How Do I Stay Sober After Leaving Rehab?

Do you suspect that you’re going to struggle when it comes to trying to stay sober once you check out of rehab? You have every reason to feel that way.

Studies have shown that somewhere between 40 and 60% of people end up relapsing after leaving a rehab facility. Those who have battled alcoholism and drug addiction often have a tough time staying clean over the long haul.

There are some things that you can do to increase your chances of staying sober after rehab, though. By learning how to stay sober outside of rehab, you can slowly begin to piece your life back together while staying clean at the same time.

Check out some of the important steps you’ll want to take to stay sober after treatment for drug or alcohol abuse below.

Find the Right Place to Live

Where are you going to live once you leave rehab? That’s a question that you should ask yourself at least a few days, if not a few weeks, before you check out of rehab.

You should not return to wherever it was you were living before if it’s going to put you back into a situation where you might be tempted to use drugs or alcohol. If, for example, you lived with a roommate who is a big partier, you’re going to be making a big mistake by moving in back with them.

Instead, you should pick a nice quiet place to live, preferably with a close family member living in it. You should also pick a place that doesn’t have any bottles of alcohol or drug paraphernalia scattered around inside of it.

If you’re going to stay sober outside of a rehab setting, it’s all going to start with selecting the right housing.

Surround Yourself With a Solid Support System

In addition to finding the right place to live once you check out of rehab, you should also set yourself up with a solid support system. This support system should include people like your parents, your significant other, your siblings, and more.

It should not include any old friends who you used to drink and/or do drugs with. You don’t want to put people around you who are going to potentially tempt you to return to your old ways.

You may also want to start attending a support group that is designed for those who struggle with your specific type of addiction. It’ll allow you to connect with others who are sitting in the same spot you’re sitting in right now and provide you with a safe place to share your thoughts on staying sober.

Set Goals for Your Future

Now that you’re not using drugs or alcohol anymore and working towards staying sober, what are some of the things that you want to get out of life moving forward? You’ve created a whole new world for yourself filled with endless possibilities.

You can:

• Go to college and earn a degree
• Pursue your goal of opening up your own business
• Start saving money to buy a house

Sit down and jot down a list of goals for the future. You can use this list as motivation anytime you’re struggling to stay sober after rehab.

Look for New Hobbies to Fill Your Time

One of the things that you’re going to realize when you leave rehab is that you’re suddenly going to have a lot of time on your hands. You’ll be shocked to see how much of your free time you used to devote to drinking or doing drugs.

All of this newfound free time will seem great at first. But if you don’t find something to fill it with, it won’t be long before you’re having a hard time keeping yourself occupied.

Many people end up relapsing after a rehab stint simply because they’re bored. They don’t know what in the world they’re supposed to be doing with themselves while they’re fighting to stay sober.

With this in mind, you should make it a point to fill as much of your free time as you can with new hobbies. These hobbies can include things like:

• Exercising
• Meditating
• Reading
• Gardening
• Volunteering

Try out some new things and see if any of them stick. You might find a couple of activities that you really enjoy. They’ll make it so much simpler to stay sober.

Stay Away From Temptation

This should almost go without saying. But you shouldn’t, under any circumstances, put yourself into a position where you’re going to be surrounded by temptation.

Earlier, we mentioned how important it is to stay away from old friends who you used to drink and/or do drugs with. But you should also stay away from bars, nightclubs, house parties, and other places where people are known to drink alcohol and take drugs.

The last thing you want to do is put yourself into a situation where someone might offer you a drink or a drug. That doesn’t mean you can’t ever leave your house. It just means you need to be smart about where you do and don’t go.

Celebrate Each and Every Accomplishment Moving Forward

Every single day that you’re able to stay sober deserves a celebration. You should get into the habit of saying a quick prayer or sharing something that you’re thankful for at the end of each day.

You should also celebrate certain milestones, like staying sober for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and on and on. Celebrating your sobriety will remind you why staying clean is so important.

It Is Possible for You to Stay Sober After Leaving Rehab

We’re not going to sit here and lie to you: Staying sober after treatment at a rehab center is not going to be easy. There will be times when you’ll be tested and want to give in to temptation.

But by using the tips found here, you can give yourself a much better chance in your battle to stay sober. The key is to keep working at it on both your good and bad days and to respect the process that comes along with staying clean.

Check out the other addiction-related articles on our blog to find more tips on staying sober after rehab.