Author: James Anderson

Life After Rehab: Staying Sober After Addiction Treatment

For many people, a plan that includes continuing care after treatment improves their chances of staying off drugs or alcohol. When you build healthy relationships, you are proving that you want to stay sober. Your friends and family will see you trying your hardest to get better. You’ll feel better about your future knowing you have the support you’ll need. There are sober support groups for those who are struggling to find healthy relationships if those around you still use substances.

If left unchecked, anger can have a negative impact on your health and your lasting sobriety. A mental health professional can help you cope with some of the challenges you’ll face on your path to sobriety. You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again. It is estimated that up to 80% of those who find long-term sobriety had at least one relapse along the way. Some people experience many setbacks before they find lasting recovery. Your intentions may be good, but it takes more than willpower to avoid having a relapse.

If you can master your ability to manage triggers and to be aware of what sets you off or tempts you, you will flourish in your sobriety.

Helpful Tips To Avoid Relapse In Early Addiction Recovery

When you apologize and reconcile with you those that you’ve hurt in the past you’re showing them that you are changed. People recognize the strength that it takes to say, “I’m sorry.” The more people you heal with, the more people that will be there to support you while you stay sober. Many organizations and communities offer online, as well as in-person recovery meetings, for people with a history of substance use disorder. Sobriety can also be defined as a process of abstaining from a former drug of abuse and developing healthy habits to support your recovery. Sober living housing can be a great in-between for rehab and returning to the environment you were in before you got sober.

Anger is a normal and natural emotion, but how you deal with it will make a difference in maintaining your recovery. For example, you may have developed a co-dependent relationship, or a family member, friend, or employer may have been enabling you without even knowing it. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Mark, a Marine veteran, talks about getting treatment to overcome his alcohol dependence. Managing triggers and temptations is the name of the game in sobriety.

However, the word is often used in different ways in different contexts. Many 12-step programs suggest that sobriety means total abstinence—never using the substance ever again. This article discusses what sobriety means and describes strategies that can support your long-term recovery. It also covers tips on how to deal with the challenges you’ll face on your journey to sobriety. Many people that are in recovery for substance use disorder have struggled or currently struggle with financial problems. Using substances means spending money, and it can be hard to recover from any debt you might be in, as well as learn ways to be financially independent and responsible.

Biosensors monitor physical changes, detect alcohol use, and identify relapse risk. Studies suggest digital health options can improve access to care for some of the 15 million people experiencing alcohol use disorder each year. Sobriety is a general term for staying away from mood- and mind-altering substances, though there is no commonly agreed-upon medical definition in terms of what sobriety means. People in recovery generally agree that abstinence is necessary but remains just a starting point for a new, sober life. You don’t have to go 0-to-60 on “rehab” to “back in the wild,” either.

Life After Rehab

Many people choose to enroll in either an aftercare program or a sober living house as a gradual phase between the steps of rehab and unsupervised sober living. You can try to avoid the conversation, but it’s good to have a response ready in case that’s not possible. If the question comes from someone you know well, you may want to say that drugs or alcohol became a problem for you, so you’re staying away from them. If you don’t know the person well, simply saying you have to get up early the next morning or you quit for health reasons should be enough. Acknowledging and celebrating the hard work of recovery is helpful for keeping you motivated and reminding you why you took this brave step toward sobriety in the first place. Instead, focus on things, experiences, and activities that will support your new, healthy lifestyle.

1. In fact, with many health conditions, “relapse” is used to indicate that an undesired symptom or outcome has occurred.
2. After all, you can’t hang around your drug dealer or old drinking buddies and expect to remain sober for very long.
3. Anyone who’s sought treatment for addiction knows that the road to recovery doesn’t end with the completion of a formal rehab program.
4. If you, a family member, or another loved one have relapsed after rehab and need additional support, call our treatment center to discover your options today.

It’s no small feat to commit to living a sober lifestyle and be successful at it. This lifestyle change is not easy, so don’t believe that your perseverance is anything less than worth celebrating. Becoming sober can feel like you are losing out, but soon you will realize that it’s the opposite. Early sobriety may come with feelings of fatigue and the stress of dealing with challenges (people, places, and things that stimulate the urge to use).

So, it is critical that a winning strategy is in place to maintain sobriety after rehab. When you acknowledge these milestones, you are further motivating yourself to continue on in the process of recovery. For all the time that you spent beating yourself up about your substance use, you should be celebrating the moments in which you have taken back your life. Relapse is not uncommon in recovery, especially if you’ve struggled with chronic addiction, or lack a strong support system at home. Generally, it’s best to stick to the treatment plan recommended by your outpatient treatment team, or treatment provider. While general coping strategies (like practicing self-care) may work for some, you’ll learn along the way what works best for you.

Don’t Quit Your Substance Abuse Treatment Early

Finding your people will help you to stay sober, because they will push you to maintain your sobriety goals. If you find it difficult to make new, sober friends, try joining a support group. Rehab is not a quick fix for getting clean, but it is a step in the right direction for sober living. Finding a treatment program, aftercare plan and the tools that work best to sustain recovery have proven to work for many people.

What Is Sober Living Housing?

It’s hard to escape memories of you hurting those close to you due to your substance use, but not being able to learn from your mistakes will hold you back in your path to recovery. If you’re trying to stay sober, remember that no matter what you’ve done in the past, the only thing that you can control is your future. Before you began your sober life, you might have felt that you had no schedule and no real responsibilities. If you develop a schedule for yourself, you can reach your goals a bit easier.

If your program does not offer these services, ask to be referred to someone who can help. Ultimately, getting sober is a decision and a commitment to living above the influence that takes hard work and dedication during and after treatment. Check out our blog posts and resource links for the latest information on substance abuse.