If drug or alcohol abuse has created any problems in your life, those problems will still exist after rehab. Since stress and pressure are two of the leading triggers for relapse, it’s no wonder why staying sober after rehab is such a challenge for many.

However, staying sober is necessary. After all the work it takes to get sober, the last thing you want to do is throw it all away again.

There are programs available to help you after rehab, and your counselor can help you decide which program will work best for you if you are having difficulties staying sober or doubt your own ability to stay sober after rehab.

Recovery Homes provide a controlled residential (long term or short term) setting, an extension of the rehab counseling programs, and are the highest level of support and guidance. A recovery home helps for those who have an especially high risk of relapse, or an unwillingness to stay sober after rehab.

Sober Companionship has been made popular by the use of big name celebrities (including Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, and Lindsay Lohan) but is available to anybody with the need for a higher level of guidance but who are unable to take a residential support program. Sober companions are with you as often and as long as needed to provide motivation and restriction that helps you when having a hard time staying sober.

Sober Coaching is the best program for those who are completely ready for staying sober after rehab. Support is available when and if you need it, your sober coach will meet with you and verify you are staying sober, and this program gives you the most freedom to make your own choices.

The best program to choose is one that will help you stay sober on your own– self sufficiently. You can stay sober on your own, but you should not attempt staying sober without some form of ongoing support and guidance.

It helps to learn and practice different tactics and exercises, alternative approaches to take when the temptation to indulge in drugs or alcohol occurs. What works for one person might not work as well for another, and the best plan to put into action is the plan you put together yourself… one that you know will help when you have trouble staying sober.

Regardless of the program you choose to participate in, your own will is the most important factor. Without trying to stay sober, you will relapse. Recovery from addiction is not a destination, it is an everyday action.

The biggest mistake that individuals make when changing directions is making the assumption that staying sober is as easy as staying out of the bar, or making new friends. While these are obviously important steps to make… opportunity will always arise. Avoidance is not the only thing that will help you to stay sober. You need motivation, reinforcement, guidance, and support. All of these things can be provided by a sober living program, and your ability to stay sober depends on your active participation.