5 reasons why Aftercare is crucial to Addiction Recovery

The transitional period between rehab and everyday life is a crucial step within the recovery process. It sets the tone on whether progress or regress will be experienced.

Life after rehab can be both tough and rewarding. It’s normal to experience a mixture of negative and positive emotions. It’s also a daunting time for loved ones, watching on and longing for success throughout addiction recovery.

To ease the negatives and promote the positives, aftercare services are offered, to support all parties. Designed as a part of the rehabilitation process, aftercare services are mostly free, offering guidance, motivation, and support throughout the transitional period.

Here’s the type of support you can access along with 5 reasons why aftercare is crucial to addiction recovery. Services can make the difference between long-term recovery and relapse. Aim for the former with our help at Nova Recovery.

What is Aftercare?

Aftercare is a follow-on service that finalises most drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation programmes. It’s mostly offered for 12 months, free of charge through private rehab. It’s inclusive of the cost of a fully completed rehab programme, known to motivate initial addiction recovery.

Whilst rehab itself is a very important part of the process, offering exposure to addiction treatment, support and recovery designed environments, aftercare is also a significant step. Aftercare services offer direct access to local support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Support groups offer greater accountability and various outlets of support. Services also include one-to-one therapy sessions, to help with the emotional obstacles of addiction recovery. 12-step programmes can also be experienced through aftercare, offering a structured journey towards sobriety.

Offered at Nova Recovery, here are 5 reasons why aftercare is crucial to addiction recovery.

5 reasons why Aftercare is crucial to addiction recovery

There are many reasons why aftercare is a recommended step of the addiction recovery process. Here are some of the most widespread reasons, helping our clients sustain long-term recovery.

1. It provides emotional support throughout the transitional period

Addiction recovery is an emotional process. The transitional period which follows rehab can also be mentally challenging. Whilst therapy sessions and mental health support are offered through rehab, tangible and reactive support will also be beneficial.

Aftercare services offer an outlet for emotional support, to benefit recovering addicts and their loved ones. Support groups are the pinnacle, as are therapy sessions. Both can be pre-arranged or accessed in an emergency to stabilise emotional and mental health.

2. It motivates accountability

Post-rehab, decisions, choices, and routines will all impact the flow and success of addiction recovery. Many recovering addicts feel alone or vulnerable. Whilst independent recovery will be promoted, a handheld process will still be offered.

A key reason why this approach is followed is to motivate accountability. Accountability will make sure that clients are mindful, committed to and responsible for their own destiny.

3. It builds new connections

Recovery meetings and support groups are regularly arranged through aftercare. Sessions provide recovering addicts and their loved one’s direct access into groups, full of like-minded people. It can be difficult to work through the unfamiliar process of recovery.

It’s also challenging if others around you do not understand the turmoil of addiction recovery. One of the 5 key reasons why aftercare is crucial to addiction recovery is its ability to build new connections, communities, and support groups; ready to inspire, support and learn from one another.

4. It supports relapse prevention

The risk of relapse is at its highest through the transitional period. For the first 12 months of addiction recovery, manoeuvring around alcohol and drug exposure can be tough. Cravings and urges to consume may also be present.

Aftercare sessions are found to support relapse prevention planning. Sessions focus on educating clients, planning for relapse, and on providing preventive tools. Family therapy sessions are also available, which strengthen awareness and prevention.

5. It sets you up for success

Partaking in aftercare sets our clients up for success. It provides a structure, increases motivation, and it offers support throughout the recovery process. It’s offering makes it easier to stay sober, remain on track, and aim for personal recovery goals.

It’s understandable why many people may feel frustrated with the recommendation of aftercare. It’s an additional commitment and a further form of treatment to complete on a post-rehab basis. Frustration is especially expected if a long rehab programme has initially been completed or a residential addiction treatment programme.

Yet addiction recovery is a long-term commitment that must be worked on, even after rehab. Aftercare provides the tools, services, and support to work through addiction recovery. Those who embrace aftercare services are found to recover at a stronger and more sustainable rate.

Personalised Aftercare Plans at Nova Recovery

Through our private recovery hospital, at Nova Recovery, we offer 1-year of aftercare. Our aftercare programmes are carefully designed to ease the transitional period for all parties. Our priority is to support our clients through addiction and mental health recovery. To do that, we must also offer continuous support for family and friends, to make sure that a stable and positive network is present.

Our aftercare programmes include access to support groups, therapy sessions and check-ins. We also promote relapse prevention planning and 12-step programmes to prepare our clients for the long term.

Aftercare is crucial to addiction recovery, as addiction is a relapsing condition. Without structure, guidance, and ongoing confidence, it can be difficult to ride the waves of addiction recovery. Through our private hospital, ongoing support will be in place to understand and control triggers.

Above are 5 reasons why aftercare is crucial to addiction recovery, highlighting its value. Make use of such services on a post-rehab basis to strengthen your recovery journey.

Reach out to our team for more information on aftercare, its contents and how you can access our support for the next year.

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John Gillen - Author - Last updated: September 8, 2023

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.