Our relationship with you does not end when you graduate from an outpatient or inpatient treatment program. We are committed to giving you ongoing support, whether it is access to sober living environments, ongoing counseling, or other services to ensure a smooth transition from treatment to daily life. It’s important to approach them with self-compassion and understanding. Recognize that setbacks are not a failure and you can learn these experiences. Develop a plan to address potential triggers and seek support from peers or professionals to navigate challenges effectively. Essentially, the addiction treatment plan addresses initial recovery, while aftercare supports sustained sobriety over time.
Sober Activities to Do on a Vacation This Summer
That’s natural considering we live in a culture built around social drinking. If you’re going with friends and family, you can normally just explain the situation in full or offer a quick reminder that you’re sober and intend to stay that way. If you’re traveling with or around strangers, it can be much more difficult to reveal that you’re recovering from an alcohol use disorder. Consider writing out what you want to say in a few sentences, practicing them, and then remembering them. One key to setting yourself up for success is to intentionally avoid triggers. I only go to happy hour if there’s an alcohol-free option for me.
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Though this may cost a little more money, it can help make the situation more comfortable to handle. If all goes as planned, you’ll rewrite your vacation history with new memories, and joys you did not expect. Mindfulness involves staying present in the moment and fully experiencing your surroundings. This practice can help you stay grounded and reduce the impact of cravings.
Ongoing Therapy and Medication Management
Your summer vacation can be every bit or more fun and enjoyable as any vacation you took when struggling with alcohol abuse. Most importantly, you can enjoy this vacation for people, places, culture, and experiences instead of more of what you did at home. And, when you do go home, you’ll have all the memories of time well spent.
Steps of Recovery Tips When Traveling After Rehab
By proactively protecting your mental health and including healthy activities in your aftercare plan, you can maintain emotional stability, which is essential for lasting recovery. In fact, experts estimate that 40-60% of people in recovery have at least one relapse. Stay committed to your aftercare plan for substance abuse and be willing to adapt it as needed for continued success.
Individual Therapy
While you should be having fun while you’re on vacation or traveling, don’t do anything on the road that you couldn’t do at home. For example, people with an addiction to opioids shouldn’t buy a bottle of prescription painkillers simply to “cut loose” while on the road. Successful rehab is all about understanding your limitations and staying on your best behavior. While traveling, you’re likely going to hit up a lot of restaurants.
There is a massive appeal to venturing out for local day trips and activities and being able to return home to your bed and bathroom every night. There are many interesting and fun adventures you can participate in while on vacation that don’t require you to drink alcohol or partake in addictive behaviors. Another popular activity is to take a ‘sober cruise’ where participants enjoy all of the amenities and fun offered by a cruise ship without partaking in alcohol or drug use. vacationing in recovery Get you or your loved one help for addiction or mental health issues today.
- Hikes and excursions that have earlier start times are a great way to help you and the people you’re traveling with stay on track.
- Healthy eating habits, such as drinking water and eating fruits and vegetables, may also help.
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Mindfulness meditation is one of those tools, and you can get started in only a minute or two. Keep these travel-sized techniques in mind to make your sober vacation a success. For example, you may find yourself in a situation where you feel out of control. Maybe the hotel you’re staying at has a prominent bar, or some cool people you just met are inviting you out to the club. Having access to sponsorship or your sober friend circle means having access to another — and often clearer — perspective on your situation. It can mean the difference between sobriety and succumbing to substance abuse.