Chapter 7: Post-Recovery Support
Despite being just as critical as the recovery process, post-recovery support is often overlooked. Post-recovery support aims to help recovering addicts immerse themselves into society with as few incidents as possible. This process also supports patients as they try to maintain their sober lifestyles. The core question then comes down to determining what counts as post-recovery support for free addicts.
1. Family and Friends Network
There is no equivalence for the support you receive from a parent, siblings, or closest friends when recovering from addiction. It is one of the most challenging times you’d have to experience, and you will need a solid support network to help you get through it.
It will also be nice to spend time with them and reintegrate yourself into the ‘outside world’ through interactions that help make connections. The closer and more sincere your circle, the better the recovery.
2. Regular Check-Ups
Your rehab facility will schedule regular check-ups for you after your inpatient program. The reason is that several facilities keep an eye on the patient and ask about any potential concerns they may have.
These mandatory check-ups can also give you a heads-up about potential health uncertainties.
3. Therapy
Therapy is a must as most people need to make sense of themselves and their circumstances. It explores the depths of your feelings and emotions to understand your circumstances.
Experts also use it as a medium to determine if the patient is in danger of relapsing. Some quick thinking and response on their part will ensure you never have to worry about these aspects.
4. Slow Reintroduction to Work Environment
Gradually re-entering the job market can be an overwhelming experience, but it is necessary for your rehabilitation. Keeping things slow initially is critical because excessive work will cause unnecessary stress.
Stress-induced relapses are common, so it is best to take a slower approach.
5. Journaling
Journaling can be therapeutic if you have an interest in it. Documenting your time, experiences, etc., will create a record of your feelings each day. You can closely see your patterns through journal entries and discuss them with your therapist and specialist.
6. Interacting with Nature
Interacting with nature is another example of how you can control your post-recovery time. Nature is a natural healer, so being among the lush greenery and mountains can help you feel more relaxed.
Not all rehab facilities have such provisions, so always select the correct one. The more you take ownership and control of these factors, the smoother the recovery process.
Chapter 8: Former Patient Reviews
Few things are as reliable as the experience of others, especially when it comes to healthcare facilities. Sure, there will be a few odd instances of patients giving poor reviews because they ‘felt entitled to more,’ but those are exceptions. They will stand out among hundreds of others, and you’ll automatically know they don’t represent most of the experience. Seems simple enough, right? Well… it is almost this simple.
Addiction or mental health recovery is serious, and you must put considerable time and effort into determining if your shortlisted option is the right fit for you. Following are some actions you can take when reviewing patient reviews to get the most accurate results:
1. Check Several Review Platforms
Firstly, always diversify your search instead of looking at reviews from a single source. Google has become our go-to avenue for all primary details, so we often don’t look beyond it when looking for information about basic things.
However, that approach only works for products and services that won’t significantly impact your health. Convenience goes out the window when your mental or physical health gets involved. Google is a good source for reviews, but you can also check out Facebook reviews, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Yellowpages, etc.
Please review the comments on at least three platforms and see what former patients or their loved ones have said about a facility. Remember that this step is critical, especially considering how many fraudulent rehabs have opened up in the past year to take undue advantage of someone in their most vulnerable state.
2. Do Not Disregard Negative Reviews Completely
I know I said that a few negative reviews among thousands of positive aren’t representative, but you should still check them out. Your priority should be seeing which part of the service they reviewed negatively. If each talks about a different aspect, there are fewer chances of any major concern. However, you should consider investigating if all the negative reviews are about the same part of the service.
It may very well be nothing, but it’s worth looking into. You can also take this opportunity to check for any other specific elements you want more information on and seek it by conversing with former patients or visits.
3. See How the Business has Responded.
A business with thousands of reviews is less likely to have responded to all comments, but they should have some engagement, especially with clients who left bad reviews. Responsible rehab managements always try to check why someone had a bad experience and get to the bottom of their ordeal. Some of the comments might be fake, but the rehab is responsible for investigating instead of assuming a claim is unfounded.
The most common responses to a negative review include an apology and a request for the disgruntled customer to reach out on a specified communication channel to help the facility get the details about their visit. It is the best approach because it keeps the matter, whether genuine or fake, away from the public, allowing both parties to resolve it privately.
The only times it is okay to call someone out publicly is when they are habitual liars and have made a habit of lying to put pressure and get what they want. Even so, few rehabs will be outrightly rude to their audience.
4. Ask People You Know
Word of mouth from people you know and trust is a great way to gauge a good or bad product or service. The only problem is that not many people are forthcoming about their experience with rehab facilities due to the taboo around mental health and addiction. However, talking to someone who went to the facility or saw a loved one admitted can help you gauge the overall quality.
They will unlikely lie to you about how good the facility is, especially if they are part of your close social circle. I am not asking you to trust them blindly, but their words will hold a lot more weight than the words of a stranger.
5. Highlight Reviews About the Treatment you’ll Get
Lastly, look for reviews talking about the specific treatment you or your loved one will get. There may not be too many of those, but even 10-20 recent reviews will be a good reference for how good the facility is for the specific condition.
You can also check specialists’ qualifications to see if anyone has more experience in the area. Although it isn’t a deal breaker, choosing a place with more experience in the area is always better.
That last point concludes my rehab guide on how to choose a substance abuse rehab or mental health rehab. Finding the right fit can determine how well your recovery process will go, so please use the steps highlighted in the book to make the right decision for yourself, your loved ones, and your community.
