Outpatient addiction treatment in Fort Collins is a difficult thing to navigate, no matter where you are. It’s tough enough just overcoming your denial of the problem in the first place. The transition into treatment, the withdrawals, and finding ways to fill your time that don’t involve drugs, these are all important, difficult parts of the recovery process. But we tend to focus a lot of attention on that first step-getting you into treatment. If you’re already getting treatment in Fort Collins, CO, your next step may be just as difficult – going from full-time to part-time care. We’re talking about the transition from inpatient, or residential addiction treatment, to outpatient care. This is a huge step in your addiction rehab that will likely determine whether you’re on the path to recovery, or relapse. So how can you do it right and put yourself on the right path? First, you need to know what to expect, and what are the differences between inpatient and outpatient care.

What’s Different Between Inpatient and Outpatient Care in Fort Collins?

It’s important to understand what to expect when you’re moving from inpatient care to outpatient. The biggest difference is that you’re not going to get around-the-clock care once you transition to outpatient treatment, even if it’s an intensive outpatient program (IOP). That may not seem like a big deal, since you’re probably an adult and you can take care of yourself. But the big adjustment here is the adjustment to temptation. While you’re in a residential treatment facility, you don’t really have to deal with temptation face-to-face. You may want a drink or a hit of drugs, but there isn’t anything readily available. It’s easy to say no when there’s nothing at hand. But outpatient treatment means you’ll have a fair amount of time during your day when you’re not in treatment. That means you’ll have the time, and the freedom, to fall back into your old bad habits. This is what many people aren’t prepared for when they come out of treatment – you’re not really “cured” of addiction, you’re simply in remission after treatment. Staying away from temptation and keeping yourself clean is a lifetime commitment, and one that you’ll need to keep working at long after you’re out of treatment. Your first days out of inpatient treatment will be just a taste of what’s to come. Here’s how to best prepare for it.

Getting the Most Out of Outpatient Programs in Fort Collins

A common misconception about addiction treatment is that the treatment is supposed to cure you of your addiction. Sadly, that simply isn’t the case, in Fort Collins, or anywhere else in Colorado, or anywhere else in the world. Addiction treatment doesn’t cure you of addiction. Addiction is a disease, but it isn’t the kind of disease that you just get some medicine for and forget about. It’s not a cold. Addiction is a chronic disease. You’ll get some medical treatment when you get treated for it, of course, but the most valuable thing you’ll get while in treatment is therapy and strategies for managing addiction. Addiction treatment, both inpatient and outpatient, is as much an educational experience as it is a medical one. This is a time for you to identify the source of your addiction problem, and work on overcoming it. Like any kind of therapy, you have to commit to it and buy in. If inpatient care is about removing you from your normal life to give you a safe, controlled environment to recover from addiction, then outpatient treatment is your proving ground. This is where you take what you’ve learned and apply it to your regular life. It’s important to note that not everything will go smoothly at this stage. You’ll have cravings, setbacks, and difficulties breaking your old habits. That’s okay. Keep going to your treatment sessions, because relapse rates are always at their worst in the few months following treatment. The further you get away from the days of your addiction, the easier it will be to manage. There is also some evidence to suggest that receiving inpatient and outpatient care at the same facility can help make the transition process easier. Many addiction rehab centers either do one or the other, which means after you finish your inpatient treatment, you must go elsewhere to meet a new staff and rebuild the bonds of trust between you. Some, like AspenRidge North, offer both services at the same facility for a more seamless transition.

Other Resources in Fort Collins for Help During Outpatient Treatment

It might feel like you’re all on your own once you leave your inpatient treatment. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is, even if you’re in an IOP, sometimes even regular meetings for a few hours a day just aren’t quite enough to keep you away from temptation. This is where support groups can be a huge help. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous help people all over the country with managing their addictions, whether they’re in a professional rehab program or not. There are many support groups designed to help people recover from their addictions, all with different focuses. These types of informal support networks can supplement a professional rehab program nicely in a number of ways. For starters, making connections in these groups can give you someone to talk to between treatment appointments. Professional treatment and therapy is important, but just as important is having allies who understand what you’re going through. Support groups just give you more opportunities to make those connections. If you’re interested in getting connected with a support group near you, we’ve compiled a list of  resources in the Fort Collins, CO area, as well as resources throughout the state of Colorado. We want to ensure you get whatever support you need to overcome your addiction, no matter where your support comes from.