Outpatient Care and Other Post-Rehab Options

outpatient rehab care

There is no existing cure for addiction. Addiction is a disease, and the effects can cause lifelong struggles, which can result in relapse, or addictions to new substances or even habits. There are people who, after completing rehab, turn to food, sugar, sex, or a variety of other excesses to satiate their desire to latch onto something else for comfort during these difficult times. This can lead to weight gain, depression, and lethargy. Even a reputable rehab center can’t make you a guarantee of absolute relief from all of the symptoms of addiction. The good news is that the end of your rehab program isn’t the end of your treatment. After rehab you have more treatment options, opportunities to meet others who’ve had experiences similar to your own, and access to resources to help you move on with your life.

Remember always that you’re not alone in your journey to lifelong sobriety. If one option doesn’t work for you, there are other options that can help you to protect yourself from addiction. One of the continuing treatment options for drug and alcohol addiction treatment is outpatient care. Outpatient care is a treatment that has been used by many people to maintain their hard-earned sobriety.

Outpatient Care

post-rehab options

Outpatient care is a wonderful treatment option for those who are ready to leave the facility, but would like additional support with their recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. After exiting a rehab facility, a recovering person is vulnerable to relapse, a place that no one wants to go after having successfully completed rehab. This is where outpatient care is a good and crucial offering: a person standing on the cusp of relapse needs just a push in either direction to render them addicted all over again, or keep them on a safe, healthy path.

Created specifically for people who’ve successfully completed a residential treatment facility, outpatient treatment for recovering people is a flexible option that allows a person to continue to recover as they get back on their feet. Outpatient treatment allows recovering people to come and go as they please.  This means the ability to attend work and social events, both of which can be therapeutic to a person recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

Meetings that occur as part of outpatient therapy are a combination of continued psychotherapy, life coaching, and affirmation from an empathetic group of people bonded by the experience of surviving addiction. These options for drug and alcohol treatment are some of the reasons that the road to recovery is possible and feasible for anyone ready to commit to change.

Outpatient treatment is also an excellent option because the cost is less than that of residential treatment. Some insurance companies are reticent to pay for extended stays in rehab due to the often high cost of residential programs. Because of the reduced cost of therapy, insurance companies are more likely to expediently fund this type of treatment for drug and alcohol addiction than they are for residential drug treatment programs. Without insurance, of course, this is still a sizeable expense, but a much lower expense. With a program amenable to most schedules and a cost that offers a relief to families, outpatient care as part of drug and alcohol rehabilitation is a great next step to recovery and lifelong sobriety.

Sober Living

Sober living is another great option for a person who is on the road to lifelong sobriety. Housing options for addicted people may be difficult, particularly with a spotty work history and a low credit score. Sober living communities, also called halfway houses, are another option for people who are fresh out of rehab, and need a place to go for both continued treatment, and a safe, comfortable place to stay. Sober living communities are a vital source of support for the necessary transition from drug and alcohol addiction to a normal, productive life. Sober living homes encourage you to get and find a job while you bask in a supportive environment.   

Life Coaching

Life coaches are superstars of the post-rehab recovery process. Life coaches are there to encourage those on the journey to lifelong sobriety to try, and succeed in life, including at work, with family, friends, and colleagues, and on one’s own. Life coaches will also help you to set goals for yourself and for your lifelong sobriety. Life coaches can help direct you to resources for starting a new career, and taking up new hobbies, two excellent and necessary activities that can keep you busy while you’re recovering from addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Therapy

Outpatient care and sober living homes are both types of therapy. During rehab, anyone can expect to receive psychotherapy, but having more therapy after rehab is just as important as therapy during rehab. Even after a successful stay in rehab, a person is still vulnerable to relapse and addiction. Therapy is a crucial net to catch a person who may veer to the otherside: by getting to the root of the problem that drives a person to addiction, and addressing it, the ability of a person to fight against the pull of addiction is exponentially strengthened. Therapy is something that a person on the road to lifelong sobriety may need periodically to stay on track. This, though, is normal, and should be considered during stressful times.

Stress Management and Exercise

Self-care is an important step whether or not you’re recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Part of self-care is stress management, and part of stress management is maintaining awareness of yourself, and of your surroundings. Ensuring that you’re not in a place where you are tempted to use drugs is important, as is healthy food, and regular exercise. Many people turn to yoga, pilates, or other floor-based exercises that involve building strength through flexibility.

Choosing additional addiction treatment therapy isn’t just the best decision for you and your family, but it is also a chance for you to receive more support, which can lead to greater long-term success. After you’ve completed all of your treatment programs, don’t forget about the friends you made on your treatment journey – they will be your resource as you continue to improve everyday.