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If you’ve finished inpatient addiction treatment, congratulations on your progress! However, just because you’re done with inpatient care doesn’t mean you’re cured.
Your addiction has a lot to do with your environment, so treatment may have helped you in some ways, but it could take a while for you to really learn how to handle your addiction in the real world.
After your formal treatment program, you should take some time to reflect on what happened while you were in the inpatient center.
It’s important to think about what worked for you and what didn’t, so you can incorporate those lessons when you attend outpatient rehab near me.
Features of outpatient rehab that you will expect that is different from an inpatient program
1. Less Intensive Treatment
Outpatient treatment is less intensive than inpatient treatment, so the focus of the sessions may be more on the “normal” world instead of dealing with the underlying causes of your addiction.
The more time you spend in at-home group meetings, the less time you’ll have for 12-step meetings. Some outpatient rehab near me try to help you adjust as quickly as possible, so they’ll have you attend additional group sessions during the week to help you get back on your feet.
2. No On-Site Medical Staff
When you attend inpatient treatment, you’ll have 24/7 access to medical staff. This helps minimize the risk of your addiction flaring up while you’re out in the real world.
Outpatient rehab centers don’t have medical staff on-site, therefore you’ll have to go to the doctor’s office yourself to get your prescriptions for addiction medications.
Related: A Guide to Drug Treatment Programs and Their Benefits
3. More Freedom
Outpatient rehab is like a step-down version of inpatient treatment. You’ll have more freedom living on your own, but you’ll also be expected to be accountable for your actions.
You’ll have a set schedule of meetings, so you’ll only be able to do certain things during that time of day. If you’re still not feeling like you can handle the temptations of addiction, it’s okay to call up your rehab center and ask to extend your stay for a few more days.
4. Better Chance to Socialize with Friends and Family
Outpatient rehab near me is more about supporting you in the real world than inpatient rehab, so it gives your friends and family members a better chance to support you.
Your therapist can actually help you develop skills to better communicate with your friends and family, so if you’ve struggled in the past, this could help improve your relationships.
A Few Outpatient Rehab Tips for Recovering Addicts
When you attend outpatient rehab, it’s crucial to take responsibility for your recovery. There are tangible ways you can do this, including:
*Attending regular group meetings to support other attendees in their recoveries.
*Doing things you didn’t have time to do when your addiction was active, such as taking up a new hobby or learning something new.
*Joining online support groups to help you maintain your recovery.
*Staying connected with the people who helped you along the way so you can continue to receive their support.
*Making sure you’re comfortable with your relapse triggers so you can stay proactive about avoiding them, etc.
Conclusion
If you can take responsibility for your recovery, you’ll have a much better chance of maintaining your sobriety. You can continue to attend outpatient rehab near me for as long as you need to, but it’s important to continue supporting yourself after your initial recovery so you don’t relapse.
