Getting admitted into an addiction treatment program is critical for those wanting to overcome their substance use disorders, but it’s just the beginning. In reality, addiction is a chronic condition that you can manage with treatment. However, after treatment, participating in a rehab aftercare program is also essential. It doesn’t matter how much time you spend in a formal treatment program. You will have the rest of your life to maintain your sobriety. While the structure and support from formal treatment can make it so that you don’t think about your addictive substance of choice, the real world is different.
Luckily, many resources exist to help people in recovery who are having trouble avoiding their triggers and resisting relapse. Adjusting to life after rehab must include participating in a rehab aftercare program. To learn more about our rehab aftercare program in Rochester, NH, contact Bonfire Recovery by reaching out to our team online or calling 603.617.4815.
What Can Someone in Addiction Recovery Expect from Life After Rehab?
Living sober is a lifelong process. It would be best if you never forgot your healthy coping mechanisms and never faltered, but that is rarely possible on your own. Assuming that undergoing an addiction treatment program can cure your substance use disorder can only end in disappointment.
The good news is that you don’t need to go through life alone while you’re maintaining your sobriety. You can find support in close friends, family members, and even other people you meet in support meetings and group therapy sessions. One thing is for sure; your everyday life is going to change. You can’t live your life the same way after completing an addiction treatment program. More than avoiding your triggers, you must also practice more positive behaviors and adjust your routines accordingly.
You may have to adjust to friends, family members, or co-workers seeing you in a new light now that you’ve gone to rehab. You may need to part ways with some people you care about and develop new relationships with different people. In addition, you may even pick up a new hobby or revisit an old one you’d forgotten about when you were struggling with addiction.
What Resources and Programs Can Help With Living a Sober Life?
After completing detoxification and rehabilitation, a person in recovery returns to their everyday life and will experience what it’s like living sober in the real world. No matter how prepared a person is for this change, life after rehab is never easy to start and maintain. Research shows that most relapses occur within the six months after formal treatment ends, so the beginning of life after rehab is particularly dangerous.
Here are some resources and programs that can help people in addiction recovery resist the urge to relapse and maintain their sobriety:
- Individual therapy: Addiction is not just a chemical dependence. It is often based on a lifestyle that may include extreme stress and other triggers that lead to developing a substance use disorder. Forms of therapeutic care like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help someone in recovery understand their underlying issues and address their addiction holistically.
- Medical check-ups: In order to promote accountability, it’s essential to have regular check-ups with a mental health professional. Sometimes, random drug and alcohol testing may be required, too. Medical interventions ensure you’re making progress and staying on track.
- 12-step programs: Programs like this are the standard of addiction treatment support. The 12-step programs originated with Alcoholics Anonymous but have grown to include many other drugs, from nicotine to crack cocaine.
- Alternative support groups: A person in recovery needs to find a support group of some kind. Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) is one of the most popular alternatives to participating in 12-step programs. SMART support groups involve research-proven methods for recovery and teach people that they can take control of their addiction.
What Is a Rehab Aftercare Program?
Many rehab facilities operate their rehab aftercare programs. However, the scope of programs like this varies tremendously. Some aftercare services that these programs can offer participants include the following:
- Sober living arrangements
- Follow-up individual or group therapy
- Medical evaluations
- Alumni support group
Life after rehab can start with one foot still in addiction treatment. You don’t need to start fresh without depending on any connections from your time at an addiction treatment facility. Many people in addiction recovery find that sobriety is hardest to maintain early in the process, which is when rehab aftercare programs can be so helpful.
Ready To Learn About Bonfire Recovery’s Rehab Aftercare Program?
If you’re looking for a rehab aftercare program in Rochester, NH, contact Bonfire Recovery today. You can reach out to our team online or call 603.617.4815.
