18 Feb How to Make the Most of Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment is often a good way for people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction to get the help they need without spending a lot of money or taking time away from their lives. With outpatient treatment, though, you need to take some extra steps to make sure that you complete your recovery successfully.

Ways to Ensure Successful Recovery

1. Follow Your Treatment Plan Perfectly

Your treatment plan has been specifically created to  match your unique needs. In order to really benefit from it, you have to follow every step on that treatment plan. Missing even one or two sessions could put your sobriety in jeopardy.

If your treatment plan includes using medication to keep you healthy, then you should also make sure that you take your prescriptions according to doctor’s orders.

2. Attend Recovery Meetings and Support Groups

In many cases, your treatment plan will ask you to attend recovery programs like AA or NA. If this is included in your plan, then you have to attend them to improve your chances of recovery.

Even if your treatment plan doesn’t mention getting help from recovery meetings and support groups, it’s a good idea to join one. Other people have been where you are. They can often provide advice and direction that will keep you on the path to long-term sobriety.

3. Keep a Regular Schedule

Keeping a regular schedule is a good way to prevent the temptation to backslide into substance use. This often involves:

• Getting out of bed in the morning 

• Going to work on time 
• Going to bed at the same time each night 

This  may require making significant changes to how you arrange your life. Since this is often difficult for people, don’t be too hard on yourself about certain aspects, especially going to sleep at the right time. Remember that you don’t necessarily have to fall asleep at the same time. You just have to get in bed and turn off all distractions. Eventually, you’re body will learn the schedule.

4. Maintain Healthy Relationships

You may have some unhealthy relationships in your life. In many cases, doctors recommend that you avoid these relationships because they may trigger a relapse. Instead, focus on maintaining healthy relationships with people who want to see you succeed.

The road to recovery is challenging but it also offers hope. Outpatient treatment is a good option for finding long-term sobriety.