5 Tips for Making the Most of Your Rehab Experience: Tips for Becoming Happy and Healthy Again

April 02, 2020
Jess

Substance abuse has a litany of consequences for sufferers including detrimental effects on the mind and body, not to mention the general turmoil addiction tends to bring to one’s life. Addiction affects people of all backgrounds, and it’s more common than you might think.

The United States currently faces an epidemic when it comes to abusing opioids with over two million Americans abusing these drugs and 90 deaths from an overdose on a daily basis. Alcohol abuse is also quite common with nearly 6% of US adults suffering some form of Alcohol Use Disorder.

Of course, there are all kinds of drug addiction, but there are also many treatment options. Rehab isn’t easy, and it’s just one step on the road to recovery. Getting sober is a different beast than staying sober, and it can be difficult to transition back to your “normal” life after rehab. Still, visiting a treatment center is an important part of living a more healthy life, and there are some ways to help make the change stick.

Make Sure You’re Ready for Change

While it’s certainly possible to be forced into drug rehabilitation against your will, you’ll likely see the best results if you go in of your own accord. As the old saying goes, acknowledging you have a problem is the first step toward recovery. There are great, reputable rehab facilities out there that can offer a high quality of care.

Canadian Centre for Addictions offers medically supervised treatment programs at their inpatient rehabs, and they’re open to US and Canadian patients. These professional services can help you overcome your addiction, improve your mental health, and assist with any medical emergencies that may arise. If you resist help, however, there will only be so much they can do.

Be an Active Participant

Once you’ve accepted that you need help, it’s important to be active in your treatment facility. Speaking up during group meetings can be uncomfortable, but you’ll benefit from the social support you receive from group members, and helping others is great for your own recovery.

Rehab centers generally have therapists, and it’s important for you to be as open and honest as possible to address any issues that might hinder your recovery. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about treatment options either, and speak up if you have concerns about how things are going. The most important person to focus on during your recovery is yourself, after all.

Find Support After Rehab

Successfully completing a substance abuse rehabilitation program can certainly instill you with a sense of empowerment, but you shouldn’t rush right back into the same old routine you had before rehab. You need to avoid triggers that could send you back toward substance use, especially at first.

Triggers may include people you used to drink or do drugs with. Ask about ongoing support options while you’re still in your treatment center. Also, you can always use SAMSHA’s National Helpline for free support options.

Live Healthily

Living a healthy lifestyle will make you feel better in general, and this is especially important after getting sober. Regular exercise releases endorphins and can help keep your mind off things that might cause you to relapse.

Keeping a healthy diet will have many positive changes over time such as improving your energy levels and immune system. If you want some additional benefits, try the supplements from calerie.com. These supplements are designed to help you maintain a healthy weight, and they focus on restoring your cell’s energy production.

Pursue New Goals

You need to keep your mind active after finishing drug rehabilitation since boredom can be a trigger for relapse. Fortunately, finishing a program can instill you with confidence, and it’s important to use that confidence to follow new goals.

These goals could include a new career or relationship, or you could just pick up a new hobby. If there’s somewhere you’ve wanted to travel or something you’ve wanted to do for years, now is probably a great time. Everyone’s experience with recovery is different, but you need a plan for what to do afterward.