In most cases what you do after rehab has a direct effect on your success staying sober. Falling back into old habits is easy. Here are some things you can do to stay sober:
Have a Plan and Follow It
Most rehabs create a discharge plan for patients. The plan includes resources like support groups, health care facilities, and information on addiction recovery. It is extremely important to have a plan and stick to it. Relapse percentages are high, and it’s been proven that having a plan gives you a better chance at staying sober.
Seriously Consider Where You Will Live
Can you stay sober in your current living situation? Will you live with people who use drugs and/or alcohol? Can you be around people who aren’t sober and stay sober? All of these are good questions to ask when considering your living situation. Most rehabs recommend living in a structured living environment like a sober living after completing rehab. Sober livings are a great place to transition from rehab.
Grow a Sober Social Network
Get more sober friends. It is likely your friends previous to going to rehab played a role in your addiction. Creating new relationships with people that are in recovery is crucial for long-term sobriety.
Join a Support Group
AA, or Alcoholics Anonymous, is the most well-known support group in the addiction world, but there are thousands of different types of support groups for just about anything you can think of. Joining a support group helps by giving the addict support when they most need it.
Stick to a Schedule
During rehab, you get the chance at establishing healthy habits like waking up early and sticking to a schedule. Don’t waste these healthy habits and fall back into bad habits. Sticking to a schedule helps you make sure you are doing everything necessary to remain healthy. Relapses often happen when people have nothing else planned. Don’t fall into this trap and stick to a schedule.
Work on Strengthening Your Mind
Many addictions can be traced back to mental health. During rehab, you attend group and one-on-one therapy sessions that help you understand the mental health side of addiction treatment. Understanding how your mental health plays a role in your sobriety is important so it’s crucial to continue working on it even after rehab. You can attend therapy sessions, read books, and practice cognitive behavioral therapy, among other things to better your mental health.
Regular Exercise
Exercising regularly leads to a better quality of life. People in recovery see tremendous results when implementing a exercise routine in their post-rehab life. Exercising makes you feel better about yourself. It gives you confidence. Better feelings towards yourself combined with more confidence help you remain sober and healthy.
Help Others
If you’re feeling down helping someone out often makes you feel better. Addiction is scary and there are a lot of people that need help. Don’t be afraid to volunteer and reach out to someone in need.
Be Careful of Friends From Rehab
You can meet good friends in rehab and bad friends. Be careful when choosing friends in rehab. Just like your friends before rehab who helped shape the person you are, the friends you pick up in rehab will help shape the person you will become.
Look Out for Signs of Relapsing
Relapses often don’t just happen out of the blue. There are usually signs leading up to it. It’s important to understand these signs/triggers that cause you to relapse so that you can avoid them.
