Receiving treatment for addiction is one of the best decisions that could be taken. However, this is not where the story ends. It is important to maintain that sobriety on a continuum but often times, relapse happens.
When an individual relapses, it means the person has gone back to his addicted lifestyle. Now, a relapse does not mean that addiction treatment was not successful. It simply means that the individual has not been fully equipped to cope with triggers and cravings that constitute addiction.
In addition, it also implies that the individual did not approach life circumspectly, considering the fact that a good number of things must have changed while he was in rehab.
Aftercare treatment comes in handy because it helps to prevent relapse. And advisably, it is best to commence aftercare treatment immediately after addiction treatment. This is what a good rehab would typically do; in their addiction treatment schedule, the aftercare program would have been integrated.
Aftercare treatment equips the recovering individual with skills that helps to conquer cravings and triggers. It is usually a transition phase for the individual because the program helps him to settle down and adjust to the new pace of life.
In addition, the aftercare treatment helps an individual to live a healthy life. The individual would be taught various healthy practices that would help to keep his life on track. Without these healthy practices, the individual might find it hard to combat cravings and triggers.
The aftercare treatment comes in handy to reduce the possibility of a relapse which happens in like 2 in every 5 recovered individuals. However, with the counselor, therapists and loved ones who continually show their care and support, the individual would do fine.
To wrap it up, an aftercare treatment is an integral part of the entire addiction treatment phase. For an individual to live a healthy life that is rid of addiction, the aftercare treatment phase must be fully committed to.
