What’s Next After Drug Addiction Rehab?

I’ve had a serious awakening since opening and running The Calm sober house for the last year which has left me feeling shocked.

I can clearly see now why the relapse rates are so high for people leaving even the best rehab centers in the world.

After years and years of addiction, a 28-day rehab programme may not be long enough to start scratching the surface of recovery. You will get some benefits from a short stay, but I would suggest that you try and stay in treatment for as long as you can.

The difficulties and struggles we are seeing people go through at the sober house proves that drug and alcohol treatment is a complex and long-term process. it’s no wonder people are relapsing shortly after a stint in a drug addiction rehab, they are simply not ready for the real world yet.

A rehab facility can be the first step on a person’s recovery journey but from what I am seeing its often not enough.

Rehabs will do their very best to get you ready for going home and help you set up a support system at home, but the shock of landing back into reality is often too much.

I personally think that we need to educate our clients on the importance of continued treatment. I know that people are encouraged to go to meetings and get a sponsor after rehab but is that enough? Most people stop going to meetings as soon as they get home anyway.

Sober Living House

I have previously worked in some drug addiction rehab centres before starting The Calm and I kept seeing people relapsing very quickly after they left. I started the sober living house in Thailand because I truly believed that it would help people to ground themselves in a real life setting before going home. They could also spend more time working on themselves.

There is a saying within vipassana meditation: “vipassana is no good unless you take it into the real world”

Learning about recovery in a rehab facility has its place but it’s no good until you take it home.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I am shocked as to how much work people still need to do on themselves. We can’t fix everything I know but some of these issues people are left with after rehab are very high-risk triggers for relapse.

Process and cross addictions are a massive problem in sober living. Depression and anxiety along with mood swings and trauma related problems are all very high. Individuals core beliefs about themselves along with social anxiety becomes very prevalent. Emotions are either swinging from extremes or completely flat.

The reality of what the future looks like without substances becomes very real and the worry around future job prospects, damaged relationships and dwelling on the past can all seem unbearable at times.

Early recovery can be like trying to steer a big old wooden ship through the eye of a storm. Steering the ship out of the storm to calmer waters is extremely difficult for many people. If this early stage of recovery is not done in a safe supportive environment, the danger is the ship will sink.

This may give us an idea to why short-term treatment may not be working.

Sober Living Environment

Living in a safe and supportive environment is crucial whilst you readjust to daily life and having good friends and people around you who understand your challenges is very helpful. It takes time to change behaviour and adapt to a life sober.

Lots of people do not have a safe place to go after rehab or have a support network in place straight away and this is where a sober living environment would be hugely beneficial.

Having a sense of community and connection whilst you build a recovery orientated lifestyle is key. Peer support is the foundation of any good sober house and we provide this for people who are leaving rehab in Thailand or around the world.

We will help you through the more pressing issues that will help you to stay sober and we’ll also fully prepare you for your journey home.

You will continue your counselling and start to build your confidence and motivation in the community.

Chiang mai is perfect because it has a huge recovery community to connect with. You will get used to attending meetings and making friends.

You get lots of breathing space in the sober house which gives you the chance to really get to know yourself and reflect on making changes to your life.

The evidence I see is that people who have spent 3 months in primary rehab treatment and then 3 months at a sober house are feeling much more settled and ready for the next stage. They have been through those often turbulent first 6 months in a safe place.

Addiction Recovery at Home

If you do go to a rehab center and then a sober house, you must still remember that treatment needs to continue after leaving. So many people just stop doing any kind of recovery work when they do go home. It’s very important to make sure that the denial of you thinking that “I’m ok now” does not creep back in.

Rehab centres and sober houses will give you all the tools you need and when you go home you must carry on using them. Make sure that you have a support system in place even if it’s just a small one.

Have a look at our website and google reviews to see how people have benefited from staying with us for 3 months.

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