4 Tips for Maintaining Sobriety After Treatment

Long-term sobriety requires people to remain focused and willing to make lifestyle changes that support abstinence. A whole-person approach to treatment provides clients with essential support for maintaining sobriety. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Stopping drug use is just one part of a long and complex recovery process [. . .]. Because addiction can affect so many aspects of a person's life, treatment should address the needs of the whole person to be successful.” Maintaining sobriety is easier for individuals who take advantage of the tools and resources provided by treatment programs. West Coast Recovery Centers encourages clients to set realistic goals and take advantage of aftercare services. 

Challenges People Encounter While Maintaining Sobriety After Treatment

Treatment programs provide essential structure and accountability. However, the transition into aftercare may make it more difficult for some people to continue healing and making progress in recovery.

Some of the challenges people encounter maintaining sobriety after treatment include: 

• Peer pressure 
• Cravings and triggers 
• Emotional stress 
• Social isolation 
• Complacency or ambivalence 
• Unaddressed trauma or stressors 
• Co-occurring mental health disorders 

Everyone reacts to setbacks or unexpected situations in different ways. The care team at West Coast Recovery Centers ensures clients develop healthy coping skills and understand what to expect from ongoing sobriety. Clients can access the tools and resources to successfully manage their condition after treatment. 

4 Ways to Continue Maintaining Sobriety

Maintaining sobriety after completing treatment involves developing practical coping skills. Treatment programs help clients develop healthy routines, habits, and behaviors. Below are four ways clients transitioning out of treatment maintain sobriety.

#1. Discovering Meaningful Activities and Creating Realistic Goals

Time previously spent abusing substances or engaging in treatment programs must be filled with new activities. Boredom may cause some people to return to maladaptive behaviors unless they develop new routines. Individuals in aftercare benefit from discovering meaningful activities to fill their free time. 

Some examples of activities people use to maintain positive mental health and sobriety include: 

• Volunteering in the community 
• Regular physical exercise, including biking, running, or swimming
• Attending support groups and sober events 
• Participating in therapy or counseling
• Pursuing hobbies, including sports and art
• Spending time out in nature 
• Creating social connections 
• Engaging in relaxing activities and self-care 

Setting clear and achievable goals is essential once a person decides which activities to fill their time with. Realistic goals boost motivation, improve self-confidence, and build resilience. West Coast Recovery Centers helps clients explore activities they may find empowering and enjoyable. Clients are encouraged to embrace healthy activities and routines to improve their overall mental health.

#2. Building a Support System at Home

Everyone recovering from SUD benefits from having a solid support system at home to help them maintain positive routines and behaviors after treatment. Clinicians often help clients build a support system during rehabilitation to ensure they have a safe and nurturing space during the transition to aftercare. 

A support system may include the following: 

• Friends and social groups
• Family members 
• Medical professionals 
• Therapists or counselors
• Colleagues and coworkers 

Anyone who consistently provides emotional or practical support can become an integral part of a person's support system. Clinicians use family therapy, group therapy, and other services to help clients develop boundaries and social skills. Creating a solid support network is easier if individuals have social skills to help them connect with others on a deeper level. 

#3. Managing Stress While Maintaining Sobriety

Individuals who have completed treatment for substance abuse often experience higher levels of stress as they begin to reintegrate back into society. Stress is a leading cause of relapse during early recovery. Identifying stressors and finding healthy ways to manage them reduces the risk of relapse. People effectively manage anxiety if they build practical coping skills, including mindfulness and relaxation exercises. West Coast Recovery Centers uses evidence-based and alternative holistic therapies to help clients learn to successfully manage stress. 

#4. Staying Accountable

Personal accountability for maintaining abstinence is essential for long-term recovery. Individuals who have experienced chronic substance abuse may need additional forms of accountability at first until they develop reliable self-accountability. Most people do their best to live healthy and fulfilling lives after treatment. However, some individuals may struggle to maintain sobriety if they do not have someone constantly monitoring their behaviors. Increased accountability can help people avoid falling back into old habits and behaviors. Many people stay accountable for their actions and recovery by joining self-help groups, attending individual therapy, and regularly checking in with loved ones.

Maintaining Sobriety With Peer Support

Peer support is vital for maintaining sobriety after treatment. Being able to share struggles and successes with others who understand and have similar life experiences helps people feel more in control and confident. 

Peer support reduces the risk of relapse by providing people with the following: 

• Mutual support 
• Shared accountability 
• Reduced social isolation 
• Healthy role models 
• Constructive feedback 
• Effective coping strategies
• A safe environment for exploring personal growth 
• New skills
• A sense of belonging 
• Similar goals and shared expectations

West Coast Recovery Centers encourages clients to engage in peer activities to support long-term sobriety. 

Rehabilitation programs provide people with a foundation for creating a sober life. However, maintaining abstinence requires commitment and a willingness to make necessary lifestyle changes. Clients in treatment learn how to identify triggers and potential complications that may interfere with their recovery. Therapy, peer support, and other essential services provide clients with healthy coping skills and tools for managing challenges during treatment and aftercare. The dedicated professionals at West Coast Recovery Centers prioritize individualized care to ensure clients receive the support they need to continue healing and growing. Clients use aftercare planning, relapse prevention strategies, and alumni support services to improve treatment outcomes. To learn more about our programs and services, call us today at (760) 492-6509.