Recovery after Rehab: A Guide for the Newly Sober and Their Loved Ones

A practical guide that picks up where “rehab” leaves off, and where the real work of recovery from substance abuse begins. Many of those who suffer the consequences of substance (along with their loved ones) may find relief when the substance abuser agrees to enter rehab or treatment. Too many, however, have also known the pain and disappointment that comes later, with relapse. This book provides a practical guide for both the newly sober and their loved ones for what they can do collaboratively to ensure that what begins with rehab translates into long-term recovery and a more satisfying life-style for all.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Point of Departure Chapter 1: Auspicious Beginnings: The Pink Cloud Chapter 2: Medication Assisted Treatment: What You Need to Know Chapter 3: Homecoming: When the Rubber Meets the Road Chapter 4: Preparing to Move Forward: Beyond Enabling and Codependence Chapter 5: Post-Rehab Fellowships and How They Help Chapter 6: Creating a Recovery Lifestyle, Part 1: People Chapter 7: Creating a Recovery Lifestyle, Part 2: Places, Routines & Interests Chapter 8: Double Trouble: Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Chapter 9: Healing Damaged Relationships Chapter 10: Spirituality and Recovery Chapter 11: What If It Doesn’t Work? Analyzing Slips and Relapses Epilogue Bibliography Notes Index About the Author

About the Author :
Joseph Nowinski, PhD, has held positions as assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco and associate professor of psychology at the University of Connecticut. In addition to independent practice, he is currently assistant professor at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Nowinski is the author of a number of books, including The Twelve Step Facilitation Handbook; Almost Alcoholic: (Is My or My Loved One’s) Drinking a Problem?; and If You Work It, It Works!: The Science Behind 12 Step Recovery.

Review :
When alcoholics and other addicts detox their bodies, they feel great. The downside to this so-called pink-cloud feeling is that the newly sober can mistakenly believe they’re “cured,” writes Nowinski, a clinical psychologist. This guide for them and their loved ones can be a lifesaver, literally. Nowinski compares recovery to a “voyage across open water,” with obstacles along the way and no guarantees of success. Indeed, the National Institute on Drug Abuse cites a 40 to 60 percent chance of relapse from a substance-abuse disorder. How to help? Loved ones can strive to be partners instead of feeling like stigmatized “enablers.” As the afflicted progress from a “casual friendship” to “a serious relationship” to “commitment” to their drug of choice, they tragically betray their values and those closest to them. This damages crucial relationships, which need to be rebuilt after treatment. Hang on and don’t leave a recovering addict struggling alone. Nowinski convincingly makes the case for the vital role of family and friends, who can increase the odds of a loved one staying sober by remaining committed and connected. For too long, residential rehab has been thought of as a cure for addiction. In this wise, well-written book, Dr. Nowinski helps patients and their families understand that rehab is but the first step on a long-term journey of life-enriching recovery. Dr. Joseph Nowinski is a pioneer of addiction psychology. In this new book, Dr. Nowinski addresses the role of the family in the recovery process. Too often, treatment programs provide families with minimal guidance as to the recovery process, creating a potential minefield. This book fills that void by providing families an understanding of the role of rehab, and the necessary tasks for promoting recovery for the patient and for the whole family. Masterfully written, based on Dr. Nowinski’s lifetime of clinical experience, this book provides relief and direction for those who are accompanying a loved one along the often-mysterious journey of recovery. Patients and family members alike will benefit from its wisdom, and even experienced practitioners will gain useful insights. A highly recommended work. Nowinski nails it again! Recovery After Rehab is an amazing guide for loved ones invested in recovery. I can’t wait to buy some copies for friends and family to help take the confusion out of ongoing recovery! Recovery After Rehab by Nowinski provides an owner’s manual to a new life-of-recovery from a substance use disorder. Daily reflection books offer comfort and insight, but this new book empowers the inflicted with a map to navigate the "but, how?" perils of recovery's realities that we each face. For people struggling with addiction and those who love them, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of what to expect from treatment. It aims to demystify the process while offering clear suggestions of how to maintain treatment benefits. It pulls back the curtain and takes an honest look at the reality of what happens during and after treatment and how we can help—not hinder—progress toward recovery. Presenting loved ones as collaborators in recovery, Dr. Nowinski empowers those affected by addiction with the knowledge required to evaluate various treatment options and to make informed decisions beyond the walls of formal care settings that will promote recovery over time.