The renowned Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously; our eyes can still see the beautiful sky; our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.” This is symbolic of the importance of a continuing care program because it can eliminate the fear that often keeps us from achieving what we want to achieve in our recovery lives.
I’m Sober, Now What?
After going through a treatment program, many people ask the question, “I’m sober, now what?” This is because it can feel very raw and new, living life sober after so many years of active addiction. The key is to stay connected to your recovery plan. If not, the potential for relapse becomes much more likely, and many people don’t realize just how common relapses can be.
According to the peer-reviewed thesis Addiction Relapse Prevention, by Doctors Guenzel and McChargue, “One primary concern in addiction treatment is the high rate of relapses within a short period after even the most intensive treatment. Many studies have shown relapse rates of approximately 50% within the first 12 weeks after completion of intensive inpatient programs that often last 4 to 12 weeks or more and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.” A continuing care program can help to mitigate these chances of a relapse.
What Is a Continuing Care Program?
Essentially, a continuing care program is the part of a recovery plan after you have completed either a residential stay in a treatment center or have completed the requirements of an intensive outpatient program (IOP). However, rarely are two continuing care programs alike. They should be tailored to the individual.
A continuing care program may include 12-Step recovery, for example. This is when an individual continues working the Twelve Steps of recovery and often engages with recovery meetings and a sponsor. Now, this can be highly effective because it also helps to ensure that there is less chance of a relapse.
12-Step recovery is so confident that working with others helps reduce the chances of a relapse that they even named a chapter after it in their primary text (also known as The Big Book). The chapter, “Working With Others,” states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail…. You can help when no one else can.”
Other important components of a continuing care program may have to do with staying connected to therapies that have already been established in the recovery center. This may include psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy, and trauma therapy. It may also include experiential therapies like art therapy and surf therapy. Many people also establish a holistic care program that they continue to utilize after treatment (such as yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation).
Is a Continuing Care Program a Good Fit for Me?
A continuing care program can be a good fit for nearly anyone in recovery. The reason for this is that it should always be tailored for the individual. For example, one person may require a more intensive continuing care program, which may even include staying in a sober living home. At the same time, another person may just check in with a sober companion to ensure that they are doing okay.
A continuing care program is good for anyone who wants to stay connected to their recovery. This is critical because, after leaving treatment, it can become very easy to rest on your laurels, and this may lead back out into active addiction and a continuation of the vicious relapse cycle.
Spirituality: What Does a Continuing Care Program Have to Offer?
Many people also find that a continuing care program helps them connect and stay connected to a Higher Power of their own understanding. This is important because spirituality often becomes the cornerstone of one’s sobriety (though this is certainly not a requirement).
A continuing care program can help you work a spiritual program better than trying to do so on your own because it keeps you interacting with other people who have the same spiritual goals and intentions. After all, it is important to remember that recovery is a “We” program, never a “Me” program.
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is also why we offer continuing care to all of our clients.
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.
Many people don’t realize the benefits of continuing care for long-term success. Continuing care can ensure that an individual stays connected to their proposed plan of recovery, as well as keep them accountable for the next necessary steps to staying sober. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about effective treatment options and the benefits of continuing care for long-term success, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
