Why aftercare?

Many of us are BIG advocates of aftercare. We talk about it daily because we know how important it is to recovery. But, I guess a lot of newer people on here may wonder why it's so important. I'm going to try and explain why it's important for me and all addicts.

The main difference between me now and over a year ago when I was in active addiction is that I've finally realized that the pills have nothing to do with my addiction. Addiction is a mental condition. It stems from our very thought processes. The way we interact with people. The way we rationalize things. Ever since I can remember, I've never felt comfortable in my own skin. My thought processes could rationalize anything I wanted. My mind just worked different from other people. When I found that magic drug that made me feel like I was "normal" and that I "belonged"...it was all over for me. I quit the drugs many times, but relapsed because the thought processes were the same. I was in abstinence and was clean...but, recovery was not my goal.

Recovery is the changing of the very way we deal with life. It's the rewiring of the way our brains interact with the world. It takes many forms. Some choose therapists. Some seek church recovery groups. There are group meetings for addicts as well as traditional AA and NA meetings. Some, like myself, need all the help they can get and use them all. Recovery or aftercare is nothing more than taking a look at how you deal with things in life...how you process feelings...and, teaches you a new way of dealing with them. It takes away the NEED and the WANT of taking a drug in order to mask the feelings that we would normally numb.

Which aftercare is for you? Many of us advocate AA or NA meetings. Why? It's not to push some cult-like program on anyone. It's because 12 step meetings have 2 things most addicts need when they're at their bottom. They have instant support in the form of members and sponsors, and they're free. Please, don't judge the program from what you hear or the first meeting you go to. Rarely did any one of us find a true "home group" at our first meetings. Addiction counselors and therapists are great, too. If you can afford them, they are great for every addict..even those in other treatments. Group therapy and church groups provide that support as well. All these aftercare choices also help get the addict into revealing secrets and cleaning up some of the wreckage of the past...which helps immensely with the shame and resentment that comes with early recovery.

Please, if you have any questions about any aftercare you're interested in..ask a member here. Your disease is telling you that every day you spend NOT using is a day you're committing suicide. the last thing your disease wants is for you to get well...so, it will use every rationalization to get you to stay away from aftercare. Sometimes, in early recovery, the best thing to do is the opposite of what your brain tells you...because it's most likely the addiction talking.

[mikchez]

GREAT INFORMATION!!!
RIGHT ON!!!!!
THANK YOU
PEACE/LOVE

[avisg]

Great post ga guy

[vicki595]

All I can say is :"Why not aftercare?"   It's really easy.  Choose some avenue toward
wellness and be faithful to it!   The objective is CHANGE.   Change behaviours,thoughts,
attitude,routines...As Sara says: "Nothing changes if nothing changes".

All the best to everyone~
Vicki  xo

[Htownnofrown]

Why aftercare? because it has given me a life worth living. Its  an easy choice for this addeict.

[TroubledDude]

Awesome Post Ga Guy, this is something I need to do. I've had addiction issues since I was in my mid-teens, I am now fourty. If it wasn't alcohol it was opiates or pretty much anything I could stuff down my throat to change my outlook. It's quite obvious I am pushing away something that I cannot deal with sober. My Father was a violent alcoholic up until I was around 12 yo, so I'm certain this will be a starting point in my recovery.

Thanks Again, Great Post!

[dominosarah]

Great Post!!  Hopefully now with the threads the last couple days people will know why we talk about the importance of aftercare.........sara

[GA Guy]

I think that the two turning points in my recovery was when I forgot willpower and surrendered to this addiction...and when I discovered that the pills weren't the cause of my problems but a symptom.

[sweetums26]

thank you so much for that post!!! i feel that i am not alone with this problem anymore, i can actually talk to somebody who knows and has been there and that helps soo much... i know after care is very important but i wish i could do aftercare at this time but i cannot, well i guess if there is a will there is a way and maybe i can sneak off once a week or something.. again thanx for everything

[LeaAnn807]

Good post.  Why I do it????  I started going to meetings, because it was basically the only thing I hadn't tried, and I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Not to mention that I was becoming a professional at WDing.  I had to do something different.  Something, whatever it was, had to be different.  So I gave up and tried it.

Here I am......2 months later!!!

[beck25752003]

just want to say great post, and the truth for me to recover is aftercare. you are all so right when you say that me beinging and addict is secondary to my mental self. aftercare is the only way i can stay clean and gain a peaceful mind.  i came to know i am powerless and willpower and I was just not good enough.

[gnarly_1]

Great post dude....I think you have put into words what we all have been trying to get across the last few days...this is one of the best explanations on recovery I have ever read
your an asset to this forum thanks for your words of wisdom......Gnarly

[dominosarah]

I totally agree!!

[narla]

Well written in terms that 99% of people can understand,I use a therapist and Medhelp is always there if I have a question or am worried about something.I hope this post clears up peoples fear of aftercare.

Denise

[cathy5841]

Good post!  After care because it is the difference between success and failure. Give yourself the chance to succeed.

[broknbck]

after care is something that should be planned for before even quitting.

my choice was new surroundings. and not to wallow in the past, but keep looking forward. for me it was a tricky thing to be around people who were using or still battling. i needed to keep my mind on anything else. and get use to a normal life.

it was a few months before i felt comfortable to come on line and try to help others.
but it all worked out for me. never took another pill after my quit date and no struggles.
that was over 2 years ago.

so everyone is different

[gnarly_1]

bump

[Skidmore]

Great post,well written.I am a big fan of AA and also go to Na like other sick and not suffering addicts.I too need lots of help.If I am not interested in the meeting I just go for 1 dollars worth of entertainment.For me its the best game in town.I am playing Bethpage Black today ,I will sign up go to a AA meeting and hopefully tear up the course,well see about that?This med help and posting is an additional tool that I tossed into my bag of tricks.And so far one day at a time its worked for me

[GA Guy]

I absolutely love how this post keeps popping back up. It proves how important aftercare is. For those still on the fence, please seek out some sort of aftercare. There's tons of options....all anonymous. Again, if you have questions about how any type of aftercare works...post a question. There's someone here who's done every type and can calm your fears.