Admitting you need help and checking yourself into a New Jersey rehab center isn’t easy. In fact, much of early recovery is full of emotions, struggles, and tribulations. Your last day of rehab, even though it is your last day, is no exception.
After spending a considerable amount of time at an inpatient rehab center, you may find yourself riddled with nerves and anxiety on your last day of treatment. Not only will you be leaving the safe and supportive environment that you have grown familiar with, but you will also have to deal with the responsibilities of leaving rehab, like finding a job, getting a sponsor, and avoiding relapse.
Here are some things you can do to make your final day easier and what you can expect on your last day at a New Jersey rehab center.
Before Your Last Day: Aftercare Planning
You should never leave rehab without first having an aftercare plan. Before your last day, you will meet with your substance abuse counselor to begin developing a plan for after you leave rehab.
Your aftercare plan may consist of a variety of different interventions. These may include living in a sober home, attending outpatient treatment, enrolling in individual counseling, attending 12-step meetings, or participating in the rehab center’s alumni program. You may even commit to multiple different interventions to best help support your recovery.
Your counselor will also help you find a sober living, give you a list of all the local meetings, and help you create a daily schedule that you will follow on your first weeks out of treatment.
Aftercare planning will help you feel less anxious about leaving rehab and make your last day far less nerve-wracking. Then, on your final day, you can meet with your substance abuse counselor to discuss your aftercare plans once more and clear up any confusion or concerns you may have.
If your final day in treatment sneaks up on you and you aren’t prepared to leave treatment, it’s up to you to speak up for yourself and ask for help. You should never leave an inpatient rehab program unprepared and without support.
Packing and Cleaning
Whether you’ve been in rehab for 30 days or 90 days, you may have unpacked and settled into your living space comfortably. Before leaving rehab, you’ll want to make sure you have gathered and packed all of your belongings.
If you originally brought any items to treatment that were prohibited and confiscated for safe-keeping, you will be returned these items as you leave the facility.
As a respectful gesture, it’s also a good idea to spend a few minutes cleaning your room and your personal areas. While living at an inpatient rehab in New Jersey, you may have roommates that live with you and you will have someone moving into your room after you leave. By cleaning up after yourself and cleaning your space before you leave, you show respect to your roommates and the person who will be using your room after you.
Getting Ready to Leave on Your Last Day of Rehab
Leaving rehab can be scary and exciting all at the same time. However, one of the hardest parts about leaving rehab can be saying goodbye to your peers.
Treatment is a vulnerable time during which you have probably developed many meaningful and genuine relationships. You have also been living in close proximity to these people for a long time, so leaving rehab can feel strange.
But, just because you are leaving rehab doesn’t mean you have to let go of your friendships. Instead, make sure to spend some time on your last day in treatment gathering the names, phone numbers, addresses, and other contact information of your peers.
Some people travel across the country to go to rehab in New Jersey, so it can be difficult to reconnect with people after rehab if you don’t collect their information beforehand.
Checking Out of Rehab
Once you have finished gathering your belongings and saying goodbye to your peers, a behavioral health technician will let you know it is time for check-out. This usually happens in the late afternoon or early morning before the treatment center’s therapy sessions begin.
While checking out, your phone may be returned to you and, if needed, you may obtain a certificate of completion for the program. Then, depending on what your aftercare plans are, you may either be picked up by a loved one to go home, dropped off at the airport for your flight, or taken to a local sober living home where you can begin to get settled.
Starting Your Sober Life After Rehab
On the very first day out of rehab, it’s a good idea to attend a 12-Step meeting or another type of recovery support group. This way, you don’t let any time go to waste and you stay on top of your recovery.
The transition out of rehab isn’t always easy, but if you take the right steps to prepare yourself before your last day of rehab, you will be able to begin your new, sober life.
At New Jersey Addiction Interventions, we’re dedicated to connecting you with the best addiction treatment centers in New Jersey. To find a program near you or to learn more about the rehab process, give us a call today.
Medically Reviewed: March 11, 2021
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.