People travel far and wide to get the treatment they need to recover from drug and alcohol addiction, in addition to concurrent mental health conditions. It is common for people to feel as though they need to get far away from their home environments where they have abused drugs and alcohol or become mentally unwell.
Spending time away from home can feel like starting a new life, which is what many people do. They choose to relocate to the areas where they get clean and sober in order to stay connected to the community they have developed there.
Unfortunately, for some people, they have demands of life responsibilities at home to which they must return. Making the return to home can be overwhelming and intimidating. Home is where there was pain, suffering, and abusive behaviours.
With recovery, you can make the transition with ease and stay sober in the process. Here is how:
Maintain relationships with the people you met in treatment. If phone calls are available, make plans to call each other regularly. You can also practice the lost art of letter writing to stay in touch. Today, connection is easy with texting, video conferencing, and other ways to stay connected. Make sure to reach out to someone at least once a day and have scheduled phone calls throughout the week.
Continue working with a therapist so that your growth in recovery is progressive. One of the most difficult transitions people face is not being able to continue work with their therapist from treatment. Starting over can feel daunting and discouraging. However, now that you are home, you will have an opportunity to create a long term relationship with a new therapist rather than a short term one. Find a therapist nearby and regularly attend sessions. It may take a few weeks to find the right therapist and get comfortable in your sessions.
Start exploring local meetings for different twelve-step fellowships. Getting plugged into your local twelve step communities is a great way to start making new friends in recovery as you transition to being home after treatment. You can find a new sponsor with whom you can develop a close, trusting relationship, and begin working the steps.
Continue taking care of your health in all areas: mental, physical, and spiritual. You will be able to make the transition easier if you are in good health and making sure all of your needs are met.
Smarmore Castle Private Clinic offers residential treatment programmes which last for four to six weeks, depending on patient’s needs. Our dual diagnosis treatment programmes offer clinical care for mental as well as substance use disorders. Our clinic stands as a trusted establishment for mental health recovery. For information, call to speak to one of our caring staff members today at +353 41 214 5111.
