Most people are at least passingly familiar with the idea of an inpatient rehab program. From the time you search “inpatient alcohol treatment near me” to when you leave the facility after completing one of their 28 day treatment programs, you’re probably somewhat aware of what you’ve gotten yourself into. However, not everyone is as knowledgeable about the following steps on a recovery journey. We’re here to change that.
We know that 28 day treatment programs can be majorly effective, but they need to be followed up with other support. Otherwise, it’s even more difficult to reach lasting sobriety. After you complete a nearby inpatient alcohol treatment program, it’s time to take the following steps. Hopefully, the inpatient alcohol treatment near you will have provisions for this. They should have ideas on what comes after successful 28 day treatment programs before you even start.
So, whether you’re just searching “inpatient alcohol treatment near me” or you’ve already completed a program, you’ve got something to learn from this piece. We’ll go over some of the different ways people continue to receive support after completing an initial inpatient program. We’ve organized them roughly from most formal to least formal, but know that each individual will have different needs, and you should always consult with a medical professional familiar with your circumstances. Toward the end, we’ve also included some steps you can take to improve your experience after completing inpatient alcohol treatment near you. Let’s dive right in.
Sober Living
These kinds of accommodations have many different names. Recovery housing and transitional housing are some, but they’re just as sweet by any other name. Essentially, these are residential programs that provide less intense care than traditional, inpatient, 28 day treatment programs. The exact offerings will vary from program to program. Usually, though, they’ll include some form of ongoing counseling and education as well as support toward getting a job. The goal is for clients to eventually be able to live completely independently.
For those who don’t have stable living situations to go back to after 28 day treatment programs, sober living can be a good option to help them get back on their feet. We’ll get into this in more depth a little later on, but for now, just know that it’s important to not go back to old environments that will be a bad influence on you. Going from the rigid structure of 28 day treatment programs back to the freedom of your own home can be overwhelming. That’s one of the main reasons transitional housing can be so helpful. It’s a medium balance of the structure and support of an inpatient program with some added freedom to start learning to live a healthy lifestyle on your own.
Outpatient Therapy
This one can be layered on top of many of the other steps we’ve listed here. You can be an active participant in support groups while also attending therapy, for example. During inpatient, 28 day treatment programs, there’s usually plenty of therapy. The types of therapy will vary quite a lot between different 28 day treatment programs, but there’s usually a mix of group and individual therapy sessions. If you chose inpatient alcohol treatment near you and your family, you might also have family therapy added in there.
The methodology will also vary according to the philosophy of the program. Some 28 day treatment programs have experiential options, like art, music, or equine therapy. Others are more traditional talk therapy.
This is all to say that whatever type of therapy you’ve gotten through inpatient alcohol treatment near you, you might be able to continue it after your initial program is over. Sometimes, that can even happen through the very same facility. You won’t be living at the center anymore, but you’ll need to show up for any follow-up appointments that might be scheduled with your treatment team. And if you’re not participating in therapy at the same place where you spent your inpatient treatment, they should be able to help you set that up with a different care provider.
Support Groups
Just like outpatient therapy, you can go to support groups while also being involved with other types of support on this list. There’s likely a support group out there for you — after all, they’re one of the most popular forms of recovery support. The inpatient alcohol treatment near you should be ready and willing to get you started attending meetings.
The most common support group you’ve probably heard of is Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA. This organization can trace its story all the way back to 1935, and they say they’ve helped more than 2 million people who struggle with alcohol use. This support group has members worldwide. If you’re familiar with the idea of a 12 Step program, that idea comes from AA. Local groups hold meetings where a community of people in recovery can share their experiences and support each other.
These sorts of support groups are typically fairly informal, not requiring a certain number of attendances or a certain level of involvement. Many people will start with a more formal treatment, like 28 day treatment programs, and then start attending a regular support group.
Find a support group in your community and meet other people who can relate to your struggles with alcohol. We’ll talk a little bit more about how important it is to build a strong support network in a later section, but for now, just know that support groups are great at getting you in contact with like-minded folks.
Other Support Services
We decided to throw together a grab bag of the other types of services you can access after inpatient alcohol treatment near you as a way to finish out this section. These can often be accessed through the organizations we’ve already listed, like outpatient therapy or the facility where you completed your inpatient program.
First of all, you need to get your basic needs covered. Taking people struggling with substance use out of their toxic environments is an important part of 28 day treatment programs, but it can also make it hard to go back to living independently. The initial support services you’ll need afterward might include help finding a job or housing, for example.
That’s not to say that you’ll automatically lose your job when you enter inpatient alcohol treatment near you. In fact, there are certain federal protections that might apply to you and your situation. You’ll need to get everything squared away with your employer before you start 28 day treatment programs, but if you can’t for whatever reason, then you’ll need to find a new gig. Your treatment team or other support system can help you get in contact with services that will help you find a job and potentially a new place to live. Even if you have a place to go back to, you might still want to consider moving. We’ll discuss why that is in a later section.
In short, no nearby inpatient alcohol treatment is complete without making sure you have the resources to take on life outside the treatment center. Your treatment team will help you find the resources you need to get back on your feet.
Steps You Can Take
No matter which of the above programs you participate in after your inpatient treatment, there are certain steps you can take to improve your experience. In this section, we’ll go over a few of these steps. These are just general considerations — you can always get more specific advice from your treatment team, since they’ll be familiar with your specific circumstances.
Think about moving.
Moving is a huge decision for anyone, so it’s not something you should undertake lightly. However, you should definitely think critically about where you want to live throughout your recovery. Your old home and neighborhood might be full of reminders of the life you led before you entered inpatient alcohol treatment near you. A big part of recovery is managing your triggers, or the things that make you want to start drinking again, and getting away from those memories could help with that.
Plus, not everybody has a safe and stable home to move back to after 28 day treatment programs. Those cases make moving a necessity. Like we mentioned before, the treatment facility should be able to help you find a new place to call home as you prepare to leave 28 day treatment programs.
Find sober friends and build your support network.
Just like you need to reevaluate your living situation after an inpatient treatment program, you need to reevaluate the people in your life. Being in social situations where alcohol or drugs are consumed can make staying sober unnecessarily difficult. By making sober friends, you’ll be able to have social gatherings where you won’t be as tempted to drink.
We talked about how important support groups are toward building that network of sober friends in an earlier section. That’s one way to find people in a similar situation to yourself, but any method of making new friends that doesn’t involve drinking is a good idea. Exercise classes, book clubs, or even online groups are just a few ideas. There are plenty of options here in the St. Louis area — you just have to look for them.
Part of this is also cutting out people in your life who are still using drugs or alcohol irresponsibly. It’s very difficult to distance yourself from your friends, especially if they’ve been part of your life for a long time. Just know that it’s really for the best.
Prepare for relapse.
We don’t mean to sound overly pessimistic. Relapse isn’t inevitable. However, it is very common, and if you’re prepared for it, you can often get back on your recovery journey. Some people relapse shortly after their initial inpatient treatment program, while others relapse years down the road.
Many people are under the impression that a relapse puts you back at square one, but that’s not true. All the work you’ve put in up to that point is still valid, and you can draw from those previous experiences when you begin another treatment program after a relapse.
Have a plan in place in case this occurs. You should talk to your support network and have a list of people to contact ready to go. That list can include friends, family, a sponsor, or a health care provider. Whoever’s on the list, it’s just important for you to get treatment as soon as possible. That might mean more 28 day treatment programs, but you should consult with your doctor on the best choice for your circumstances.
Perhaps the most important thing to know about relapses is that you’re not a failure and all your work wasn’t for nothing. You’ve just got a little longer ways to go after a course of inpatient alcohol treatment near you.
Now you know what comes after nearby inpatient alcohol treatment.
Whether you’re searching “inpatient alcohol treatment near me,” considering 28 day treatment programs, or have already completed one, knowing what will come next can offer some serious peace of mind. Continue to take care of yourself even after you’ve completed your nearby inpatient alcohol treatment program. Having a team of experienced professionals in your corner can help you do just that.
We went over a lot of relevant information here: Different programs you might take part in after an initial inpatient alcohol treatment with varying degrees of formality as well as steps you can take to improve your experience. Now, you should have all the information you need to start looking for a good program.
If you’re in Missouri and you’re looking for inpatient alcohol treatment near you, you can always look into our programs here at Harris House. We’re located in the St. Louis area, and we offer a variety of treatment programs, including inpatient, outpatient, and transitional housing options. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, and we’ll see if one of our programs might be a good fit for you or a loved one.
