Achieving sobriety is a huge accomplishment, but recovery doesn’t stop after a successful detox. Aftercare is ongoing treatment provided to people in recovery after initially becoming sober and can take the form of inpatient or outpatient services.
The most common forms of aftercare are 12-step programs, outpatient care, counseling, and sober living. Working to develop an aftercare program with your loved ones can set you up for success as you face challenges to your sobriety and help prevent relapse during the transition to everyday life.
What Is Aftercare?
Aftercare in the context of sobriety can mean a few things. Generally, aftercare is thought of as a period of continued treatment of lower intensity following inpatient or intense outpatient treatment. The purpose of aftercare is to continue to maintain the achievements made during treatment in order to prevent relapse. It is intended to support a person during early recovery and to help them work towards their goals.
Developing an aftercare plan before completing treatment is important when people are transitioning back to everyday life as the risk of relapse is highest during the first few months of recovery. An aftercare plan can help prevent relapse by providing you with solutions to anticipated challenges and support surrounding your addiction. Aftercare plans can include activities and resources to help cope with triggers, stressors, and cravings after formal treatment and each plan varies based on a person’s needs.
Types of Aftercare
- Outpatient aftercare. Even after you have completed an inpatient or residential recovery program, you may still face stressors and triggers that can challenge your sobriety. Outpatient therapy or counseling can help you to address these issues and can also help you to work through mental issues, create a relapse prevention plan, and build a structured routine for your life during this transitional period.
- Recovery meetings. Recovery meetings are free support networks focused on people recovering from addiction and their families. They provide members with the opportunity to build sober support amongst their peers in order to build each other up when tackling sober living head on. Popular recovery meetings are usually 12-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, where members take responsibility for their recovery, share their experiences with their peers, help each other, and establish or repair their relationships with family, friends, and a higher power.
- Sober living. Stable sober housing is an important component of addiction recovery. Sober living homes are drug- and alcohol-free residences that support your new-found sobriety and provide a safe environment for recovery. These homes help residents achieve their goals through a community and strength-centered approach, often with the help of 12-Step programs.
How Can I Support My Loved Ones in Recovery?
Support from family and friends are a necessary part of recovery and aftercare. If your loved one is struggling with addiction or with their journey to sobriety, here are a few ways you can show your support:
- Celebrate your loved ones’ successes and accomplishments. In the early days of recovery, the first few days of sobriety are a huge victory. Celebrate milestones in sobriety of all types to help give your loved ones the motivation to continue their recovery.
- Encourage healthy living. Seeing or talking about alcohol or drugs can be triggering to your loved ones in recovery. Avoid spaces with drugs and alcohol, such as bars or nightclubs, and encourage other avenues of enjoyment, such as exercise, eating well, and participating in healthy hobbies.
- Attend therapy. Attending couples or family therapy with your loved one can provide a safe space for everyone to address problems related to your loved ones’ addictions.
- Educate yourself. Try to learn all you can about addiction recovery and aftercare to help set healthy boundaries and support your loved ones during treatment. Educate yourself on the signs of relapse, such as skipping therapy sessions, changing eating or sleeping habits, or fantasizing past drug- or alcohol-related experiences in order to support your loved ones and enact their relapse prevention plan.
Your journey toward recovery and sobriety begins at Beachside Rehab in West Palm Beach, Florida. We offer comprehensive, holistic inpatient and outpatient detox and drug and alcohol rehab. Please call 866-349-1770 to speak with one of our trained admissions counselors.