You’ve made an important decision to quit drinking. You entered a 30, 60 or even 90-day program and have successfully completed treatment. You’re uncertain about what to expect after rehab for alcoholism, so what comes next?
Upon graduating from a residential treatment program for alcoholism you have a couple of options.
You can return home, with the tools you gained during rehab, or you can temporarily move into a sober living home.
The purpose of a sober living home is to be in a safe sober environment, around like minded individuals, while you start to put the tools you learned in rehab into practical use. A sober home allows you to come and go as needed for work, school or appointments, but with more structure than living at home. Most sober living homes have a curfew and a live in house manager, as well as shared chores and other responsibilities. Many people find a lack of structure to be a relapse trigger in early sobriety, so moving into a transitional home is very common after rehab.
Life after rehab will be full of learning experiences.
You’ll probably leave treatment with a packet of resources, as well as an aftercare program designed by you and your counselor. Make sure you know what your days and weeks will look like following rehab. Having a set schedule will keep you focused and on track.
Life after alcohol rehab may include, but is not limited to:
- Weekly outpatient groups
- 12 step meetings
- Counseling appointments
- Sponsor check ins
- Job search activities
One of the most important things to be mindful of after you leave rehab are your triggers.
Make sure you have a relapse prevention plan and a phone list of people to call if you get in a bind. Alcoholism is tricky, and triggers can come at the least expected time.
Communication is imperative to a comfortable transition after returning home from rehab.
Talk to your loved ones ahead of time about what is expected of each other and what your immediate needs are. If you’re returning to a high stress job, communicate with your boss about required post rehab meetings and other sobriety related appointments. If you don’t put your recovery first you run the risk of slipping into old behavior that can cause triggers and relapse.
Stay active in your recovery and find a fellowship of other sober people who know what you’re going through.
Life after rehab for alcoholism will be very different than the life you’re used to. In early recovery you may have feelings of restlessness and irritability. You may be walking through challenging situations that the people around you who do not have a substance abuse disorder won’t understand. There are thousands of 12 step meetings nationwide, so there are bound to be a few in your area. Get active in the sobriety community and stay connected. These meetings are a great place to meet other people in recovery and start doing things outside of meetings that don’t include alcohol.
With determination and a solid aftercare plan, your outlook on what to expect after rehab for alcoholism will be undaunted! We invite you to call Riviera Recovery today for a free confidential assessment, and to learn more about sober living & individualized recovery counseling: 310-872-1908
