After intensive inpatient addiction therapy, a person may not be ready to return to their former life and home. Aspects of their former life could harbor temptations as well as the triggers that led them to abuse drugs or alcohol in the first place. One option to consider is postponing that return for a period of time until the individual has moved further along into their recovery journey. Transitional living could be the ideal solution for enhancing recovery and preventing post-rehab relapse.
What Is Transitional Living?
In many ways, transitional living picks up where rehab leaves off. Within the inpatient rehab setting, individuals have spent time exploring issues surrounding their addiction and have learned many strategies for living without alcohol or drugs, learning to manage their triggers, and learning how to ward off relapse. The primary purpose of these environments is to help residents transition back into society. Once that individual moves into transitional living, they can begin to practice these newly learned skills. Transitional living tends to be highly structured in order to support specific aspects of the continuing recovery process.
The Benefits of Structure
Transitional living programs typically provide highly structured days filled with healthful and possibly even educational activities. Program designers understand that leaving a highly restrictive environment like rehab for completely unrestrictive environment like home can set a vulnerable person up for relapse. Instead, transitional programs make use of this “transitional” experience by filling up days with activities that will support personal growth, learning, and continued practicing of skills designed to prevent relapse.
Benefits of Transitional Living
Many people in recovery find transitional living programs to be personally gratifying. They can live alongside peers who are also recovering from addiction and learn new life skills that will enhance their ability to cope with triggers, find a job, or lead a more healthful life. These programs can benefit people who have previously spent time in and out of rehabs or people who are transitioning from rehab for the first time.
Many addiction specialists recommend transitional living programs to support the substance addiction recovery process. This supports individuals as they move from a restrictive yet safe rehab environment toward complete independence from the influence of drugs or alcohol.