One of the biggest stages of accomplishments that an addict can achieve is when they become sober after receiving addiction treatment.   

However, when they can successfully withdraw from substances like drugs or alcohol, they still need a proper follow-up system that ensures their sobriety becomes permanent.

Aftercare treatment is an ongoing treatment that recovering addicts need when they become sober. Going for aftercare treatment helps them to apply the necessary coping skills to prevent them from getting addicted.

One of the key players in aftercare treatment is the counselor. They work closely with the patient to achieve their sobriety goals.

Here are some important roles the counselor plays in aftercare treatment

Boost your motivation for recovery

The counselor encourages you to remain sober and reminds you of the reason why you opted for addiction treatment in the first place.

When you feel that you’ve lost the drive to keep yourself from abusing substances or engaging in addictive behaviors, the counselor steps in to save the situation.

Teach/Remind you coping skills

When patients achieve initial sobriety, one of the best ways they can sustain it is to keep applying coping skills. Some of them who don’t apply these skills might end up getting addicted again.

It is one of the responsibilities of the counselor to remind patients of coping skills that would help them manage challenging situations that are likely to cause a relapse.

Improve confidence level and self-esteem

Another importance of counseling during aftercare treatment is to help patients achieve confidence and build positive self-esteem.

When some patients leave the rehab, they might have self-esteem issues that could prevent them from achieving their personal goals, rebuilding relationships, etc. With counseling, they will be reminded of their worth, and why they are special in this world.

Counseling also helps patients to get back on cordial terms with their loved ones, handle peer pressure, identify underlying health problems, and learn skills that will change their lives for the better.

When people recover from addiction, they need all the help they can get to prevent a relapse from happening. Usually, a relapse is likely to occur when the individual does not implement the necessary coping skills that can prevent addiction from happening a second time.

With some of the health tips that will be mentioned below, recovering addicts can stop a relapse from happening.

Eat a healthy diet

One of the most important health tips that help to prevent relapse is to eat nourishing food. Ensure that your diet contains the major classes of food like fruits, vegetables, fats, protein, carbohydrates, etc.

When you eat a healthy diet, it allows your organs to function optimally. Your mental and emotional health too will not be left out because a healthy diet reduces the chances of getting addicted.

Get enough sleep

Another health tip you need to prioritize is getting sufficient sleep. A good rule of thumb is to ensure you sleep between seven to eight hours per day. Improving the rate at which you sleep helps to improve your well-being, reduce the risk of disease, and make you more productive.

Get physically active

If you find yourself getting fatigued or stressed regularly, you need to get regular exercise so that you don’t adopt unhealthy habits. You can spend between 100-150 minutes each week exercising at home or the gym.

Regular exercise comes with several benefits that affect your physical, mental, and emotional health. It also keeps you sober and reduces the chances of a relapse.

Join a support network

Most rehabs have a support network that allows people to be accountable to one another and the therapist in charge. When you join a support network, you will see other individuals like you who are equally working hard to keep their addicted lifestyle behind them.

You can exchange contacts with people in your support network to keep up with their lifestyle and also get motivated by their drive to remain sober permanently.