High school and college reunions can stir up a range of emotions. Some people are eager to show those they went to school with just how much they have accomplished. Others are hoping to connect with people—or even a specific person—they have lost touch with. Still others feel a lot of nervousness about the event but decide to go anyway. And a lot of people decide that getting together with people from their past just is not for them.
Over time, an alumnus of a school might fall into any (or even all) of those categories. Maybe you were eager to attend your five-year reunion but much less eager to attend your twenty-fifth. How you feel about spending time with your fellow alumni will almost certainly vary over the years.
But if you are in recovery from a substance use disorder, you are likely an alumnus of a different kind of organization. And when it comes to staying active with the alumni program of your treatment center, our advice is to take advantage of everything that program offers. Doing so will provide ongoing support for your recovery efforts.
Let’s take a closer look at The Farley Center’s Alumni Program.
Why You Should Stay Involved After Treatment Ends
Maybe you think that once you have completed treatment, you will want to put the experience fully behind you as you rebuild your life. That is an understandable feeling, but it is not actually in the best interest of your recovery efforts.
That is because a person in recovery needs a strong support network. That network might well include supportive family and friends, but it should also include other people who know exactly what you have gone through—and what you are going through in recovery, too. The Farley Center’s Alumni Program connects you with exactly those kinds of people and creates a spirit of community and mutual support that can be a powerful aid in your efforts to maintain your recovery.
Our Alumni Program offers four key opportunities to those who have sought out treatment at The Farley Center.
Access to Ongoing Educational and Support Resources
Recovery is challenging, but having ongoing access to support and resources can make a big difference. After all, nobody leaves treatment knowing everything they could possibly need to know in recovery. Knowing that you are not left to your own devices when it comes to acquiring new knowledge and support can be a significant encouragement in tough moments. Our program includes workshops related to a variety of topics like stress reduction, relapse prevention, and more.
A Chance to Stay Engaged in Recovery Through Volunteer Opportunities
Giving back to your community is a great way to support your recovery, and The Farley Center’s Alumni Program provides plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Alums might help with community outreach efforts, help put on program events, lead support groups, and more. A spirit of service can strengthen the foundations of your recovery, and we are pleased to be able to offer opportunities to give back.
Taking a Role in Supporting New Members
When you first join the Alumni Program, you will benefit from the stories of successes and challenges overcome that longtime members of the group can share. The support of those individuals who have been in recovery for a while can be crucial when you face your own challenges. Over time, you will become one of the veteran voices, and you will be able to share stories of your own that can help encourage people who have recently completed treatment and are working to build a brighter future for themselves.
Sharing the Joy of Celebrating Sobriety Milestones Together
Taking the time to mark and celebrate sobriety milestones in community with others who are in recovery is a special part of The Farley Center’s Alumni Program. These moments not only build up the person who has reached a particular milestone; they also offer encouragement to those who are working toward those milestones themselves. Shared celebrations offer instances of joy that can make a difference for everyone who experiences them.
To Be an Alum, You Have to Go Through the Treatment Process
In this blog entry, we have focused on what happens at the end of your time in treatment and how our Alumni Program can be an active and ongoing part of your recovery. But, of course, you can’t be an alum until you go through the program, right? We want to encourage you to seek out the treatment you need to put drugs or alcohol behind you.
The Farley Center, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, offers medically supervised detoxification so that you can get substances out of your system in an environment that is safe and free of temptations. We follow that up with a rehabilitation program that includes group and individual therapy sessions—during which we can also address co-occurring mental health disorders—designed to get you prepared for what comes next. We hope what comes next is enthusiastic and consistent participation in our Alumni Program. That participation is good for you—and it is good for your fellow alums, too.
