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So, you’ve completed rehabilitation. What’s next? Daily application of everything that you’ve learned day in and day out. Life after exiting rehab effects a state of mind that requires presence and self-control at all times. As you already survived rehab, trust that the daily struggle is something that you can conquer as well. To help you deal with such challenges in the most effective and mentally sound manner, you should consider doing the following:
1. Have a Support Network
It is imperative that you build a support network. You may not want to and it may seem daunting, especially if you’re not the kind of person who’s comfortable with asking for help, but it is something that you need to do. You will need a community. This is something that you can’t skip. If you don’t have friends or family around, reach out to support groups like Narcotics Anonymous or Alcohol Anonymous. It is important for you to get all the help you can get. You should surround yourself with people who understand how hard it is to recover. You need people around you who will encourage you and make you accountable for all your actions.
2. Have a Relapse Prevention Plan
It is a fact that most people who undergo rehab experience relapse. Facing this fact will do more good than bad. Don’t be scared of the topic. Familiarize yourself with it. Rid yourself of the tension and the flood of fear that arise when you think about it. You have to see it as a plain fact so that you can deal with it in a calm and sound manner. All kinds of things can be prevented ––– even a relapse. This is possible if you have a relapse prevention plan. Make it as detailed as possible. The plan should include the following:
- Techniques on how to recognize triggers
- Techniques on how to cope with cravings
- Step-by-step guide on how to seek support whenever you feel tempted
3. Have a consistent schedule for therapy and counseling.
You should now let go of the chance to discover and recover through therapy and counseling. You should opt for one that is recommended by your treatment team and doctors. Therapy and counseling sessions will help you get ever stronger and better in dealing with the struggles of post-rehab life because you learn and uncover:
- Your underlying issues
- Ways to address your underlying issues
- Ways to cope
- Ways to prevent relapse triggers
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4. Always choose decisions that promote a healthy lifestyle.
You should have a clear mindset on how you’re going to live your life. It is as simple as this ––– whenever you have to make a decision, ask yourself, “What is the healthiest choice that will be most loving to me?” You need to be intentional in caring for yourself by living in the healthiest possible. Never ever forget that you always have a choice. Not clearly understanding your sacred freedom to choose at any given moment is the very thing that lead to your addiction. This is why it’s important that you be aware, every single second, that you have a choice. You always have a choice. And the person that you are now will always choose the healthy choice. Always.
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5. Have hobbies and interests.
This can seem simple but it will help you immensely. Having hobbies and interests is effective in ensuring that you live a hassle-free post-rehab life because it will provide you with a different kind of fulfillment and satisfaction without having to do the things that you used to do before. It will rewire different parts of your brain and make new neural connections. As you will be engrossed with new activities that give you joy, you will hardly have time to think about your past life and the substances that came with it.
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6. Meditate.
The secret to a peaceful life is mindfulness. Mindfulness can be achieved if you will meditate. Meditation is not complicated. It simply involves witnessing life as it happens ––– your thoughts, your movements, everything that surrounds you. Mindfulness is the secret sauce to perfecting a substance-free life because it will increase your self-awareness and help you to effectively manage stress. It will also ground you to stay in the present.
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7. Have regular check-ins.
It is a must that you stay connected with your recovery team ––– your therapist, your treatment team from your rehab, and your doctors. You need to have consistent open communication with them to ensure that you have ongoing support and guidance. You should allow them to help you every step of the way.
8. Know high-risk situations and avoid them accordingly.
You need to dedicate time ––– a day even ––– to enlist places, situations, and people that can trigger cravings. You need to be aware of every single thing. Once you know them, duly assert boundaries. You should do everything in your power to protect your sobriety. If hanging out with a group of people would lead you to drink, then it’s best to not hang out with them. If visiting a certain place would get you so sad that you’d end up wanting to escape and use drugs, avoid that place as much as you can.
You Can Do It
There is nothing that you cannot achieve as long as you put your mind to it. Give yourself a fighting chance. Always choose to forgive yourself. Always opt for the healthy and safe choice. Take full responsibility and commit to guiding yourself to live a fulfilling life free from addiction. Others can maintain sobriety and so can you. Go for it!
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