Drug treatment programs are designed as a gateway to another world. This world includes recovery and a new life waiting on the other side. It may feel like a foreign world with a new language and new way of living, but it is part of the journey of recovery. It can be a tenuous time, filled with baby steps forward, sometimes a step backward, but always in service to the greater goal of discovering who you are now in recovery. There are some pivotal steps a person might consider doing to help them in finding their way through the days after rehab ends.
Look for Housing
One of the biggest factors in a person’s recovery is where they live. This includes the home itself, the neighborhood, or even the town and city. It may not be possible to move, but staying where a person used to drink or use drugs can be triggering enough that it is necessary to move away for a time and reset. This might mean utilizing transitional housing services, or it might require the person to develop a new plan of moving somewhere they can feel safe in sobriety and keep clean.
Build a Social Network
A person’s life in recovery may have included a small group of friends and family they loved spending time with. However, looking back, this group of friends, even family, may be toxic to be around now post rehab. A social network is key to figuring out how to navigate the difficult world of recovery. With support groups, sober activities, and other safe spaces to be vulnerable, it is important to look at the whole picture and see where it is necessary to create space for new people who support sober living.
Get Mental Health Treatment
Depending on the type of rehab, a person may have had some intensive mental health treatment provided to support their journey of recovery. Co-occurring disorders are common for people with addiction. Returning to routines can be stressful for people who are dealing with cravings. However, mental health issues can keep a person from enjoying the moment and healing when they are depressed, anxious, fearful, or suffering from panic disorders and other mental health issues. Proper mental health treatment should require an assessment of current medications and whether to change anything around. Self-care is also part of this, which might include getting more exercise, getting into nature, or finding time for stillness and quiet to help boost a person’s mood.
Find Support Groups
Finding at least one main support group to attend can help hasten relationships in recovery and keep you from feeling lonely. It may also help challenge old habits and thoughts about recovery and life on this side. When rehab is over, it might be tempting to stop going but it may produce myriad benefits that nothing else can do for your journey. It is all part of the healing process.
Serve Others
One of the best ways to get moving in recovery is, in time, to look at ways of serving others. Early on, recovery should be selfish and self-focused. This is a time to focus in on your needs and goals for recovery. Over time, you will begin to feel a nudge or poke to get out there and help other people more when you have the energy and focus. This is where you can start to grow in realization of how much you learned about yourself in recovery and can use it to serve others. This can involve anything from helping youth to the elderly, doing lawn care in the neighborhood, or serving your own family. Giving back can build gratitude muscles for recovery, too, and help you see the world from a new perspective.
Oceanfront will help you kick addiction to the curb with our premier beachfront community in Laguna Beach. We are founded on the principle of providing the best in care and services at affordable prices. We are located in beautiful Laguna Beach. Call us to find out how we can help you navigate addiction recovery: 888-981-4295
