Addiction is a serious public health issue across the United States with 41.1 million people over the age of 12 needing substance use treatment. While attending rehab services can help you overcome your substance use problems, it will not keep you sober.Â
You need to put in the work to get sober and stay sober. Do you want to learn more about how you can get the most out of your rehab services?
Keep reading this guide for the top tips to follow to help you achieve lifelong sobriety after rehab.
Accept Help and Commit
Accepting help and committing to the program is one of the most important things you can do to make your rehab experience successful. It can be difficult to acknowledge that you need or deserve help, but you must realize that rehab is a safe space for you to recover.
You also need to be ready to work and commit to the program. This includes following all of the rules, even if you don’t understand how they are going to help you.
Have an Open Mind
If you want to get the most out of your rehabilitation services, it is important that you go into it with an open mind. Many people have preconceived notions about what rehab is like and may resist getting the help they need.
While there may be aspects of the treatment that seem strange or unnecessary, it is important to realize that your therapists and others involved in your treatment care about you and have your best interests in mind.
Having an open mind will make it easier for your treatments to be effective. It will allow you to soak in as much learning as you can during your treatment and will help you accept the help that you need.
Go At Your Own Pace
It is also important that you go at your own pace when you attend rehab services. You will likely receive treatment with other people in similar situations. While it can be easy to compare your recovery to their own, you need to trust your instincts and go at your own pace.
If you need extra time to fully recover, that is alright! Make sure you are willing to slow down and take the time you need to achieve lifelong sobriety.
Participate and Attend Meetings
Part of committing to your treatment is being willing to attend and participate in all of your meetings. There are many different aspects of treatment in rehab. Often, the most commonly used treatments are behavioral therapies. These include group therapy, individual counseling sessions, and more.
Make sure you are willing to discuss your issues and your goals when you attend these meetings.
You also need to trust your therapist. Trusting that your therapist cares about you and will provide you with a safe space to heal is a huge part of recovery. It will allow you to accept help from your therapist and address the issues that have contributed to your substance use issues.
Take Time for Yourself
You also need to take time for yourself during your San Diego alcohol rehabilitation. It is easy for rehab treatment to get overwhelming and at times it may feel impossible to overcome your struggles with sobriety.
Taking time for yourself can help you feel more connected and can lower your stress to make rehab more effective.
Make sure you find uplifting activities that you can do for yourself. For example, you may want to keep a journal! This way, you can look back over the course of your rehabilitation and see how far you have come.
Other people enjoy meditating, taking up new hobbies, and improving their physical health.
Immediately Plan Your Aftercare
To ensure that you stay sober after leaving rehab, it is important that you immediately start planning for your aftercare. When you attend an inpatient rehabilitation program or other San Diego rehab centers, the time will likely go by faster than you realize.
You need to be prepared for life after your program is over! Whether you attend therapy or establish other healthy habits, these will help you stay sober.
One of the best aftercare steps you can take for recovery is to join a 12-step program. This includes programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. You can also get a sponsor to help you stay on track.Â
This way, you can stay engaged in programs and will be accountable to others for your actions. Engaging in aftercare will reduce your risk of relapsing after rehab.
Don’t Give Up
Lastly, you cannot give up! Rehabilitation is a lifelong process that will have its ups and downs. Because of this, you need to give yourself plenty of time to heal.
It is important that you share how you are feeling with others. Rather than telling everyone that you are fine, you can share what you are going through on your road to recovery.
This way, you will feel less alone on your road to recovery and you will gain the support you need to stay sober when times get tough.
If you need help achieving sobriety, finding rehab centers in San Diego can help!
Start Getting the Most Out of Rehab Services Today
When you have finished your rehab services, it can be easy to forget all that you learned and slip back into a life of substance use. By following each of these tips, you can get the most out of your rehab services and will be more likely to stay sober!
If you are looking for rehab services, Apex Recovery can help! We specialize in substance use treatment and can help you start the path to sobriety.
Contact us today to learn more about alcohol treatment centers in San Diego.