Back to School In Recovery: Tips for Returning to College

Back-to-school season can be both exciting and scary for any student. However, if you’ve decided to return to college after seeking treatment for substance use disorder, it can be especially challenging to know how to navigate your return as a sober student.

The following tips can help make your or your family member’s return to college less stressful and more enjoyable.

1. Plan Out Your Support System 

Having a solid support system can help you successfully return to college while maintaining your sobriety. Knowing you’re not alone when you embark on a return to the academic and social world of higher education can go a long way.

Your support system may look different from someone else’s; what matters is that you have people who can provide the help you need to keep you on track in your recovery. This may involve a sponsor or close family and friends; these should be people you can count on.

2. Choose Your Class Schedule Mindfully

When deciding to return to college after getting sober, it’s important to be honest about how much stress you can tolerate. It can be best to avoid placing too much pressure on yourself to perform academically. For your first term back, aim to make it a gentle return.

It’s wise to remember to set aside time to work on your recovery. This may mean you’ll want to enroll in classes that are less time-consuming or require less of your energy.

If in-person classes feel like too much, online classes are commonly available. Depending on what is right for you, your schedule may include all online classes or a mix of in-person and online courses.

Selecting your class schedule by prioritizing your mental health and wellness matters.

3. Continue Your Recovery Community Connection

If you attend school in your hometown, it can be easier to stay connected to your recovery community. However, many students attend colleges or universities out of the state or across the country.

These days, many recovery communities offer virtual meeting options. If this is the case with yours, you may be able to continue attending the same recovery group as you have been.

If not, many nationwide recovery communities offer meetings across the country. These recovery meetings make it convenient to join local meetings no matter where you may live at the time.

4. Make Time for Self-Care and Stress Relief

Social opportunities abound during college and it can be tempting to want to participate in everything. However, it’s perfectly alright to say no to things so you can make time for activities that will relieve stress and support your well-being. 

Explore options for both individual and group methods to take care of yourself on campus as well as in the surrounding community. From taking a yoga class at the campus rec center to spending time with supportive friends, there are several ways to incorporate stress-relieving activities and self-care into your day.  

5. Connect With a Local Counselor or Therapist

For students attending school in their hometown, it may be possible to continue seeing a local counselor or therapist with whom they have already established care. 

However, for the many students who attend school outside of their hometown, it’s important to either work with your care provider to see if they will offer virtual services or connect with another therapist near your school. 

6. Tap Your School’s Mental Health Resources

Over the years, college and university campuses have expanded their mental health resources for students. Providing students with the necessary resources to ensure they are successful in their academic careers includes offering robust mental health services.

Typically, student health services provide both medical and mental health care. Available support can range from counseling to psychiatric care; such services are designed specifically for the unique needs of a college student. In many cases, these services are included in the school’s tuition, making them affordable. 

Find Addiction Treatment In Mississippi

At Oxford Treatment Center, an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Mississippi, we understand the importance of finding effective substance use treatment. 

Our team of experienced addiction treatment professionals employs evidence-based therapies and other practices to help adults recover from substance use disorder as well as co-occurring disorders. 

In addition to inpatient rehab, we provide outpatient addiction treatment in Mississippi. To learn more about the offerings at our rehab, including the levels of addiction treatment available, please call us at .