What Happens After Benzodiazepines Rehab

You can return to a normal life after rehab. You can meet your families and friends, get back to certain responsibilities at home or work, and be a significant member of society. The great thing about getting out of rehab is that it adds confidence in the way you deal with life because you know yourself better.

However, the real world continues to be a place filled with a lot of stressors that can weigh you down. While you have been constantly supervised under rehab care back then, and the support you used to receive is immensely rich, it does not last forever. Once you complete your treatment, you have to live up to your life by yourself.

Everything that you learned during treatment must now be put to use in reality. The challenging part about this phase is fighting off relapse. Research has shown that patients remain extremely vulnerable to returning to substance use within the first six months after treatment. This is the reason engaging in continuing care is a must.

The key to sustaining your recovery after rehab is to gradually transition to real life. It is never a good idea to abruptly disengage from aftercare treatment programs because there are still challenges that can be overwhelming afterward. You need to first build your strength within to fully overcome these challenges.

What Are The Challenges After Benzodiazepines Rehab?

The challenges after rehab can be summed up in three things. First, relapse is a constant battle. Second, some withdrawal symptoms may continue for up to two years. And third, your health does not return to the way it used to be before addiction took place.

You cannot expect yourself to be completely healed after benzodiazepine rehab. Since prolonged use of the substance can cause major changes in the brain, it usually takes six months after detoxing for cognition to start improving. Moreover, the effects of addiction are typically irreversible, so you cannot expect your body function to act like it was not strained.

Addiction is oftentimes defined as a lifelong journey because even after a long period of sobriety, the risk of experiencing relapse will be present throughout your lifetime. This is the reason you have to be cautious about protecting your health. Nobody can predict how day-to-day realities will trigger your addiction to recur.

In case you give in to the temptation of using the substance again, you may likely suffer from a fatal overdose. Thousands of people have died from this cause. This happens because the body, after a period of withdrawal, may no longer be able to tolerate the usual doses of the drug. As a result, an overdose occurs.

You have to keep in mind that no matter how small a dose you try, relapse will still progress. This means that you will need to get back to treatment to figure out how you failed to fight it off. Consequently, resets in treatment require a higher level of care, or most likely a more complex one. To prevent this, you have to be strictly mindful of relapse preventive measures.

How To Prevent Relapse After Benzodiazepines Rehab

Aftercare treatment programs can guide you to prevent yourself from experiencing a relapse. These programs typically involve a fellowship with people who have sustained recovery for a long time and are now committed to helping others experience the same. These programs come in the form of support groups with sessions that can be meaningful to some who just got out of rehab.

The following are a few of the most effective relapse-prevention measures that can help anyone who wishes to sustain recovery all through their life.

Engaging in support groups

Various support groups popularly use the 12-step program. It is important to note that aftercare programs are free. All you have to do is to look up online the available support groups in your locality and follow the schedule of their sessions. You can also get a 12-step sponsor, where you pay an expert to guide you all through your journey.

But basically, support groups are available to provide continuing support to people who have just gotten out of rehab. Members of this fellowship are well-experienced, particularly in overcoming addiction. There is more to learn from them and at the same time a great deal of friendship you can rely on.

Living a healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle allows your mind and body to heal from the strain of addiction. It also strengthens your coping skills towards stress, a popular trigger for substance abuse. A healthy lifestyle can be achieved through the following ways.

First, nourish yourself with a healthy diet and ensure that you stay hydrated. The effects of eating fruits and vegetables bring numerous benefits to boost your immune system and fill you with positive energy to keep your days productive.

Second, engaging in light physical exercises such as brisk walking, running, jogging, or swimming. This routine will naturally boost the levels of the hormones that are essential in making you feel optimistic and well-rested.

Prioritizing self-care

This refers to being mindful of what is best for yourself. It would be great to indulge in a constant meditation to keep in touch with your inner self and be aware of the effects of daily experiences on your mental health.

It would also be a great advantage to allow yourself to discover new interests or learn new hobbies and skills. This will encourage you to grow as a person and enjoy a new life away from negative habits such as addiction.

Seeking help when necessary

Fears can stop you from seeking help. But you have to understand that while you are trying to sustain your recovery, there will be challenges. It is normal to feel down. And reaching out for help is something you should never fear.

Your friends from support groups or your therapist can provide you with great help in times that you need it the most. Do not hesitate to seek help. It is never a sign of weakness, as most people could perceive.