Drug Rehab Aftercare in Dana Point, California


Seeking treatment from a drug rehab center in Dana Point, California can be one of the most important steps toward addiction recovery. However, it is not the end of recovery. In fact it is just a small part of the healing process.

After spending about 30 to 90 days under an inpatient or outpatient treatment program, most reputable rehab centers ensure that a patient is enrolled under an aftercare plan.

That is the best way to ensure that the gains made during treatment are not lost. Getting a deeper understanding of what aftercare really is can be key to appreciating why it is an important part of recovery.

What is Drug Rehab Aftercare?

For many people that have been discharged from a treatment program, the outside world can present quite a challenge. These individuals are likely to encounter the same things that led them to addiction in the first place. They are also going to find it strange because they no longer have to follow the rules and routines of the rehabilitation center.

Additionally, those who go through programs such as inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment probably had severe complications that affected how they related to people. It is therefore true that such individuals can find it hard to reintegrate with society. And unless some kind of care is provided, they may end up relapsing or going back to their old habits of substance use.

Aftercare can therefore be considered as a continuation of rehab treatment under a different setting. It is meant to make the patient's reintegration with society as seamless as possible. It is also aimed at keeping the individual sober despite the challenges that may arise.

What to Expect from Aftercare Programs

When a patient is ready to leave a rehab facility, he or she will be informed about the services that are offered under aftercare programs. Below are just some of the things that may be involved under such programs.

Outpatient treatment

Under this program, an individual is allowed to go back to their home and continue engaging in normal activity. However, they are required to pay a visit to a rehabilitation facility at designated times. This allows specialists to carry out assessments that help determine progress.

Outpatient care also gives the patient the leeway to adjust from the inpatient routine to a more liberal routine. A particular benefit of this type of care is that it allows the patient to interact with loved ones on a continuous basis. The patient is also free to attend to important matters that may include work commitments or academic classes.

While at the rehab facility, the patient may go through sessions of individual therapy or counselling to help them deal with psychological issues that may arise. They may also be facilitated to engage in productive activities such as art work and voluntary activities.

Therapy and counselling

By the time an individual is enrolled for rehab treatment, chances are that they have been using drugs or alcohol for a considerable amount of time. That can have a huge impact on them psychologically and mentaly. Keep in mind that addiction is a disease that affects the brain and the body.

That means an addict may have developed a myriad of shortcomings when it comes to how they think or relate with other people. Indeed it is not uncommon for people struggling with addiction to develop completely new behaviors that may not be pleasant to other people.

It is with such things in mind that a rehabilitation center often schedules therapy or counselling sessions. These sessions are aimed at helping the patient regain their balance when it comes to how they perceive issues and how they relate to other individuals in the society.

Counselling also helps them deal with disorders such as depression and stress which may also be hindering progress. At the initial stages of these sessions, the patient may be required to visit the rehab twice or thrice every week. However, as time goes by the sessions are likely to reduce and be spread over a longer period of time.

Faith-based care

Because a large number of people identify themselves as being religious, it is always a prudent idea to incorporate faith based care. That is why spiritual counselors are likely to be part of the aftercare plan.

Spiritual leaders offer timely guidance and advise to patients during their recovery. This helps the individual to gain confidence in his or her beliefs. ISpiritual nourishment also helps the individual deal with the guilt they are likely to develop over time.

Keep in mind that with unresolved guilt, it may be quite difficult for an individual to regain their footing with regards to spirituality. Some rehab centers may even have worship sessions to allow the patient to fellowship with people of the same faith. Additionally, they may have private booths for prayer sessions and confessions.

Support groups

Another strategy that may be used to ensure that an individual stays sober is incorporation into a support group. Such a group is usually made up of people who have had similar experiences. This makes it possible for them to relate with each other’s predicament and offer timely support when needed.

The group is often facilitated by a specialist from a rehabilitation center. The professional usually determines the agenda of each meeting and moderates conversations. It is common to find individuals in such groups develo[ping strong relationships that may even become helpful in their professional and personal lives.

While at a support group meeting, individuals are not forced to talk or answer questions. Instead everyone is allowed to feel free and chip in whenever they like. The aim of such a group is to create an environment where everyone can feel safe and free enough to share their experiences without being judged. This strategy of aftercare treatment has been proven to be quite effective in keeping many people sober.

Sober living homes

Sober living homes are residential places that people who are recovery from addiction can stay in. There are quite a number of sober living homes in California with each one having its own unique benefits

Some sober living homes are owned and managed by the government while others may be affiliated to various rehab centers. There are also a number of privately owned sober living homes.

While some of these homes have a designated leader who creates the rules and supervise activities, there are also those that have a more liberal policy. That is they allow every member to contribute to how they should be managed.

In most cases, individuals that live in these homes have to commit to not using any substance that can cause intoxication. Anyone that breaches that commitment is likely to face consequences including being expelled from the premise.

It is also worth noting that residents can sometimes be required to share the costs when it comes to certain expenses to ensure the smooth running of daily activities. Most sober living homes enforce stricter rules and regulations for new residents.

This is meant to ensure that they stay sober and corporate with other individuals that are already at the residence. However, after some time the rules and regulations are relaxed and the individual is afforded more freedoms.

Physical fitness and nourishment

Because prolonged use of drugs or alcohol can end up affecting the physical health of the user, rehab centers often come up with fitness routines to help the patient regain physical health.

It is therefore normal to find a lot of people under aftercare engaging in some form of exercise. They may do this at a local gym or at the rehab center depending on the rehab’s capability.

It is also worth pointing out that recovery patients may have to communicate with a nutritionist frequently. Such a professionals offers answers to questions regarding the best foods to consume in order to get proper nourishment.

Tips to Keep in Mind When Considering Aftercare

As you or a loved one moves from the intensive phase of addiction treatment, keep the following tips in mind.

Consider support group options

Because different groups may hold varying values it is advisable that you identify at least two support groups and attend a session organized by each. This will allow you to get a feel of what it is like to be in different support groups. It will also allow you to choose the one that seems to resonate most with your circumstances.

Find a counselor

Because there are many unresolved mental or psychological issues that may be unknown even to you, it is prudent to seek the services of a therapist or counselor. Of course, our Dana Point Rehab center is one of the best places for you to get a qualified expert that can help you deal with past and present issues.

Get organized

When you come out of the intensive phase of treatment you may find it quite difficult to adjust to the outside world. That is why it is important for you to come up with a plan for the days ahead.

Think about what you would like to do on a daily basis and plan it out. A schedule will help keep you busy. A good plan can also help you become more productive professionally. Additionally, it will make it almost impossible for you to be overwhelmed with any issues that arise.

Prepare mentaly

The main point of aftercare is to ensure that a patient does not go back to the old detrimental habits of using drugs or drinking alcohol. That means that you may have to keep attending group meetings or counseling sessions for as long as it takes to equip you with the required skills to avoid substance use.

It is therefore a good idea for you to metally be prepared to remain faithful to the instructions that you are given. While you may grow in confidence after some time of being sober, the truth is that one single mistake can trigger relapse.

What Happens If I Relapse During Aftercare?

While aftercare is meant to keep keep people from using substances again, the truth is that there are many times when people end up relapsing despite the care that is being provided. However, when an individual relapses they should not take it as the end of their recovery process.

It is important for any recovery addict that has relapsed to report the matter to the rehab center for help. Not only will the recovering addict be given encouraging words to keep them on track, but the professionals at the center will also come up with sound strategies to prevent a recurrence of the issue.

Don't Take Chances with Recovery Get Quality Aftercare

Aftercare is an important part of recovery and that is why you must be careful enough to get it from a reputable rehab center. A simple call to our Dana Point rehab center can be all it takes for you to find help. Our representative will explain what our services entail and how you can benefit from them.

Keep in mind that quality aftercare can determine whether you stay sober or if you relapse. We have a team of experienced and talented individuals that are always passionate about what they do. You should therefore not take chances with your recovery and instead get in touch for more details.