a lot of resources out there to help people stay sober after rehab.
Connect with a Community
After rehab, staying connected to a community helps with maintaining sobriety. Community can take different forms, and does not have to be limited to one specific type. Having a broad network of support, both in the recovery community and with other groups means more resources for support. Some ideas include:
Becoming involved in your local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous group.
If not AA, then get involved in the smart recovery community. (smartrecovery.org)
Being active in a church or other religious organization.
Joining groups that help get you outside and be active, such as a hiking club or yoga group.
Attending classes for personal development, such as a cooking class.
Participating in local groups that volunteer in the community.
When you are having a rough day reach out to someone. You cannot do this alone.
Take Life After Rehab One Day at a Time
Life after rehab can seem overwhelming, especially without substances to help you deal with the stress. Try to break things down to one day at a time to reduce the feelings of anxiety, and to better focus your attention.
Choose Your Friends Wisely
One of the struggles with maintaining a sober life after rehab is the loss of previous friendships. It may be necessary if your friends do not support your sobriety and drink or use drugs in front of you. This could be a problem as you may be tempted to relapse and use again.
In order to find friends who will support your sobriety, you only have to look as far as the internet. Meetup.com has groups that you can join whose emphasis is to have fun and make friendships while also supporting sobriety.
Stay Sober During the Holidays
Maintaining your recovery during the holiday season can be even more of a challenge. The availability of alcohol with the stress of family is not the best combination. However, there are ways to keep sober.
Family Support: Hopefully your family supports your decision to live a sober life. If so, work together to find ways to celebrate the holidays without substances.
Be Grateful: Constance Scharff of Psychology Today recommends writing a gratitude list during the holidays. This can help keep things in perspective and be a reminder of what you are grateful for.
Find Another Place: Maybe the family dinner isn’t the best place for you this holiday season. Dr. Scharff also recommends volunteering or having a meal with a friend instead.
Remember to Breathe: Practice mindful breathing techniques so as not to get overwhelmed.
Stay on Task and on Budget
Before, when you were in the throes of addiction, life seemed to be out of control. Now you have the chance to put things in order. Some ideas to stay organized include:
Establishing a daily routine.
Making to-do lists.
Using Google Calendar to maintain a schedule and remind you of appointments.
Using Mint.com to create a budget.
Going through your stuff and getting rid of unwanted items. Donate used clothing or possessions that can be resold for charity.
Deep cleaning your living space.
Continue to Seek Therapy
Life after rehab can bring with it all kinds of issues that are helpful to process with a therapist who is trained in substance abuse counseling. Therapy can be a safe place to express emotions, gain perspective, and learn new tools for living your life. You may also find community and understanding in a group therapy environment as well.
Living the life of sobriety isn’t easy. It takes a lot of hard work and determination. You have to decided to take the leap and try something; one step at a time. However, with some creativity and a positive attitude, you can not only maintain your recovery, but thrive.
Click to learn more about Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment with Naomi Casement, LMSW.
