For those who have undergone the experience, completing an inpatient drug treatment program at an addiction treatment center is a wholly transformative event. While those in recovery embody the end result of their hard work, it is often the little things that are noticed after treatment that can remind people of not only the struggles encountered during treatment, but the small victories as well.

10 Signs That You’ve Been to a Treatment Center

1. Waking Up at the Crack of Dawn Thinking You Have Group

When a person first enters drug rehab, few things are as big of shock to the system as waking up with the sun to attend morning group or meditation. After treatment has concluded, many still find themselves wide awake at the crack of dawn and that is a good thing. Being awake, alert and ready to tackle the day is cornerstone in the mindset of those who are in recovery. Once you leave a substance abuse treatment program you may be tempted to sleep the day away, but your new found motivation from sobriety will help you productive so that won’t even be an issue.

2. Journaling Everywhere You Go

In many treatment programs, the use of journaling in order to chronicle one’s feelings and moods for the day is an essential tool for the recovering person to not only be in touch with the sometimes visceral emotions that may mark the period of early recovery, but it also shows progress and growth in the journey towards life-long recovery. Journaling is a great tool for everyone and can be used to show yourself your own progress in recovery. Just remember there is a time and place for everything, so make sure you don’t bring your journal in the shower with you!

3. Mediating Every Morning

Morning meditation is also a staple of a recovery program at an addiction treatment center and is needed to cultivate awareness of present and now. If you find yourself carving out time during your day to find quiet time and meditate you are doing so to find that center of awareness of what you are feeling right now. Many people in recovery make it a habit to meditate when they first wake up, it gives them a focused start to their day. Just make sure you are awake and meditating and not standing a sleeping!

4. Wait am I allowed to Have This?

It is amazing some of the things that one things after drug treatment has been completed. One example of this is looking at products like mouthwash, Sudafed, or general cleaning products and contemplating whether or not to throw them away or keep them. Those of us who live in sober living homes do have the worry of whether a certain substance, although taken with a good motive, will show up on a drug test or not. Having products such as those in rehab can provide enough of the spark of temptation to get us off the path of focusing on our well-being and recovery, so the best thing to do is to ask or keep away all together.

5. Is It Nap Time Yet (aka Free Time)?

Addiction treatment is all about structure and schedule. The day-to-day plan of events revolves around recovery-based things whether it is group, attending twelve-step meetings or attending counseling sessions. After treatment, day-to-day life may still revolve around things that perpetuate recovery. Many times the schedule of treatment includes “Free Time” which many patients use as “nap time”. Once you leave an addiction treatment facility getting use to being productive and having a full schedule may take some time, but once your body has all of the drugs out of your system and you are feeling better you won’t need to worry about nap time anymore.

6. Watching the Clock, All the Time

With that structure of treatment, certain times of the day may trigger moments of pause because it was during those times of the day where certain things occurred, such as lining up for meds or group dinners. It is common for those who have completed treatment to look at their watch and stop for a second thinking they have to wait for their medications or have group. It may cause a chuckle here and there but those times are reminders of the power of structure.

7. I Have to Find Out If I’m Allowed to..

It is common is recovery to have restrictions on where you can go and who you can go with—especially when you first enter treatment. As treatment progresses you may see restrictions lifted and may be able to do things like go to the grocery store or go to meetings on your own. There may be times after treatment has been completed where you may ask your boss if it OK to go to lunch or ask a family member or friend if it is OK to go to the store and again it points to the power of structure.

8. I Can’t I Have Curfew

After treatment it may be common that you will tell people that you have to be home by a certain time because you have curfew. While that may not be the case, that line of thinking is an artifact of the culture of treatment. Although there are times where this is valid if you live in a sober living home or halfway house as they are known. Getting home at a reasonable hour means you will get a good amount of sleep and be able to be productive for the following day without having to worry about that nasty hangover you once did.

9. Finding the Love of Your Life in Rehab

In the newness of recovery and the awakening of once dormant feelings many in recovery may start looking for companionship and possibly more. While we know that intimate relationships are not looked upon favorably while in rehab, we can definitely relate when a friend who is in treatment is telling you he or she has found the love of their life while in treatment. There is a general suggestion to not get into a relationship in the first year of recovery and for some people that doesn’t apply. The best suggestion is to work on yourself and the rest will follow.

10. There is No Cure… Just Recovery Keep Moving Forward

Most importantly, those who have gone through treatment realize that recovery is a lifelong journey and ultimately there is no magic bullet or cure for the disease of addiction.

If you or a loved one is struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, call Your First Step at 1-855-211-7837 and speak to an Addiction Specialist today. We work with the top Addiction Treatment Centers across the country and whether it is your first time seeking help or you are coming back from a relapse we are here for you day and night to help you find recovery.