While one’s detox or residential treatment may come to a conclusion, one’s recovery is an ongoing process. However, as one moves out of a treatment facility back into the “real world,” it can be incredibly easy to begin falling back into previous destructive routines. Reintroduction to stressors or reminders of one’s life before recovery can cause urges and cravings to become increasingly difficult to cope with.
Maintaining the transformative changes that one has made during their time in a treatment facility is crucial for sustained sobriety. Knowing the different kinds of stressors that one may face can help each individual create plans to avoid falling back into a destructive lifestyle while prioritizing their sober goals, ambitions, and newfound identity.
Facing the Temptations
Moving out of a recovery-curated facility is a source of pride and a testament to the progress one already achieved. However, it can also be a tumultuous transition filled with stresses and temptations, making it essential to prepare for this time. For some, this will begin with looking back at their homes or residences, including the rooms therein and the people who will share the space.
Facing similar environments to when one was using drugs or alcohol can make it dangerously easy to fall back into routines where these substances can once again be prevalent. Some environments may have very close ties to one’s use, such as a room where one used to smoke while playing video games or gather with friends to drink.
Others may see this place by how they used to hide their drugs or alcohol, intimately linking one’s previous use to what should be a safe and sober space. The image of the familiar can cause behaviors to follow suit. Being prepared for one’s living situation to contain unique stressors is important when developing a plan to avoid falling back into dangerous routines.
Taking the time to make conscious changes to one’s environment can be instrumental in maintaining one’s newfound sobriety. Changing the decor in certain rooms or repurposing them to contain therapeutic outlets can all help to recontextualize these living spaces.
Working with one’s roommates and family members is also important, as those who one lives with are key parts of one’s environment. Ensuring that one’s supports are aware and on board with these changes can reform one’s environment from a dangerous regressive space to an active recovery outlet.
Creating a New Schedule
With a familiar environment can come a familiar schedule. While one’s time in a recovery facility may be tightly scheduled with time for self-care, reflection, and community, leaving these important aspects to ones’ own devices be difficult. Some may quickly begin to establish their schedules around their overworked schedules. Others may begin to eschew newly developed routines, therapeutic practices, or even the necessary self-care.
Continuing with one’s schedule from their recovery facility can be a great way to structure one’s daily life. For some, this can mean creating a schedule around their job and talking with their supervisors about consistent scheduling to ensure they are not overworked and have time to attend recovery functions.
Others may directly translate aspects of their schedule from the recovery facility. This may include:
- Maintaining a consistent morning alarm
- Setting self-care times
- Dedicating a few hours each day to therapeutic outlets (yoga, meditation, art, music, etc)
Scheduling in this time is just as important as tending to any other responsibilities. One’s sobriety is still the ultimate goal whether an individual is inside a recovery facility or living out on their own.
Dealing With Social Reintroduction
Moving back into the “real world” may involve a lot of people who may have been a part of one’s previous lifestyle. Even after one has announced their recovery and made their sober intentions clear, it is still possible that one may be faced with being asked to join in engaging with these destructive substances.
Old drinking friends or previous drug dealers may all be wanting to reach out, each of which can be incredibly difficult to cope with. While unfortunate, it is necessary to determine which members of one’s previous life are supportive of one’s sober changes, and which may be more of an obstacle to prolonged sobriety.
However, working with one’s supports and keeping in touch with peers from one’s recovery program can all help create a new and supportive social circle. Just because one has left a dedicated recovery facility does not mean that they cannot still engage with the community and peers they met there.
These can be amazing resources for creating a new lifestyle alongside understanding supports who are ready to help keep an individual accountable and focused on their own sobriety. Replacing dangerous relationships with sober peers, new communities centered around newfound hobbies, or sticking to small groups of supports can all help address the social stresses that one will face during their journey through recovery.
Recovery is just as much about maintaining your sober changes as it is making these changes in the first place. At Everlast Recovery Centers, we understand the difficulty of maintaining this kind of transformed lifestyle both inside and outside of the recovery sphere and are prepared to help you keep focused on your sober goals at any stage in your recovery. Our comfortable, home-like atmosphere champions the growth of new, supportive communities and friendships while maintaining a focus on change, transformation, and accountability. Backed by a consistent stream of education, personalized therapeutic outlets, and relapse prevention, we can help you take the first step towards embracing the skills needed not just to start your journey to transformation, but also to maintain your recovery in the future. For more information on how we can help you address your unique needs and goals, call to speak to a caring, trained staff member today at (866) 338-6925.
