According to recent statistics, over 21 million US citizens have dealt with addiction at some point in their life, whether it is opioid, alcohol, or cocaine addiction. The number of deaths caused by drug overdose has tripled over the past century. Out of the 21 million Americans, only 10% can receive treatment in the form of therapy or enrolling in a rehabilitation center.
For those who join rehab, the process is difficult and thorough, and what begins to cause a lot of anxiety in newly reformed addicts is the outside life. This article will highlight the importance of healthy habits and maintaining hobbies after rehab. It aims at giving a guideline on what to do to avoid addiction relapse while staying in the outside world.
How Important is it to form healthy habits and hobbies after rehab?
Life outside rehab can be difficult, considering there are many temptations and triggers that could make you start using drugs again. The trick is to start it one day at a time do not look at the bigger picture, but focus on the now. Forming healthy habits and hobbies goes a long way in ensuring minimal occurrence of drug use and possible relapse.
Stay at drug-free environments.
Sometimes returning home may not be the best choice after completing a rehabilitation program, especially when you are faced with the same triggers that caused your addiction. Triggers may come in the form of friends whom you used to take alcohol or drugs with or stressful conditions that initiated the drug abuse. If your home is not the safest option, enroll in a halfway house, also known as a sober living house.
These sober living homes provide a controlled, drug-free environment free from the triggers or the pressures of life. In addition, some homes may offer job placement, support groups, and recreational activities programs that will keep you busy.
Returning to work.
A working environment provides an addict with stability and structured time management that has proved to be vital in the early drug addiction recovery phase. Whether you decide to venture into a new job or go back to the place you had previously worked before, work can be intimidating. It is critical to determine if you want to be open about your addiction recovery process or keep it to yourself.
In addition, it is crucial to develop healthy ways of dealing with work stress so that you can prevent a relapse. Here are some tips on how to deal with work-related stress:
- Take regular breaks in between your work to take walks and unwind.
- Confide in a friend or a co-worker on what you may be going through at the time.
- It is recommended to exercise and eat a healthy diet as it may have implications on your mood.
- When faced with stressful work environments, meditate, or practice deep breathing.
- Have a plan for action for cravings.
- Enroll in Alcohol Anonymous (AA) meetings or any other drug addiction support groups.
Returning to school.
For juvenile addicts, the toll on returning on a regular schedule may impact a lot of stress on this young mind. The social and school pressures may provoke a relapse, and it is essential to put in place measures to prevent this, which include:
- Choosing the right friends and associates.
- Always complete your schoolwork in time and read for exams prior to the exam period.
- Taking frequent breaks.
- Attending AA meetings or other drug support group meetings.
- Enroll in constructive extracurricular activities like sports, swimming, debate clubs, or music.
Social habits.
Sometimes social functions may be a trigger for many recovering addicts. Whether it is meeting up with old friends or making new friends, there is always that concern looming of how these people will view you. Some situations may call for you to end close relationships for a better, healthier you. Here are some tips on how to make new friends that will fit into your newly reformed life.
- Hanging out with co-workers after work is always an excellent way to start.
- Meeting people at your AA meeting or other support groups.
- Joining a sports team or engage in other community-related activities.
Hobbies.
It is important to develop new hobbies that will occupy your free time. These hobbies should involve many sober activities that you love to engage in and must not involve any drug or substance use. These activities include camping, fishing, sports like basketball or football, taking classes to learn a new skill or language or going to church and helping out in the planning of religious functions.
It is important to acknowledge the big step and courage that recovering addicts are taking. Support and constant encouragement will prove to be beneficial. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day. Call us on 844-639-8371.