As you may know, having a proper aftercare plan in place when you leave your treatment facility is incredibly important in order to maintain your sobriety. While there is no “one-size-fits-all” recovery plan out there, you certainly can begin crafting one that is ideal for you specifically. If you are nearing the end of your time in treatment, it is wise to begin considering what your personal aftercare plan should incorporate. 

What Factors Do I Need to Consider?

When creating your aftercare plan, you need to consider many factors. Below are some crucial elements you should consider when developing your aftercare plan.

What Are Your Triggers?

Considering your triggers when creating your aftercare plan is a very important step; doing so can help solidify your sobriety as you make this life transition. Begin by asking yourself:

• When do I want to use the most?

• What led me to use in the past?

• What are some people, places, or things that make me feel distressed when being around them?

• Who was I with when I used?

• Where did I use in the past?

Identifying and understanding your triggers can allow you to avoid them if they are still too distressing for you. Being caught off guard when exposed to triggers might cause you to engage in substance use. Even if you are exposed to triggers, your aftercare plan can include what to do when you are exposed to them to protect yourself. For example, if you are at a family gathering and a family member asks you to use with them, you can ask a trusted friend to join you and change the subject if need be.

What Are Your Goals?

Your personal goals for yourself are incredibly important when it comes to aftercare planning. If one of your goals is to find a job that you care about, then this will influence your aftercare planning. This goal could mean that you need to plan out how to fit in time to seek jobs that are meaningful to you. It could also mean planning to spend more time in silence and solitude to discover what jobs or career paths resonate with you the most.

Perhaps one of your goals is to be more involved with your family. If this is the case, your aftercare planning could include scheduling time to spend with your loved ones. It could also mean attending family therapy sessions regularly with your family members. No matter what your personal goals include, they are essential when crafting your aftercare plan. 

What Are Your Obligations?

Although this may not be fun, identifying your daily obligations can help you create a good aftercare plan for yourself. While in treatment, you may not have had to worry about monthly bills, daily chores, or even earning a living. This can make returning to society incredibly intimidating and overwhelming. These daily obligations can become significant triggers when it comes to using. However, factoring your daily responsibilities into your aftercare plan before leaving treatment can help you manage these obligations in a way that does not put your sobriety at risk. To reduce the amount of “overwhelm” that daily obligations could cause, you can plan ahead and schedule a time to do each task in a personalized way. That way, your responsibilities will not seem so daunting. 

What Are Your Needs?

Odds are, even after treatment ends, you will need food, water, shelter, sleep, community, and continued treatment in some way. While this may seem obvious, you must prioritize and consider your basic needs well after treatment. Along with basic needs, you may have some other needs that you discovered in treatment, such as:

• One hour of alone time each day

• A calming bedtime routine

• Daily exercise

• Dietary restrictions

• Limited digital device usage

• Plenty of nature time

• Family time

• A “fun” day with no obligations

When creating your aftercare plan, it is crucial to factor in time for your specific needs because it helps you feel fulfilled and cared for. If you leave recovery and no longer have your needs met, this puts you at high risk of relapse. 

Do I Need to Be Part of a Support Group?

Support groups, individual therapy, and group therapy are all options that should continue after you leave treatment. You do not need to include all of these options; you just need to ensure that you are still connected to recovery and are being supported by professionals and peers if necessary. Every aftercare plan should incorporate continued care in some way, whether that be through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), individual therapy, or family group therapy, just to name a few options. Remaining connected to a team of caring individuals can help you immensely with this important step in your life. 

Leaving treatment can be frightening if you do not have the perfect aftercare plan set in place to ensure that you can safely continue your sobriety. When crafting your aftercare plan, you will want to consider many factors, including your unique triggers, goals, obligations, and needs. Factoring these elements into your aftercare plan is very important because it helps your aftercare plan cater to your specific needs. Every aftercare plan needs to incorporate continued care in some way, and you get to decide what this means for you. Here at Next Level Recovery Associates, we understand how vital aftercare planning is for those in recovery. We have the skills and knowledge to help you create a helpful and highly effective plan for you personally. To ensure your sobriety for the long term, please reach out to us at consult@nextlevelra.com today.