Going Back To School While In Recovery

Being free from the shackles of your addiction is an exhilarating feeling and can leave you hopeful for what lies ahead. If you have been putting in the work to improve your life in many ways with your health, lifestyle, and relationships, pat yourself on the back for a job, well done. These accomplishments can keep you inspired to better yourself in other ways, such as going back to school through Surfside’s sober education programs. Our patients will have the opportunity to continue with their education from day one! While this is a great opportunity to secure a good job and bright future, it’s also important to keep a few things in mind when going back to school while in recovery. Here are some tips that can help you go back to school while in recovery.

Determining If You Are Ready

Before going back to school while in recovery, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself and your treatment professionals to determine if you are fully ready for this endeavor. As many of us are aware, college campuses have a tendency to be “substance saturated” environments that may promote routine drug and alcohol use. We aren’t saying this to dissuade you, rather, it’s to make you aware of the potential challenges and triggers that can come about for some patients. 

If you are able to stay grounded and feel confident  along in our sober education programs, it’s imperative that you work towards enhancing your coping skills for succeeding on all fronts. It could also be helpful to create a relapse prevention plan or work with one of our recovery coaches when going back to school. Surfside is located in close proximity to multiple colleges/universities, while many others outside of this region offer virtual options. We often encourage residents to stay local and continue to focus on balancing school and recovery.

Measuring Your Education Goals

Deciding your educational goals and choosing a career path are vital components when going back to school while in recovery. Determining the field of work you envision for yourself will be helpful when selecting a program. Whether it’s nursing, engineering, architecture, or everything else in between, there is a program that suits everyone’s skill sets and passion. A four-year degree is necessary for most professional fields, although some others may require a master’s or doctorate.

Attending Schools With Sober Options

Many schools have sober programs that help students that do not want to be surrounded by triggers. According to findings from SAMHSA, Americans between the ages of 18-24 are the fastest growing demographic group that are seeking treatment for substance abuse, further solidifying sober schools and sober education programs as a growing trend. Sober options include everything from sober study pods, sober extracurriculars, and even sober dormitories (unless you’re taking online classes). These structured initiatives allow students in recovery to enjoy their college experience, without having the added pressure of triggers or party culture. In 2015, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill requiring that all New Jersey state colleges and universities create collegiate recovery programs, including sober housing/dormitories. Each school website should have a clearly marked web page related to their collegiate recovery community, outlining the different programs and offerings available to students in recovery from substance use disorders. So if you previously felt uneasy about having a lack of sober options, just know that the law made it so that you would have these resources at your disposal.

Going Back to School While in Recovery: Taking Online Classes

If the aftermath of COVID has taught us anything, it’s that online classes can be just as if not more efficient than in-person classes. For those in school while in recovery, an online format can make it easier to focus on your education if you are overwhelmed from large crowds in the traditional classroom setting. The stress of this can especially be amplified for those in recovery, so just know, online classes will always be an option if you believe this will help you stay the course in the long term. Getting an education can be done from the comfort of your own home. You might also find it more convenient if you have familial or work obligations going on, on the side. 

Managing Your Stress With Self-Care

As a patient who is immersed in one of our sober education programs, we will always push you to stay on top of your self-care. There’s no denying the amount of stress that school can impose on us. After all, you always have to worry about things like deadlines, studying, reading, and adhering to the expectations of your professors and classmates. No one ever said that school is supposed to be easy, so don’t be surprised if you begin to feel overwhelmed on a day to day. With that being said, there are still healthy ways to manage your stress so that it’s not allowed to run rampant and control your life. 

Find something cathartic that will make you feel comfortable and at ease. For instance, if you’re a bit of a CrossFit fanatic, Surfside is proud to offer programs like Saltwater Athletics to our patients. On the other hand, if you like to watch movies at the end of a long day, streaming services continue to add onto their galleries with each passing day! 

Going Back to School While in Recovery: How our Sober Education Programs Help

Surfside Structured Sober Living will provide you with opportunities to further your education. Our two immediate local opportunities include Richard Stockton University and Atlantic Cape Community College, otherwise, online classes are always available as well. To learn more about our sober education programs, contact us today to get additional information from one of our recovery coaches!