Places to Get Support after You Leave a Recovery Center

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states: “Illicit drug use in the United States has been increasing. In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older—9.4 percent of the population—had used an illicit drug in the past month.” Getting treatment for an illicit drug and/or alcohol addiction is difficult and people who make it through rehabilitation and move onto recovery deserve a lot of credit. It’s not easy. But, rehab doesn’t stop once a person steps outside of it.

When treatment ceases, there are a lot of changes you need to make in your life. You may potentially have to find a new place to live or a new job. You may struggle with walking away from long term friendships because those friends are still using and enabled your use. You might struggle with how to conduct yourself at work or school. You may be worried what people think of you now that you have gone through rehab. There are a lot of potential stressors.

This is why having a solid support system is so crucial. It is impossible to get through all of these changes all on your own. But, when treatment has concluded and you transition back into your daily life, where do you find support? If you need help finding support or a good rehabilitation center, call Centers.com at 800-256-3490 and speak with someone today.

Family

Family therapy can help you rebuild trust with your loved ones after rehab.

Firstly, it needs to be acknowledged that traditional, blood relatives may be a terrible source of support for a number of people. Rather than define family as only those people to whom you are relates, think of the people you love most as a sort of intentional family. Think of your best friends and closest allies as family.

You should already be getting some level of support from this family. Typically, family therapy is a component of a rehab center’s treatment and you should have attended some. If not, try looking for access to family therapy. Bridging communication gaps, rebuilding trust, and mediating disagreements are all possible reasons for getting family counselling.

If you have attended therapy, build on the lessons you learned and the techniques that were modeled. Use these to inform you familial support system that you need additional support. Never be afraid to let those close to you know that you need help. The people who matter in your life want to help you maintain your sobriety.

Support Groups

The first place you should look for a support group is the center where you participated in rehab. They should have resources and may host a support group you can attend.

Once you have determined whether or not you can attend a group at your rehab center, start moving outwards into the community and looking for resources. Most areas will have Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. These programs work and that makes them incredibly popular. Also, check with local hospitals, places of worship, community centers, and other people working on remaining sober.

When you have a list of resources, give each support group a chance. You may find one that really works or a couple. The National Institute on Drug Abuse writes that no single treatment is appropriate for everyone. The same is true of groups. You don’t need to pick one group and stick to it. To find the best group for your needs, sample them all. Attend a few meetings (one isn’t enough) and determine which works for you. It might even be a blend of them.

Online Support Groups

If the idea of sharing your story with relative strangers or large social gatherings produces anxiety, you may find in-person support groups triggering. Don’t worry, there are options you can access from your home computer: online support groups.

These websites often include message boards, links to news stories, tips for remaining sober, discussions about health and fitness, discussions about the role the arts can play in recovery, humor, and discussions about parenting and interpersonal communication. Because they can involve hundreds, if not thousands, of participants, you are likely to find information that applies to you and people with whom you can connect.

If you feel anxious jumping into the conversation, just spend time reading what other people post until you feel comfortable enough to join in.

If you are struggling to find support or a good rehabilitation center, call Centers.com at 800-256-3490 and speak with someone today.

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