Committing To Sobriety After Treatment Rehabilitation

Going Through Treatment for Drug or Alcohol Abuse

Every day, across the country people struggle with drug and alcohol abuse. Though many people are able to use alcohol casually and quit at will, for many people, alcohol (as well as various other drugs) is an inescapable prison. Drugs and alcohol can quickly consume your entire life, compromising your relationships, work, and happiness. In situations like this, where it gets out of control, it becomes necessary to seek treatment. There are different ways to seek treatment: rehabilitation centers, support groups, and counseling being some of the most common.

The more serious the problem is, the more likely it is that you will be recommended to seek treatment through a rehabilitation center. The reason for this is that treatment rehabilitation centers offer the most intensive, hands-on treatment. You are also kept away from drugs and alcohol while you are at the treatment center, so you can focus on getting yourself well again without temptations to distract you. A treatment facility will equip you with the tools to stay clean and sober once you leave the center. In fact, as difficult as that first part of treatment at a rehabilitation center can be sometimes, the real work starts when your formal treatment ends.

What Happens When You Leave Treatment

Depending on the type of treatment rehabilitation program you enter, leaving treatment might be sudden or gradual. In some cases, one your time at the treatment center is over, you will move back home. Sometimes, however, you will move to a sober living facility first to help you transition back into life outside of the treatment center. In almost all cases, you will be set up with counseling services or a support group to ensure that you have someone to check in with and monitor you for the first little while after you’ve left your treatment center.

Committing To Sobriety After Treatment Rehabilitation

Eventually, your own well-being will fall into your hands. It will be up to you to maintain a state of clean and sober living, or it will be up to you to arrange support by way of counseling or a support group. No one ever recovers from drug or alcohol addiction – or any other form of addiction or substance abuse – the most you can really do is learn the treatment rehabilitation steps to staying sober and take things one day at a time.

A Lifelong Commitment to Clean and Sober Living

It is never enough to get treatment for alcohol or drug addiction once and then eventually go back to drinking or using drugs. Attending a treatment facility does not cure your addiction. There is no cure, and therefore there is no chance that you will be able to continue on, using drugs and alcohol without fear of it taking control of your life the way it did on the past. An addict is always an addict, and the most you can do is learn how to avoid drugs, alcohol, or your addictive substance completely. You have to let go of the notion of using alcohol or drugs in moderation once you leave your treatment rehabilitation center. Drugs and alcohol are simply too dangerous for you to return to. No good can come from attempting to use drugs or alcohol casually again. You must be committed to staying away from them for good.

From here on out, your mission is to avoid any use of drugs, alcohol, or any other addictive substance that has been troublesome for you. You must be committed to living a clean, sober life from now on. It will be a struggle some days. It might even be a struggle on many days, and that’s why you must have a plan in place to keep yourself clean, sober, and healthy. A commitment to sobriety means knowing how to say no to temptation, how to say no to others who are trying to temp you, and surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people who will be there for you when your journey gets tough. Trust in your treatment and rehabilitation skills that you have learned.

Getting sober isn’t just a month-long stint in a treatment rehabilitation. It’s an entire lifestyle shift, a lifelong commitment to sobriety. Prepare yourself to deal with temptation, and surround yourself with positive, supportive people, and you will be far more likely to succeed. It might be difficult, but remember, it’s worth it to get your back.

This article was written by Hugh Jacobson, who has been through substance rehab and knows how hard it is to make sober living work.


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