Deciding to take the first step toward overcoming addiction is often described as extremely difficult. However, rebuilding your life after completing a comprehensive addiction treatment program can be as challenging as undergoing detox–even with the help of alumni programs and support groups.
Here’s the truth: Recovery never ends. Addiction ends and treatment programs end, but recovery is a lifelong addition to your daily routine. That’s why recovery and everything that comes with it–such as rebuilding your life, fixing damaged relationships, avoiding specific triggers, and not relapsing–can be a consistent challenge and cause of stress. Looking for addiction recovery help in Ohio? Contact Midwest Detox Center by calling 833.647.0392 or reaching out to our team online.
What Can Clients Expect From Life After Drug Rehab?
Often, the fear of relapsing occupies the thoughts of a person who is living their life after addiction. Returning home and suddenly being surrounded by challenges, temptations, and triggers without your newfound support community around you can make it hard to stay sober. After being in a formal program, the early days of recovery are often the most difficult to get through.
Loneliness and a lack of motivation may lead to a negative mental state, which isn’t great for maintaining sobriety. Most people leaving a formal program receive aftercare plans based on their unique progress through their individual addiction treatment plans.
You may not think you need everything mentioned in your plan but do them anyway. Attend your alumni events. Go to your support group meetings. Surround yourself with healthy relationships with friends and family. Remember what you’ve learned during your addiction treatment program, so you’re always prepared to handle a triggering situation.
What Is Rehab Aftercare Planning?
Life after drug rehab should be built on the foundation of your aftercare plan because it increases your chances of making a successful recovery.
An aftercare plan includes activities, interventions, and resources to help people in recovery cope with cravings, stress, and triggers they may face when they go back to their lives after being in a formal program. Each person’s aftercare plan is customized and based on their own needs. A typical aftercare plan may include:
- Attending individual and group counseling sessions
- Going to support group meetings
- Participating in an alumni program
- Reaching out to sponsors or other support group members
- Staying at a sober living home for some time
What Is an Alumni Program?
Whether you’re working on addiction recovery in industry-focused Ohio or environmentally friendly California, your struggles and support resources will be similar. Most addiction treatment facilities offer an alumni program for their past clients to meet, socialize, and support each other.
Alumni programs keep former clients in contact with staff members and other former clients. Many alumni programs host regular events to keep participants engaged, such as group therapy sessions or even something purely recreational like bowling nights. The activities set up by the alumni program make it much easier for former clients to easily maintain supportive relationships they’ve started to build while in their addiction treatment programs. They are also opportunities to make new friends in a safe, secure, and familiar setting.
The main goal of alumni programs is to help former clients maintain their sobriety. Alumni programs reduce the chances of relapse by discouraging social isolation. Many former clients and their families find alumni programs extremely valuable as a resource. The rehabilitation process is a challenging and transformational experience, so it’s not immediately a point of connection for people that aren’t aware of it. Alumni programs give people in recovery a community that’s built into their addiction treatment program.
Find Out More About Midwest Detox Center’s Alumni Program
If you’re looking for drug rehab in Ohio with an alumni program, contact Midwest Detox Center. Call 833.647.0392 or reach out to our team online.
