Many people struggling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs have some idea of what happens when they go to a detoxification treatment facility. Ridding the body of toxins accumulated from long periods of alcohol and drug abuse helps a person’s body rebuild into a healthy version. Detoxification also allows for a person to develop a clearer headspace.
What many do not know is what happens after detox. While the detox process is imperative for beginning a new sober life, detox is only the first step of the recovery process. The treatment following detox depends on the individual’s needs and what options they choose.
Checking in to Residential Programs
While many opt to leave detox and return home, many treatment professionals recommend they instead enter a residential program to help them adjust to their newfound sobriety. Returning to the same home environment without accumulating much time in supervised treatment decreases the odds that a person will stay in recovery.
Many detox programs can help arrange a patient’s transition to a residential program. These types of programs typically involve medical supervision and therapeutic support. Interventions like these allow a person to deal with the reality of their new emotions and create plans for what to do when they return home.
Individual Therapy Puts Someone “In Your Corner”
Beginning therapy with a licensed counselor gives a person an impartial party to share their fears, dreams, frustrations, and questions about the future. A therapist will help determine how often appointments are necessary. The goal is to reach specific healing and recovery points that allow the client to feel more stable in their emotions.
Therapy can also help them feel more confident in their ability to make choices in all areas of their lives. As a person progresses, the time between appointments typically increases.
Couples and Family Therapy Open up Lines of Communication
When a person returns home from treatment, they may need to rebuild a marriage that has fallen by the wayside. Often the haze of long-term alcohol and drug abuse shields a person from realizing the extent of the damage in their romantic relationship. A marriage counselor can help couples retreat to their corners, sort out their emotions, and formulate a plan to rebuild together.
Similarly, family therapy can involve repairing familial relationships that have fallen apart, such as those with a parent, child, or sibling. A therapist can help facilitate conversations that quell flaring tempers. The therapist acts as a mediator to help people better understand their contribution to a damaged relationship. They also teach the person how to expect more of themselves and the other person in the relationship.
Support Groups Put Like-Minded People Together
Many people participate in support groups for people in recovery from addiction. Some detox and residential programs provide support groups. Plenty of groups are available once a person returns home. Support groups based on 12-step models are popular, counting many members benefitting from their approach to maintaining sobriety. Other types of support groups, like SMART Recovery, are also successful at helping those in recovery.
One of the benefits of being a support group member is having people understanding one another’s experiences. With a mutual understanding, members can offer supportive words and advice for dealing with troubling issues. While talking to family and friends can help immensely, sometimes, there is nothing quite like opening up to people walking along the shared same path of addiction and recovery.
Assess for Any Needed Medications
Addiction can cause ongoing physical damage to a body. A consultation with a physician for an assessment is essential for detox. If the person also deals with a co-occurring diagnosis, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, an evaluation of any necessary medications can occur with either a physician or psychiatrist. Many people experiencing addiction also have co-occurring diagnoses, making a full treatment plan essential for physical and mental health medication needs.
Investigate Adding Alternative Treatments to Your Regimen
Many people find broadening their horizons by investigating alternative and holistic treatments enhances their recovery process. Look into options like art therapy, music therapy, and wilderness therapy to see if they might be a good match. Learning to practice yoga and engaging in regular meditation sessions can bolster a person’s recovery. These activities might help them feel more centered and less anxious. Choices that involve physical touches, such as acupuncture and massage therapy, may benefit you during treatment. Explore some of these options with an open mind and see what works best for you.
Detoxification from drugs and alcohol is typically the first step in entering recovery from addiction. Many people wonder what happens after they finish the detox process, allowing fear of the unknown to foster hesitancy in moving forward. Residential treatment programs are an excellent way to follow a detox program, along with individual, group, and other types of therapy. Medication and holistic treatments can come into play, as well. The Detox Center of Colorado understands how to evaluate each person’s needs and helps them decide where to go next after completing our detox program. We treat each client as an individual and take into consideration their family and financial situations. Our trained staff guides you through detoxication in a cozy, 8-bed facility located in Colorado. Call us today at (303) 952-5035 to find out how we can help you or a loved one cleanse their bodies and make a plan for rising to the challenge of recovery.
