How long after rehab or into recovery until I am considered 'out of the woods?”
15 Answers
Moderated by Danielle Johnson, MSED, Community mental Health Counseling, LMHC
Updated: Apr 13, 2020
Dailydaydreama
on
Nov 16, 2014
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Hey ! I believe that when it comes to rehab or recovery I honestly can not say that you are ever really out of the woods ! I'm not sure anyone ever is ! From what iv heard , learnt , seen and understood it seems to become apart of your life that needs ongoing , respect , support and a safe place inside you so that it's always respected and managed ! You can have a life without the fear and with less negative reactions and outcomes once you understand what's happened and what it is you need to do for yourself to stay safe in your own recovery and new journey :) taking control of yourself , your dreams , your life and goals is living in the woods ya just do it safe and with a smile :)
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Siouxsie
on
Nov 30, 2014
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The moment we consider ourselves out of the woods, is the moment we slow down on our recovery and think we are 'good enough.'... it's best to just focus on where we are in the moment, today. Find gratitude for it and keep pushing forward.
brightTouch58
on
Jan 2, 2015
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One can never be totally out the woods as life has a funny way of presenting events where one is being tempted to slip back into old habits. One must work fervently to maintain a clean slate
Anonymous
on
Dec 14, 2015
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Each person is different. The closer you can get to your core pains and wounds, and feel and release them, the less triggers you will have in terms of cravings. And learn to be honest with yourself about what you are feeling so you can recognize danger points. The actual time is not as important as the depth of your recovery.
Anonymous
on
Nov 6, 2014
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I don't think you're ever really "out of the woods." I still struggle with my addiction, and it's been years since I went into recovery.They struggle will continue, but the fight gets easier.
Anonymous
on
Nov 10, 2014
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Unfortunately, if your addiction was such that it led to rehab, you will have to be aware for the rest of your life that relapse is always a possibility.
Anonymous
on
Nov 15, 2014
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There is no set time, and everyone is different. Rather than looking for a point when I am "out of the woods," I try to put effort into my recovery every day. For alcoholics abd addicts, complacency can kill.
DeliriousMistakes3
on
Dec 20, 2014
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As long as you feel like you have recovered and ready to get back on your feet again. It might take years to do that but you should never give up trying. :)
Lucipurroxie
on
Dec 24, 2014
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It depends on the person. I have been out since May and I am still "recording". Don't think just because you aren't "better" that you never will be. Everyone is different. Everyone goes at their own pace and sometimes it takes longer than others.
Anonymous
on
Dec 29, 2014
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I believe that you are never truly "out of the woods". I think that once you're in recovery, you're always in recovery as addictions don't disappear.
Raebay
on
Jun 23, 2015
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I suppose that is different for everyone. I don't think there is a set time, but for me, I just "knew". I felt more stable, I felt happy and I could have fun without drugs. I could also deal with emotional situations without completely breaking down. I had formed coping mechanisms that could help me deal with life instead of turning to drugs.
Anonymous
on
Jul 21, 2015
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There's no set limit for recovery, it's a quicker road for some than others :) Congratulations on getting on the right track, by the way! It's worthwhile to do and I'm sure you'll feel better for it. It might be easier to set your own target for this achievement you're working towards, see how far you can go yourself without comparing to others :)
Rogue1234
on
Jun 14, 2016
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About 6 months without a relapse would be in the clear but sometime people relaps after years
calmSummer52
on
Jan 9, 2018
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You should always be vigilent about your reovery. Many people will tell you that the moment you consider yourself to be out of the woods, is the moment you are in the most danger of relapsing.
Anonymous
on
Jul 3, 2018
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Are you in contact with a rehab counselor, or a sponsor? Communicating with a recovery team will help you to monitor your progression.