You’ve spent one to three months in therapy or in a rehab. You attended groups and learned several different tools. You may even have had extensive holistic therapy. You have worked hard and pushed yourself to not only get sober but to also stay sober.

So should you go on a vacation and reward yourself?

Truth of the matter, only you know the best answer. There are details in your life that only you are aware of. So ask yourself.

However like most people, it is often hard to be aware of things we do not see. So take the advice, guidance and perspectives of the ones we trust, either family/friends or a therapist/practitioner. Consider their opinions and make the best choice for you.

There are some key points for you to consider.

1.   Return to Discipline

My first gut opinion is that a vacation is not the best thing right after treatment. You have been in rehab to learn more about yourself, your triggers and your underlying issues. My belief is that yes, you need a transition. But perhaps a weeklong getaway will not serve as a healthy transition. You need to ease back into the real world.

This real world isn’t about tropical islands and hammocks. Unless it’s your job! But slowly ease yourself into this life of discipline. It is easy to get sober, but more difficult to stay sober. Committing to no longer drinking or druggin’ is not an easy task. Going on vacation to forget your problems and escape reality will not serve you.

You need to stay focused and driven towards a life of happiness, sobriety and peace. This takes discipline. Create a transition plan that allows you to be mindful of your challenges, obstacles and opportunities that will be present in your real day to day life.

2.   Why Vacation?

If you are still considering a vacation, ask yourself why you want to go. Make sure your intentions are on the right path. Do you want to go to forget it all? Or have you worked so hard you need a transition to put it all in perspective?

These two choices carry different energies.

If you must go, continue to do the work and process your underlying issues were worked on in rehab. Have phone sessions with your therapists and life coaches. Write in your journal everyday. If work or family is a trigger, you must be wise to not throw yourself back into that fire. Know you cannot avoid them forever if that is part of your daily life. Use this vacation as a transition period of easing back into the world, by still doing the psychological work.

3.   Know Your Triggers

In your treatment, you should have worked on knowing your triggers. What causes you to want to drink or get high? What situations or players initiate emotions that are hard to manage and process?

If your father always pushes you out of sobriety, it may not be best to go on a vacation with him. If tropical beaches remind of Mai Tai’s and coladas, perhaps a trip to the islands would tempt you to drink.

You don’t want to live life avoiding these triggers. However you probably don’t want to face these triggers head on with minimal sober life experience. Take time to practice. What’s the hurry? In time you can face your most difficult triggers and succeed, rather than try to soon and hope for the best.

What triggers will you encounter on this vacation? Who will you be with? What situations could occur and how would you conduct yourself if the most unfortunate happens? Be prepared. For now, fresh out of rehab, avoid these triggers and situations for now.

Remember… Sobriety is your first goal towards happiness. Make that choice and enjoy life.

4.   Stay Protected

If you must go, be humble to have all the safeguards in place. Avoid all restaurants that have bars. Keep a sober companion with you at all times. It may seem silly and unnecessary, but be safer than sorry. You never know when these friends or coaches will come in handy in the random times of need. They perhaps will spin a new perspective to help you stop reacting in your abnormal stressful states.

Bring all the tools and toys you can that will assist you in this process. Again have phone sessions with your therapists. Stay active and enjoy nature. Meditate and go to yoga. Take time out of your vacation to write and journal. Paint the horizon as the birds fly by. Keep working, but know that much of work can be fun and enjoyable.

Have your reminders around. Bring that stress ball. Wear your spiritual necklace that reminds you of your power.

Be honest with yourself and those you are going with. Be humble enough to ask them for help to keep you safe. Tell them your triggers. Share with them your defense mechanisms. Help them be aware of who you are and why you do the things you do when you are consumed with wanting to drink or get high. The more you appropriately share, the more your travel companions can see the cues and prevent a relapse or spiral.

Truth of the matter, I have had clients who were very happy and successful in enjoying a vacation after rehab. However, more often than not, many clients regress in a vacation and let go of the work they had done. You are the master of your life. Be wise enough to know if you are truly ready and deserving. Also be humble enough to continue to do the work and create all the safeguards around you.

But let’s not end this with this energy. Vacations are fun. We all deserve one… at some point.

I’d like to spend a few weeks on a self-sustaining tropical island. With few others around for safety, I would love to just fish for food, while I gather fresh water and fruit… build my own shack and sit in front of a fire…  I would love to get away from the technology and crowds, and forget the processed food. If my dog could be there, that’ll be perfect. Wait and a guitar…

So where are you headed?