Approximately 3.7 million American adults entered a drug rehab center in 2020. Most people know how drug rehabilitation works, but what happens once you leave the center?
The recovery process is a life-long journey and knowing how to stay healthy and clean is crucial. Are you ready to start your new life after rehabilitation for drugs? Learn how to stay healthy after drug rehab with these four key steps.
Contents
Practice Self-Care
Self-care doesn’t have to mean face masks and bubble baths. It means taking care of yourself every day, in every way. Practical self-care techniques include:
- Getting plenty of restful sleep
- Exercising and moving your body
- Spending time with loved ones
- Reading books, doing hobbies, and learning new things
- Balancing work and life
Eating nutritious meals is especially important during aftercare. Substance abuse disorders can often lead to malnutrition and organ damage. Our diet is also connected to neurotransmitters and mood.
Not eating a balanced, healthy diet can emphasize symptoms of depression or anxiety. These feelings can be detrimental during recovery, leading you to relapse. Focus on nourishing your body and mind through wholesome eating.
Attend Meetings
Most cities have dedicated addiction recovery groups that meet every week. Narcotics Annonymous (NA) is one example that provides support post-rehab. Meetings are one of two types: discussion and speaker.
Discussion meetings allow everyone to share their stories, feelings, and goals. Speaker meetings focus on one or two members who talk about their experiences more in-depth. NA meetings might seem intimidating at first, but you can choose how much you want to share.
Over time, these groups grow into support systems and will help you make new friends! Studies have found that self-help programs are very effective after rehab. One study found that almost 60% of participants still attended NA two years post-rehab!
Find a Support System
Everything is better with a support system. That’s why football games have cheerleaders! Drug recovery with a solid support system is much easier for two simple reasons.
First, your support system can encourage you to stay on track and make healthy choices. A support system can be anyone you trust: friends, family, or your NA group. Ask them to hold you responsible for your actions and choices.
Second, your support system can help you get back on track if you have a slip-up. Relapse doesn’t always mean falling straight back into old patterns. Sometimes, it’s a small mistake you can move past if you face it right away.
Avoid Temptation
The relapse rate for substance abuse disorders hovers between 40% and 60%. Post-rehab, avoiding temptation is a painful but necessary step. It can mean staying away from places and people that trigger you.
A qualified, responsible rehabilitation program will set you up for success and teach you how to avoid temptation. Choosing the proper drug rehab is crucial when starting your treatment. Centers like Harrishousestl.org that focus on whole-person treatment are a great choice!
Life After Rehabilitation for Drugs
Seeking out rehabilitation for drugs is a big step in your journey towards a happy, fulfilling life! The post-rehab recovery process is a time to heal your mind, body, and soul. Taking care of yourself, attending meetings, and relying on a support system can help.
With time, recovery will become an intuitive part of your life, and you’ll find yourself living healthy and clean. Check out more self-help, wellness, and inspiring articles below!
