Congratulations if you have finished your ice drug rehab and are preparing to return to your daily life. However, don’t expect it to be smooth sailing from here. You’ll be faced with unique challenges that you’ve never encountered, even at the height of your ice drug dependency.
Our guide outlines practical information and strategies for rebuilding a more fulfilling and sustainable life to help you navigate this pivotal chapter of your life.
Post-Rehab Transition
It’s important to understand that ice drug treatment programs offer the most solid foundation for recovery but don’t ensure life-long effects. Many roadblocks are ahead, including the emotional and psychological changes you must face. After finishing a program, feeling anxious about the uncertain future is normal. You’ll worry about reintegrating into society, relapsing, adjusting to your new lifestyle, etc.
You’ll also have to face the issues that your substance abuse brought forth, such as the lost trust of family and friends. Maybe you lost your job in the process, too, or your relationship with your special someone is broken, seemingly beyond repair. Don’t run away from them because it might lead to another cycle of addiction. Try to fix what you can by discussing your past actions, expressing commitment to recovery, and consistently showing a positive attitude.
A sense of emptiness might also linger within you, a hole left by ice drug addiction. Whatever happens, don’t fill that hole with similar or different addictions. Also, don’t expect your emotions to be as healthy as before because symptoms like mood swings and depression may still take hold, even if the main effects of the drug are purged from your body.
Developing a Support System
A strong social and emotional support network can define the success of your long-term recovery from ice drug addiction. It offers much-needed emotional reassurance and keeps you away from feelings of isolation. Close family and friends can also provide practical help, like assisting you in daily tasks that you may still find hard due to crystal meth’s after-effects like malnutrition.
You can also add peer support groups, like Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery, to your network. Sharing experiences and insights with other people in similar situations can foster a sense of community that helps with your motivation and accountability. Don’t be afraid to participate in different groups until you find ones that align with your preferences.
Don’t exclude professional help from your support network considerations. Post-rehab therapies and counselling are helpful for continually managing emotions and building coping skills. Their continued guidance and support can help you get through the tough times after leaving the rehab.
Navigating Through Challenges
Managing cravings and urges is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face after leaving rehab. After all, it’s estimated that 92% of ice drug users relapse at least once during their recovery efforts. However, the longer you hold off from giving in to temptations, the easier it is to sustain a drug-free life. If you happen to relapse, be positive and think of them as opportunities for growth instead of wallowing in defeat.
Good coping strategies are essential to address cravings. This may include employing distraction techniques, calling in a person for support, and engaging in healthy activities. Coping mechanisms should be prepared with your therapists in advance before you leave the rehabilitation proper. However, they’re not set in stone and should be adjusted accordingly if they don’t help.
Relapsing isn’t good, but it doesn’t mean your recovery is moot; make the best of the situation and learn from it. Analyse factors that lead to relapse, such as the specific situation or emotion you experienced. You may uncover new triggers or find your coping mechanism ineffective in certain situations. Adjust your relapse prevention plan based on the new insights you gained.
Building a New Lifestyle
Perhaps one of the most essential aspects of your recovery is to build a new lifestyle, different from the one that led you to ice drug use disorder in the first place. Start where you frequent the most: your home. Make sure that your living environment is conducive to your recovery — meth is far from reach, and your home promotes relaxation and does not remind you of past substance use.
Establish healthy boundaries and avoid people, places, or situations that can negatively impact your recovery. Surround yourself with supportive individuals who share your values and can offer understanding and encouragement. Continue attending support group meetings, counselling, and other activities that help with your recovery.
Establish a structured daily routine and stick with it. Your day should include meaningful activities like self-care and relaxation in addition to work. You may also set apart time for social activities and attending to your other responsibilities. Don’t forget to incorporate a regular sleep schedule and healthy meals into your routine. Consistent schedules will help add stability and purpose to your daily life.
Try exploring new interests or revisiting old hobbies, such as gardening, video games, creative writing, and musical instruments. You can join interest groups to help you regain a sense of belonging after your ordeal. Enrol in educational programs or skill development training that aligns with your career goals. They not only provide a distraction to prevent you from turning to ice drugs again, but they also positively impact your future.
Celebrating Milestones and Achievements
Acknowledging milestones related to your ice drug recovery can help sustain your motivation since your progress is relatively more visible. Milestones to celebrate are a personal choice, but the common ones include sobriety of 24 hours, 30 days, 90 days, six months, and a year. You can also recognise other personal accomplishments like completing a program, successfully managing a severe craving, and reaching new professional goals.
You can reward yourself for reaching these important markers in your journey. However, ensure the rewards are healthy and don’t compromise your recovery. For instance, don’t reward your one-year sobriety by using the drug again one more time. Bending the rules of relapse prevention recovery this way has made people relapse even after 15 years of being clean.
Adjusting to Post-Rehab Life with HARP
Recovery from ice drug addiction can be a lifetime endeavour. However, by staying committed, leaning on your support network, and embracing a healthier lifestyle, you will slowly but surely get out of the adjusting period and enter a stable and brighter future.
If you’re looking for a luxurious facility with great post-rehab support and comprehensive care to treat your ice drug addiction, try Hills & Ranges Private or HARP. Our 5-star rehab facilities, like our transitional sober living facilities at Olinda, offer an exclusive haven for your recovery and will support your post-rehab life adjustment. With all-inclusive amenities like a day spa, tailored treatment plans, a 2:1 staff-to-client ratio, and a patented 5i curriculum, we help get your life back with just one rehabilitation session.
Want to see more of what we offer? Check out the HARP’s luxury transitional sober living facility.
