Are you worried about relapses? Do you want to boost your chance of success in recovery? Given the high relapse rate among individuals in recovery from addiction, it is essential to plan for triggers and cravings. One vital strategy to increase sobriety success is choosing a long-term recovery program. Since detox and early sobriety are only the beginning of a long journey, you need a solid foundation to succeed. Finding a quality residential treatment center boosts your chance of long-term success.

Detoxification Is Only the Beginning of Long-Term Recovery

Detox, or medically-assisted detoxification, is an essential but ultimately low-level treatment. It is a basic procedure to ensure your body and brain get off drugs or alcohol safely. However, the days or weeks after detox can present withdrawal symptoms and a high chance of relapse. Some relapses may lead to overdose because your body has adjusted to a lower tolerance level.

Early sobriety is challenging for most recovering individuals because they may experience stress and anxiety due to the absence of substances in their system. They may find themselves without other coping mechanisms. Since addiction is a chronic brain disease, it takes time for the brain to heal and function normally again. When other factors are at play, such as past trauma or mental health conditions, early sobriety may be especially difficult and can lead to relapse.

To avoid forfeiting your efforts and hard work in the first weeks, you must diligently safeguard your sobriety. You can do this by following detox with a long-term recovery program. Without treatment after detox, you’re setting yourself up for unnecessary hardship and relapse.

How Long Does It Take to Enter Stabilized Recovery?

Recovery experts generally recommend staying in a residential treatment program for at least 30 days. People with dual diagnoses may need even longer than that. Your mental health and social abilities will likely improve by the end of this prolonged stay.

Long-term residential programs offer a range of therapies to help you function without substances. Because of this healthy and supportive continuum, treatment takes time. Time matters when it comes to healing your brain and body after months or years of putting damaging substances into them. The withdrawal period must pass. You also need time to work through treatment methods that root out the underlying causes of your addiction.

Many residential rehab centers design a relapse prevention plan with you upon discharge. They can also keep you in their alumni network so that you continue to receive support and resources.

The Benefit of Longer Residential Programs

Long-term residential programs are designed intentionally for recovering individuals who need intensive support to help them break free from their conditions. People who have a dependence on highly potent drugs, have multiple addictions, or have a dual diagnosis need more time to recover from all conditions involved fully. Some need medically-assisted detox and monitoring. Others need to heal from severe mental health conditions.

If you have relapsed before, you may also need a longer residential program. Relapses can happen when you have not mastered stress management or prevention techniques. Alternatively, they may come about due to traumatic events happening in your life that trigger reuse. Longer programs give you more time to heal from trauma, learn new coping tools, and reinforce positive behaviors.

What Determines Long-Term Success

Although long-term recovery programs do not guarantee you will find life-long sobriety, they teach you many tools to improve your healthy habits. The goal is to rebuild a new lifestyle that is balanced and healthy. But ultimately, it is up to you to implement those tools and stick to your relapse prevention plan.

You must implement and actively reinforce the healthy habits your care team taught you. Research shows that the determinants of long-term success in recovery include family support, regular attendance in 12-Step groups, and participation in an aftercare alumni group. Choosing a treatment center with a full range of services can help you access these forms of ongoing support.

Maintaining the Momentum of Post-Treatment Recovery

Once you transition from a long-term residential rehab center to a home environment, it can be challenging to maintain your momentum. Finding ways to motivate yourself is crucial. Sometimes it may feel like you have been putting in so much hard work, but progress is happening slowly. Other times, you may feel complacent about having arrived at full recovery, and the next thing you know, your cravings hit you with full force.

Recovery is a long game. Until you learn to adopt awareness while keeping up healthy routines, there is always the danger of relapse. After treatment, life continues to happen. Sometimes tragic losses happen, and these new traumatic experiences may impact your mental health. You can always find support if you are connected to a strong recovery community. Even if relapses happen in the long run, you’ll have all the tools and resources you need to seek help.

Do you know the benefits of long-term residential programs if you are considering addiction treatment? Residential treatment programs are designed to help you stabilize in early sobriety. It will make the transition to a home environment much easier. This usually takes at least 30 days because the brain needs a long time to heal and learn new, healthier behaviors. The longer you can maintain a healthy lifestyle, the longer that lifestyle may endure. This is why long-term recovery programs can help each individual move into recovery with the best chance of success. Laguna Shores Recovery offers a high-quality residential treatment program with individualized plans. We have everything you need to succeed. Call us at 954-688-5806.