Overcoming addiction is difficult on its own. So, anyone should give themselves a strong pat if they have passed the initial stage; however, rehabilitation and post-recovery come after detoxification.
It is all about soul-searching and self-awareness. Finding ways to follow the path of sobriety. This is where recovery fits in and why outpatient treatment for addiction is such a powerful weapon.
In the path of overcoming addiction, it is not just about the supervised treatment within an inpatient facility, but what you do once you are out of the facility.
In this excerpt below, we will be discussing the importance of outpatient treatment facilities and the different post-inpatient residential treatment options you can opt for.
What Is Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Outpatient addiction treatment comprises everything you do after overcoming your initial addiction treatment. Your initial treatment is mostly through an inpatient rehabilitation facility where you are under 24/7 surveillance by medical professionals.
Once you have overcome that treatment, you are detoxed from most of the residual substance in your body; you have been through the initial chosen form of therapy and even joined a few AA meetings.
After a considerable period of time, the inpatient facility will release you. This is when your outpatient treatment will start.
Upon a scheduled time in a week, you will be visiting the facility again for therapy, AA meetings, doctor checkups, and holistic treatment activities.
Importance Of Outpatient Facility
Here are some of the reasons why you shouldn’t stop every form of treatment once you are out of the inpatient rehab facility.
1. Post Recovery Relapses Are Not A Myth
Did you know that more than 20% of patients relapse after their first inpatient recovery? Now, there is no concrete reason behind this relapse. There could be a plethora of opportunities, going back to your same old life, mixing with the wrong crowd again, etc.
This is why post-recovery outpatient treatment plays such a major role. Once you are out of the inpatient cocoon, your outpatient therapy appointments will help identify the triggers in your new sober reality. Plus, teach you ways to stay out of them.
2. Dealing With Triggers
From a controlled stimulation within the inpatient facility, it could be difficult to hold your willpower when you are suddenly in an overstimulated world. This is why dealing with these triggers is crucial.
Going through Rational Emotive Therapy, even after addiction detox treatment, can help acknowledge these feelings in a healthy manner and not get violent on the face of it. Matched with contingency management theory will provoke excitement to add a new milestone to your sobriety journey.
3. Helps Find The Right Distraction
Therapists have often advised patients to substitute the substance with a distraction. This kind of distraction can also boost some healthy dopamine and serotonin releases. Often an outpatient treatment facility will have holistic treatment as a part of the treatment plan.
This will introduce different non-verbal activities to help express your emotions in a healthy manner. Sometimes post-recovery withdrawal symptoms can be overwhelming, and through these holistic activities, one can treat them in a healthy manner.
A great example would be calming oneself through daily yoga classes or weekly aromatherapy and acupuncture therapy. On the other hand, if you want to indulge in some physical activities to induce dopamine release, then you can opt for the gym, cardio, rock climbing, etc, as your form of outpatient holistic treatment.
Frequently therapists will even recommend outpatient holistic treatment like art therapy, picture therapy, and music therapy for patients who do not respond well to CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). If dictating past traumas becomes too difficult for someone, therapists recommend this not-so-contemporary treatment.
Different Types Of Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Here are the different types of treatment you can expect in an outpatient addiction treatment facility.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP): Provides structured, time-limited treatment with several weekly sessions, offering counseling, group therapy, and education to address addiction.
Standard Outpatient Programs: Offers regular individual and group therapy sessions less intensively, accommodating those with milder addiction issues.
Day Treatment Programs: Combines inpatient and outpatient care elements, providing more extended hours of treatment and support during the day.
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