Although addiction is highly treated, it cannot be cured, much like other chronic conditions like diabetes and asthma. A person’s rehabilitation process doesn’t end with treatment in a residential rehab center.
Maintaining your sobriety after learning coping mechanisms outside a drug rehab center in Los Angeles requires consistent physical and mental symptom management. We call this aftercare. Here are some guidelines on the process and how to ensure that your efforts are worthwhile.
What Does Addiction Recovery Aftercare Entail?
Aftercare refers to the continued assistance and care provided to a patient following their discharge from an addiction treatment facility. It is intended to support individuals in maintaining their sobriety or drug-free status and leading fulfilling lives.
Aftercare in addiction rehabilitation can be obtained in several ways:
- Individual therapy: During residential rehabilitation, a focus therapist will counsel you individually. This service is available to outpatients following treatment and can help you overcome future challenges.
- Group counseling: Talking about your goals and fears in a group might be scary. After addiction treatment, revealing personal details can help get help. Group treatment works because it reduces sad, lonely, and humiliated feelings associated with addiction.
- Living Supported: It may be hard to leave a helpful medical staff and comfortable accommodations that meet all your needs. When substance abusers leave care, supported living can provide housing and 24/7 support to help them live full lives.
- Drugs: Residential rehab patients with medical concerns may need ongoing care. Antidepressants may be recommended for mental health disorders. Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) individuals may benefit from Methadone Maintenance Treatment after addiction treatment.
- Occupational therapy: Aftercare for addiction therapy may involve vocational help. Without the right people, returning to work can be stressful. Many companies now recognize addiction as a chronic disorder and have policies to help addicts return to work.
Why Aftercare Matters
Connected Regularly
The transition from constant care to independence shocks most people. You socialize with like-minded people in treatment. Drugs and alcohol banned. Numerous self-care and emotional exploration possibilities. That framework is hard to lose. Recovery requires medical and peer assistance.
Coping ability
Residential addiction treatment will reveal your drug and alcohol triggers. This could be friends, social events, or job and home pressures. Aftercare identifies relapse warning signals and provides coping skills.
Support Network Ready
Boredom and loneliness often induce relapse. Long-term success requires love and understanding in a nurturing atmosphere. Aftercare offers therapy, counseling, and support groups to help with issues.
Handling Root Causes
Addiction aftercare can also address mental health issues. Therapy may include anxiety and depression management. A solid aftercare plan includes this to reduce relapse.
Accountability
There is less accountability when you quit drinking or using drugs without treatment. It’s simpler to ignore the occasional mishap if only you care about your recovery. Aftercare involves regular therapy sessions to support sobriety.
Conclusion
Returning home after drug or alcohol rehab can be difficult, especially if substance misuse has been a major part of your life. This is why aftercare help is crucial to long-term addiction rehabilitation.
An aftercare plan will be prepared during residential recovery to identify triggers and additional needs. This often works with your relapse prevention plan to avoid drug or alcohol relapse.