Tips for Getting a Job After Rehab

Tips for Getting a Job After Rehab

Recovery is not easy. There are many challenges people face in their journeys to wellness. 

One of the most difficult challenges is trying to adjust to the ‘real world’ after getting out of rehab. Many people struggle to get back on their feet. They may have trouble finding a job and housing. This type of stress can become overwhelming, so people end up relapsing. 

But there are steps you can take that will improve your chances of getting a job after rehab. Once you are working, you will earn money for housing and feel more confident and productive. This will make you less likely to go back to using. 

The Importance of Getting a Job After Rehab

It’s important to get a job after rehab. A job helps a person feel like a productive member of society which boosts their feelings of self-worth, making them less likely to use. It keeps them on track, so they have less time to think about drugs and alcohol. It allows them to pay rent or mortgage, so they have a comfortable and safe place to live. 

But finding a job after rehab is not always easy. Employers will want to know about gaps in your employment. If you have a criminal record due to drug use in the past, they may be reluctant to hire you. They may question an educational experience or skills deficit due to a troublesome history. 

Fortunately, there are ways to get past these obstacles. Here are some helpful tips.

Tips for Getting a Job After Rehab

Grow Your Network: The old saying is true, it’s not what you know; it’s who you know. The more people you know, the more likely you will be to get a job. 

It may be challenging to make connections after you have been isolated due to drug use and rehab, but there are likely people you can turn to. The members of your recovery group may be able to provide you with the support and resources you need. 

Don’t Hold High Expectations: If you are fresh out of rehab, you may have to accept a job that is below your expectations. These may include entry-level positions in industries that you are not passionate about. 

But it’s important to be open-minded and grateful for what you have. You never know where these opportunities may take you. 

Volunteer: Volunteering is a great way to build your skills and resume. It will also give you a sense of purpose and a connection to your community. 

Utilize Job Resources: There are plenty of job resources out there, including workshops, training, events, and job boards. Some specifically cater to people fresh out of treatment. Leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding employment. 

Don’t Mention Recovery Unless It’s Necessary: An employer does not need to know about your history of addiction. It’s not dishonest to tell an interviewer that you were taking a ‘professional sabbatical’ when they ask about gaps in employment. 

Sober Living Facilities: If you check into a sober living facility after rehab, they may provide job training and resources to help you find employment as you transition back into the ‘real world.’ Atlanta Recovery offers this service to our patients. 

Atlanta Recovery Place

At Atlanta Recovery, we start by pairing our patients with a customized therapy plan. 

Once people graduate, they move on to a recommended sober living facility. They will enjoy a peaceful, safe environment, and they will be given the tools they need to make a healthy adjustment to sobriety. Getting a job after rehab is not easy. Atlanta Recovery will give you the resources you need to move forward. Call us to find out how you can enjoy the long-term health and happiness you deserve.

Talking to Your Loved ones About Your Addiction

talking to loved ones about addiction

Let’s face it, there is a massive stigma surrounding people dealing with drug and substance abuse. These issues should be handled with care and treated like any other mental health disorder.  Health professionals have confirmed that addiction is a chronic brain disease. Chronic means that the addiction is long term and may be challenging to get rid of. Fortunately, when a person seeks addiction treatment, they can begin a life of recovery.

The biggest problem addicts face however, is speaking it out and admitting they struggle with addiction. Many people shy away from starting conversations about their struggles for fear of being judged, turned away, or labeled. So, how do you open up to your loved ones about your addiction?  Atlanta Recovery Place is here to give you a few tips to help you successfully deliver the information.

How to Establish Whether You Are Addicted or Not

The most surefire way of knowing whether you are addicted is whether you can survive without the substance or not. Before you break down the news to your family, it’s helpful to understand your level of addiction. In most cases, people dealing with substance abuse think that they can stop anytime they want. The aspect of being addicted comes when it’s very late and the person’s brain no longer has the option of choosing.

If you have been using drugs or alcohol with a group of friends, you are likely to assume that it is normal, especially if everyone consumes the same amount. You may also not worry about your finances going low because you are funding your substance use. 

While addiction occurs at different rates for different people, there are some signs that are common for almost everyone. They include:

  • Struggling financially
  • Spending time thinking about finding and acquiring drugs or alcohol
  • Compromising relationships with family and friends
  • Failing to attend work or becoming unproductive
  • Increasing the amount of dosage you take over time
  • Making attempts to stop but are unable to
  • Developing health complications but continue using drugs anyway
  • Using drugs despite negative experiences and consequences

If you have experienced one or several of the symptoms mentioned above, the chances are that you may be dealing with addiction. Depending on the duration of your addiction, it may be mild, moderate, or severe. If you come to the realization that you have a problem and need help, a great first step to take is opening up to a family member or friend.  By telling them what you are going through, they can help you seek addiction treatment and support you during recovery.

Tips to Help Reveal Your Addiction

In most cases, family members and friends are already aware when a loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol before being told. It is nearly impossible to hide addiction as it comes with significant social, mental, and physical impact. Your loved ones know you better than you think, and although they may not know right away you’re struggling with addiction, they will definitely know something is wrong. However, whether your family knows or not, it is still important to open up to them and discuss your addiction. 

You don’t need to wait to find the ‘right time’

When you discover that your addiction is beyond you, you may need to take action quickly before it gets out of hand. It may never seem like there will be a right time to come clean but don’t let that discourage you. Whenever you feel comfortable to open up, whether it’s day or night, is when it will be the right time. 

Write down what you want to say

Before you approach your family and friends, it may be helpful to write down what you want to say. This will allow you to organize your thoughts beforehand and make sure you tell them everything you want to say. 

Be honest

This is the time to be honest and don’t hold back! By letting a loved one in on what you’ve been doing, they’ll be able to better help you find the right addiction treatment. It will also feel therapeutic to get everything off your chest. 

Make an amends

If you feel like there is anything you’d like to apologize for, this is also a good time to do that. Addiction can sometimes negatively impact loved ones. By making an apology, you are showing you understand what your family feels and is going through, and you are letting them know that you are ready to change, and get back to your previous self.

Let Us Help You Get Sober

At Atlanta Recovery Place, we are a holistic addiction treatment provider located in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia. We offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs. Our customized addiction treatment plans are generally designed to help people who suffer from drug abuse and alcoholism. We also tailor our treatment based on your level of addiction, age, and duration of abuse. We are dedicated to meet all your individual needs with the mission of helping you maintain long-term sobriety. Feel free to contact us today, and we will be happy to help you.

The Benefits of a Partial Hospitalization Program

benefits of partial hospitalization

Atlanta Recovery Place is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and offers a partial hospitalization program, also known as PHP,  for struggling drug addicts and alcoholics. A partial hospitalization program provides intensive care for substance abuse and mental health. The biggest benefit of our program is we don’t require clients to live onsite for the duration of their addiction treatment. 

How to Treat Addiction

A combination of treatments and therapies have been proven to help struggling addicts overcome their addiction. Whether you’re addicted to alcohol, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs, or other street drugs, a partial hospitalization program can help you with your addiction today!  Addiction treatment is a crucial component of overcoming substance abuse. Don’t feel like you have to battle addiction alone. 

Evidence-Based Approach

Our staff at Atlanta Recovery Place develops an individualized treatment plan that incorporates an evidence-based approach for all of our clients upon arrival. Evidence-based means no guessing and is a conscientious problem-solving approach to addiction. Our staff makes daily informed decisions about our client’s progress and care.

During our partial hospitalization program, we utilize the following addiction treatment therapies:

  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy
  • 12-step support groups
  • Peer support

Your first day at our program will include an intake session. During this time you’ll let our staff know the extent of your addiction so we can put together a treatment program that will best benefit you. You’ll then spend several hours a week at our facility undergoing treatment. You’ll have the opportunity to figure out the cause of your addiction and what you can do in the future to remain sober. You will also be able to form relationships with other addicts seeking recovery. 

Advantages of Partial Hospitalization Programs 

There are numerous advantages to attending a partial hospitalization program for addiction treatment. First and foremost, our partial hospitalization program provides the same intensive addiction treatment as an inpatient program but doesn’t require you to live at the facility. It is considered to be a step down from residential inpatient treatment and a great option for anyone who needs help but can’t commit to an inpatient program. By attending a partial hospitalization program, you spend the day focusing solely on your recovery and get to go home to your own house at night. This is a great treatment option for anyone who has a safe, comfortable home, or someone who lives with other people who are supportive of their recovery. If you have pets or other personal obligations you can’t leave for an extended period of time, a PHP is the best option for you. 

Being able to receive addiction treatment while also living your life can be very beneficial. You’ll learn how to cope with addiction while still being responsible for life tasks like cleaning the house and making dinner for yourself at night and your children. Combining your world with treatment addiction makes for a smoother transition back into the ‘real world’ after you finish treatment. 

A partial hospitalization program will also help you establish routine. It’s very common for drug addicts and alcoholics to live a life of chaos. It’s hard to incorporate routine when you’re constantly impaired. The lack of structure often affects multiple aspects of an addicts life and leads them to lose their job or friends and family. By attending a partial hospitalization program, you’ll learn what it’s like to have structure again. You will be responsible for showing up to treatment everyday. Having to hold yourself accountable for getting to treatment everyday will help you in the future when you need to seek and maintain employment or reestablish relationships. 

We Can Help You Today! 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out to us today. Atlanta Recovery Place is located in Dunwoody, Georgia, and specializes in addiction treatment. We offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and sober living options for anyone who needs help with substance abuse. Contact us today with any questions and to hear about all of your addiction treatment options available! 

How Group Counseling Can Make a Difference in Addiction Recovery

When you’re suffering from an addiction, the world often feels cold and lonely. You may feel that nobody really knows what you’re going through, and you may be reluctant to trust anyone who says they can help.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you are struggling with drug abuse or addiction, it’s important to realize that you’re not alone. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 20 million people suffer from these very things every year in the United States. Sadly, only a small amount end up seeking treatment (around 10 percent), largely due to unjustified social stigma and lack of awareness. But by realizing that you are not alone in your addiction struggle and accepting help, you can avoid becoming another statistic. There’s no better time than the present to start working toward the healthy, happy life you deserve!

Today’s addiction treatment options offer a variety of ways to help you feel more comfortable with tackling your issues and moving forward. For example, group counseling (also known as “group therapy”) is a form of treatment therapy filled with people who have actually been in your shoes. You can also pair group counseling with other forms of addiction treatment to make sure you are getting a well-rounded approach and are addressing all of your needs.

How Group Therapy Works

In most group counseling setups, one or sometimes more therapists, lead discussion in a group of people dealing with similar issues. This discussion is often focused on specific subjects that can prompt self-reflection and better insight. That said, it’s not uncommon for related conversations to start naturally flowing as group members become more comfortable with each other. Some group therapy setups are done in a seated circle so everyone can easily view and hear each other, while others are done in a classroom or auditorium-style setup, where speakers take turns going to the front of the room for better focus.

You will meet with your group multiple times (often weekly) over the course of several months, though the exact amount of time can vary. Many people even end up meeting with their group for a year or longer, after they have left initial addiction treatment and moved into recovery. Meeting regularly with a group can help keep you more focused on sobriety and can even keep you more accountable for the choices you make.

It’s worth noting here that group counseling is different from a support group. Group counseling takes place in addiction treatment centers, hospitals and other medical facilities, whereas support groups are often in churches, community facilities or anywhere that meeting space is available. While you can conveniently find support groups just about anywhere, they are best saved for later on once you have achieved sobriety and are fully in addiction recovery. This is because support groups are generally not run by professionals and exist primarily as an outlet for people to talk about their struggles of everyday life. They can be great as part of your support system, but when you are struggling to recover from addiction you will be in need of more focused care with professional guidance.

Learn to Open up in Group Therapy

While sharing your story in a group can seem intimidating at first, you’ll be far from alone. Many people find that it is actually easier to share their own story after listening to others go into details about theirs. Hearing similarities in the stories of others and relating to their experiences will help you realize that your own issues may not be so isolating after all. And by sharing your own stories and talking through your problems with others, you can gain fresh perspective. Many people even feel like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders after getting to finally tell their story to people who have been there themselves.

Learning to open up and express your feelings in a healthy manner is actually one of the biggest benefits of group therapy. In time, you may even find yourself becoming a role model to others just starting down the path of addiction recovery.

Other Benefits of Group Counseling

In addition to being comforted by others going through your experiences and learning to express your feelings in a healthy way, there are a variety of other benefits group counseling has to offer:

  • Practice social skills and learn to make connections with others in a healthy way that does not involve substances.
  • Be receptive to new ideas from others who have been in your shoes.
  • Motivate yourself by seeing how others are tackling addiction treatment and recovery.
  • Gain confidence in social settings by both giving and receiving support.
  • Pair group therapy with other forms of addiction treatment for the most effective program available to you.

Is Group Counseling Right for Me?

Is group counseling really the right choice for you? To learn more about group therapy and how it can fit within your addiction recovery plan, get in touch with our team at Atlanta Recovery Place, located in Dunwoody, Georgia. We believe that, with the right care, all individuals suffering from addiction and/or struggling with substance abuse can learn to make healthy choices and improve their lives. It’s not too late to achieve a happy, productive life of sobriety. We invite you to reach out to us today to learn more!