Completing your rehab is a rewarding feeling. You deserve a pat on the back for your dedication and effort in staying on track with your treatment. But what’s more pressing is how you can stay clean after your rehab program.
This is a common challenge for everyone finishing rehab, and we understand where you’re coming from. In this article, we are going to share some ideas on how you can stay sober after your rehab program.
What Does it Mean to Stay Sober?
Being sober means being clean and not taking again the substance that caused your addiction. On most occasions, a patient who has undertaken rehab for more than a year is able to stay sober for a longer time. This is due to the more solid foundation built into the patient while he was under treatment.
The one who can determine how long your treatment is will be your doctor. Also, your recovery status will play an important role in knowing how long you will stay on treatment for Ativan addiction.
How Transitioning from Rehab to Normal Life Happens?
Before your treatment ends, it’s best if you plan on what you need to do to stay clean after coming out from the facility. A post-treatment plan would be helpful for any patients to help them stay sober.
On most occasions, patients go to residential living houses to have a smooth transition to their normal life. A residential living house is a safe and clean place for an individual to live in after coming out of rehab.
Here they can be with people who also completed their treatment, so, they are careful with their actions and socialization to avoid meeting triggers.
In a sober living house, you will receive counseling and prescription medicines to help you not crave Ativan. You will get the necessary moral and emotional support to help you stay clean in a sober living house.
Know Your Triggers
Staying sober means being away from triggers, and who knows more about that than yourself, right? When you were still in rehab, you were taught how to understand your thoughts and emotions, and the negative triggers that push you to abuse substances.
By knowing these triggers, you are far from having a relapse. To give you an idea, below are some triggers you need to keep an eye on:
- Peers or relatives who are drinkers
- Emotional stress
- Financial problems
- Conflict in relationships
- The place where you are currently staying
Understand the Signs that Relapse is about to Happen
It’s a common mistake among individuals not to keep an eye on relapse. This is like a thief in the night, you don’t know when it will sneak inside your house. You need to recall your learning inside the rehab so that you can see ahead of any signs that a relapse might happen.
Below are common signs that a relapse will occur:
- You start thinking of abusing Ativan or the drug again
- You suddenly develop a compulsive behavior to use the drug
- Going to a place or event where people drink and abuse drugs
- Justifying your actions or thoughts of using the drug again
Develop New Habits and Hobbies
On some occasions, patients go back to their old ways since they are bored and aren’t able to find a new activity to enjoy. This is where finding a new hobby or habit would be great.
Finding a new hobby helps divert your attention from craving the drug. You become more focused on learning new skills, and this is a healthy way to keep yourself sober.
In terms of habits, you need to change the old ones that led you to Ativan addiction. For instance, a good example of a healthy habit includes the following:
- Sleeping early
- Eating a balanced meal
- Avoiding caffeine and alcoholic drinks
- Attending a yoga session
- Eating lunch with your friends
- Listening to motivational speakers and life coach
Make New Friends for the Better
Peer pressure is one main factor for Ativan addiction. This is very rampant in teenagers and adults where fitting in is a thing for everyone. Because of that, bad friends will persuade you to do bad habits that will endanger your health.
For you to stay clean, you need to build new relationships with good people. Those that will help you become the better version of yourself. People who won’t drag you to addiction and alcoholism. Those are the kind of friends you need to associate yourself with.
Visit Your Therapist or Counselor
If you still need help reshaping your behavior and mind, then you need to talk to a therapist or counselor. These professionals know the right things to do to help a person keep a healthy behavior and mindset.
Whether you are living in sober houses or not, you can visit your therapist regularly. Their main goal is to help you understand your thoughts and feelings so that you can develop a positive way of countering any triggers.
Keep Track of Your Finances
Financial problems are inevitable for someone under the influence of Ativan or any substances. It could be an after-effect of addiction or the cause of why you have taken the route to substance use disorder.
You need to focus on your finances, especially if you just came out of rehab. Patients will not easily land a job after their treatment since they still need to prove themselves if they are functional members of the community again.
Proving this will be hard if you’re on your own. Luckily, you can enroll in sober living houses and community extension programs to prove your worth and care for the community. You will be given a recommendation or certificate that you are engaged with these activities, and it helps prove to your target employer that you are well and productive enough to go to work.
Get Help Today
Enrolling in Ativan rehab is your best route to recovery. It will not be an easy path, yet you are confident that you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. With the right support and medication, you can guarantee the effectiveness of your rehab program.
In case you have further questions about Ativan addiction and how to get treated, you can contact us today.