Just After Rehab

Old friends will try to contact you, old situations will reemerge, and old stresses will bring back those cravings. We know that we have to restructure our lives to get rid of the temptations, but what seemed so sensible and obvious in rehab can become more complex and problematic when it needs to happen in reality. Too many people succumb to feelings of helplessness and powerlessness over their addiction during these initial days and weeks, and too often an initial slip during these first few weeks can become a complete relapse into addiction.

Remember the lessons learned during rehab, use the strength of your family and real friends for support when you need it, make full use of any aftercare services provided and make a real effort to rid yourself from the triggers to abuse. This period is never easy, and it can feel overwhelming, but just take it one day at a time, or even one hour at a time, and it will pass, and it will get easier. Every day of sobriety makes that next one just a little bit easier, and remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Keep busy, enjoy the clarity and the sobriety and spend time with good friends and family.