After Rehab: What’s Next?

When you’re dealing with a substance abuse problem, there’s no better thing you can do than to go to rehab.

Rehab is a place where you’ll get the professional help that you need to take on your substance abuse problem. It’s a safe and comfortable place when you can wage a very uncomfortable battle.

It’s a place where experts can line up on your side of the battle while triggers and bad influences disappear from the other side.

That’s why facilities like Beachside Rehab exist: not to cure people, but to help them turn the tide and learn to rely on their own strength in a lifelong battle.

When Beachside’s patients receive treatment at their luxury facility in Florida, they emerge feeling like they’ve turned a corner – but, of course, the battle isn’t over when you walk out of rehab. So what comes next?

Ongoing support

Rehab works in part because it isolates you with your problem and because it provides a comfortable environment in which to deal with the discomfort of kicking a habit.

But it also works because of the other people in it: your peers and the experts.

That’s why it’s so important to keep those parts of the solution in place when you go home. Consider joining a twelve-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous and meeting with fellow addicts routinely after rehab.

And be sure to rely on expert psychiatrists and psychologists for ongoing mental health support.

Avoiding your triggers

Though it isn’t easy, now is the time to cut off the people who are not interested in your recovery. Old drinking buddies or drug users are not good people to be around now – instead, focus on your support systems. Work with mental health experts to identify your triggers and sources of anxiety and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Your new life

Avoiding the substances you once abused will allow you to take back control of your life. But the life you win back won’t look exactly like your old, pre-addiction life – it’s something new.

That will be good in some ways and tough in others. It’s possible that your actions as a substance abuser have affected your future, and you need to manage that.

Develop ways to handle the fallout from your substance abuse. When you have plans and processes in place, this fallout will be less frustrating and depressing, making it easier for you to focus on your goals.

If you’ve lost your driver’s license, now is the time to familiarize yourself with public transit, car services, and other solutions. If your employment prospects have been hurt, now is the time to invest in training and school or to consider changing careers. Keep looking forward while supporting yourself with preparations that reduce anxiety.

Your home environment

Rehab was a safe and comfortable place to deal with your issues. You can replicate some of that in your own home. Consider redecorating or even moving, giving you a fresh and soothing environment.

Invest in decor – from oil paintings of the sort available through 1st Art Gallery to photos and memorabilia that bring you joy – that will comfort and encourage you. Look into fountains, white noise machines, and other anxiety-reducing tools. What did you like about the rehab environment? Can you replicate any of it in your home or apartment?