Getting help for your addiction inside a rehabilitation centre is one of the best decisions anyone could ever make. In treatment, addicts will receive superb medical care and advice which will help them beat their addiction. However, when this is done, treatment shouldn’t stop. In this article, we’ll tell you why aftercare is important.
What is Aftercare?
Addiction is a disease that has no cure. The recovery process is a lifelong commitment that needs steadfast commitment and perseverance. The threat of suffering a relapse is at its highest immediately after being discharged from treatment. Aftercare helps addicts safely return back into society after a stint inside a rehabilitation centre. An aftercare plan will need to be devised by your addictions counsellor and it has to be one that is customised and suited to your needs. This aftercare plan will offer addicts with suggested lifestyle changes as well as prevention methods before returning back home. It will also need to include daily goals that need to be achieved, which will help recovering addicts remain clean. It’s important to understand that good planning and preparation is just as important as any medical treatment you’ll receive in an addiction treatment centre.
Why Aftercare?
It is extremely tough to just go home and remain sober after treatment, especially if there are things around that reminds you of the time when you were addicted to drugs or alcohol. The fact of the matter is that you and only you are responsible for your recovery. Aftercare helps recovering addicts remain healthy and also teaches them new behaviours in order to remain sober. Addiction is also considered to be a family disease, as drugs and alcohol doesn’t only affect the person using the narcotic substance but also the people that are closest to them. Family and friends may have suffered while their loved one was addicted and the relationships they had with them may have been damaged.
By attending aftercare, it shows them that you are committed to becoming the person they once knew, which will help in mending the bonds that might have been broken.
What Should an Aftercare Include?
Every aftercare plan needs to be modified to the specific needs of every recovering addict; however it should still contain all the key characteristics such as counselling and therapy.
Aftercare plans should also include:
- 12-step meeting details (addresses, times etc.)
- A counselling and therapy schedule
- A daily exercise plan
- Healthy eating methods and achievements to aim towards
- A management guide on how you’ll be able to fit everything in to your life
- A medication schedule
- Community activities to become involved in or to attend
As time passes by, the aftercare plan will need to be adjusted accordingly. In some cases, once an addict has reached one year of sobriety, they may even begin to change it from a daily plan to a weekly plan. Recovering addicts need to realise that they didn’t become addicted to drugs or alcohol in one day and the recovery period won’t happen that fast either. Patience, dedication and commitment are 3 key ingredients that will help in achieving long term sobriety.
We provide access to the best private aftercare centres all over South Africa, the United Kingdom and Thailand. Call us now and let one of our qualified addiction counsellors assist in finding the best treatment available for you.
Founded in 2008, WeDoRecover has evolved from an advisory service for addiction treatment into a comprehensive provider of care, following its 2019 merger with Changes Addiction Rehab in Johannesburg. Specialising in connecting patients to top-tier addiction treatment centers in the UK, South Africa and Thailand, WeDoRecover supports individuals globally, including those from the United Arab Emirates and Europe. Accepting both South African medical aid and international health insurance our organisation facilitates access to high-quality treatment for substance and alcohol use disorders, offering individualised care that addresses the physical, mental and social needs of patients.