After Rehab: Understanding Your Aftercare Options

Drug and alcohol addiction is a complex condition that impacts every aspect of your life. People living with a substance use disorder require comprehensive treatment that addresses the underlying behavioral, psychological, and physical parts of their addiction.

Even the best treatment cannot cure addiction. Instead, people with a substance use disorder must learn how to manage the condition by using the tools they learned in rehab and surrounding themselves with consistent support.

Developing and following an aftercare plan is essential to your long-term success in recovery. An aftercare plan includes activities that keep people engaged in recovery and committed to lifelong sobriety.

This article will explore your aftercare options, why it’s crucial to have a plan in place, and where to find the support you need to make the most effective aftercare plan. Reach out to the team at Archstone Behavioral Health now to learn about your aftercare options or to explore our holistic treatment programs.

What is an Aftercare Plan?

Each person has their own experiences with addiction and recovery. Many people engage in professional treatment that includes therapy, medications, education, and group support so that they can target the complex roots of their substance abuse and learn how to prevent a relapse.

After completing treatment, people must remain active in recovery. It’s not enough to simply hope to stay sober–people must make a proactive plan to avoid relapse and remain committed to lifelong sobriety.

What Are My Aftercare Options?

An aftercare plan is a program people can develop to stay active in recovery after completing an addiction rehab program. Some standard aftercare options include:

• Sober living homes – Sober living houses provide a supportive environment for individuals in recovery, fostering a substance-free lifestyle and community. Residents are required to take randomized drug tests, attend therapy sessions, and follow the house rules.
• Outpatient programs (OP) – Outpatient programs offer ongoing therapeutic support and counseling for individuals transitioning from intensive treatment to daily life. This form of aftercare can help ease the transition away from a residential treatment setting or other higher levels of care.
• Continued therapy – Ongoing therapy sessions offer personalized guidance and support to address specific challenges and maintain long-term recovery.
• 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – 12 Step groups provide peer support and a structured approach to recovery through shared experiences and strategies. Members of 12-Step groups work with a sponsor to go through the 12-Steps to learn to rely on a Higher Power to stay sober.
• 12-Step alternatives like Self Management and Recovery Training (SMART) – 12-Step alternatives are for people who prefer a non-religious or non-spiritual approach to recovery. For example, SMART uses cognitive and behavioral strategies, emphasizing self-empowerment and practical skills to address addictive behaviors, making it suitable for those seeking a more secular and science-based approach to recovery.
• Rehab alumni groups – Attending meetings and social activities with other individuals who completed treatment at the same rehab as you offers a sense of community and ongoing connection for individuals who have completed a rehabilitation program.

Building a new social group can be one of the biggest challenges for many in recovery. Following an aftercare plan can help people connect with others in recovery and find reliable support in the community.

What are the Benefits of an Aftercare Plan?

Recovering from addiction takes time, dedication, and a lot of support. People in recovery must find ways to stay connected to others and committed to sobriety. This can be challenging, but following an aftercare plan can help people stay on track as they work toward the goal of long-term sobriety.

People who stay active in recovery by following an aftercare plan have better outcomes and longer-lasting sobriety. An aftercare plan can help you stay on track with your goals, connect you with valuable support, and provide a community of peers and professionals to guide you during challenges and setbacks.

An aftercare plan can help people avoid relapse by giving them concrete tools to rely on during challenges during recovery. It can give people structure and help them find meaning in their new life after rehab.

Making a Plan: Understanding Your Aftercare Options

Making a comprehensive aftercare plan can seem overwhelming for some, especially those in the earliest stages of their recovery journey. However, creating an effective aftercare plan can be straightforward if you know where to start.

Here are four areas to consider when making your aftercare plan.

Therapy

Addiction is often a deeply-rooted condition that may have origins in your mental and physical health, genetics, environment, and behaviors. Working with a therapist as part of your aftercare plan can help you identify the complex roots of your substance abuse and learn the skills needed to avoid relapse.

Environment

Think about your environment. Do you have a safe, stable place to live? Is your environment full of triggers you can’t avoid? Early recovery can be challenging, and it’s important to reduce your exposure to stress, substance use, and other triggers during this time. Many people consider living in a sober living community after rehab so that they can focus on their recovery with fewer distractions or disruptions.

Community

Think about your social support. Do you have a community of peers, family members, and professionals who support your recovery? Many people discover that many of the relationships they had while using drugs and alcohol are unhealthy or do not support sobriety. Attending support groups, alumni gatherings, and sober events can help connect you to a supportive community.

Health

Your mental and physical health are vital as you recover from addiction. You must consider how you’ll maintain and improve your health during recovery. Part of your aftercare plan may include attending regular mental health and medical appointments, taking prescription medications, engaging in holistic healing therapies, and getting regular exercise. Caring for your body and mind can help you reach your recovery goals and create structure and meaning in your life after addiction.

Thinking about these aspects of your well-being in recovery can help you make the best aftercare plan to meet your needs. During rehab, you will begin to explore your aftercare options and create a structure of support and resources that will keep you active in recovery. Reach out to the Archstone Behavioral Health specialists to explore our treatment programs and aftercare options.

Learn About Your Aftercare Options

At Archstone Behavioral Health, we understand the complexities of addiction. Our comprehensive treatment and aftercare options are designed to empower people while helping them overcome the physical, emotional, and behavioral aspects of substance abuse.

Contact our team of specialists now to learn about your aftercare options or our holistic treatment programs, or to schedule an intake assessment.