The first year of sobriety is a significant milestone. Whether you’re on day three or day three-hundred, every day of sobriety is an accomplishment. For many people in recovery, surviving the first year of sobriety can be daunting. Reintegrating to home, school, and work-life can be challenging. Seeing people around you drink or use drugs socially can make it easy to relapse. Sometimes returning to toxic relationships can make those in recovery want to use again. For many, rehab alumni programs can help keep sobriety a priority. These programs pair sober sponsors with those just out of rehab to provide practical tools and support to help navigate the first months of sobriety.
At Baltimore Detox Center, our alumni program can help people in recovery keep sobriety a priority. If you or someone you love is struggling with sobriety, call us at [Direct] or complete our online form today to learn more about our detox, recovery, and post-recovery programs.
What Is an Alumni Program?
Rehab alumni programs are like school alumni programs. Most rehab programs include alumni programs to connect previous clients with recent rehab graduates. Alumni relationships help people stay sober in the initial days, weeks, and months of recovery. Like sponsors, alumni provide moral support, advice, and sober solidarity. They can help people navigate their first holiday, family parties, and work after rehab, which may trigger a relapse. Sponsors can spot these triggers before relapse occurs. Alumni support is especially helpful during the holiday season to help people stay sober around social drinking or drug use. Right after residential rehab, it’s hard seeing others enjoying alcohol. Alumni programs can help those in recovery gain perspective with practical advice and life experience. Alumni programs make sobriety more attainable.
Maintaining Sobriety
In the first year of recovery, maintaining sobriety can feel like learning a new skill. In fact, when someone transitions from residential rehab back to their home lives, they juggle many new skills. People can learn new ways to cope with addiction triggers and life stressors in programs such as:
- 12-step programs
- Alumni programs
- Individual therapy
- Support groups
These programs build healthy routines that help people in recovery fill their time with activities they care about. Structure, support, and a network of family, friends, and therapists can lower the risk of relapse.
Family therapy can also be a useful tool. Weekly meetings with a family therapist can help a person in recovery and their loved ones address addiction causes and triggers. This type of therapy helps family members understand addiction. Family therapists help foster open communication and build trust between family members for a safe home environment. Support at home can make sobriety more manageable.
During the first year of recovery, it’s crucial to place sobriety first. This might mean changes in social habits, moving on from old friendships, or leaving harmful relationships. Therapy programs, alumni programs, and sponsors can help. Many times, returning to life at home feels like more than someone in recovery can manage. This is normal. Working with sponsors and alumni programs can help those new to sobriety manage this transition with compassionate care.
Solidify Your Sobriety with Support at Baltimore Detox Center
Don’t let the first year of sobriety overwhelm you. Whether you’re looking for an alumni program, family therapy, or individual counseling, Baltimore Detox Center can help. Our Baltimore-based clinic is one of the first free-standing detox centers in the city. We understand every step of the recovery process. Our comprehensive programs focus on addiction recovery and dual diagnosis for mental health issues. If you’re ready to support your first year of sobriety with holistic care, call us today at [Direct] or complete our online form. Don’t wait to get the help you need today.
