Today, retreats are becoming increasingly popular among travelers. Nowadays, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) retreats are becoming a tradition among those in recovery. As anyone trying to maintain their sobriety can attest, traveling after rehab can often be challenging. Thankfully, AA retreats offer a safe, substance-free, and spiritual-driven travel experience for those in addiction recovery.
What Are Retreats?
Retreats are an integral part of many spiritual communities, notably prominent in Buddhist, Christian, and Hindu communities. A retreat is a meeting, getaway, or weekend plan that offers a sense of vacation but with added benefits. There are retreats for various purposes that promote spiritual healing, fitness, and even family resolution. In particular, AA retreats focus on spirituality, working on the 12-steps, and relapse prevention strategies.
5 Reasons You Should Consider Going on a Retreat
For one thing, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been sober for a month or ten years, support is always important. An AA retreat offers a safe and proactive space to focus on your sobriety’s importance and purpose. Not to mention, taking some time off to rest and recoup is something everyone should do at least once a year.
1. Retreats Equal Long-term Benefits
Not only do retreats offer an escape from your daily routine, but it can have long-term benefits. Because retreats are designed to incorporate daily activities that cater to your needs, such as meditation, counseling, relapse prevention, it can help improve overall fatigue in the long-term. Instead of merely spending time on the beach, incorporating these activities makes it an intentional experience with a specific purpose.
2. A Change of Scenery is Key for Recovery
We always talk about the importance of a change of scenery in addiction recovery. Most AA retreats take place in nature, either by the mountains, desert, or the beach. Being close to nature helps reduce cortisol levels — our primary stress hormone. Besides, clean air, calm surroundings, and nature help you unwind and feel rejuvenated.
3. Access to Professional Guidance
While AA meetings are indeed a supportive and essential recovery element, they’re peer-based groups with no professional guidance. Retreats include training and counseling sessions driven by experts. These sessions equip you with new tools and skills you can use to maintain sobriety and continue your efforts after the retreat is over.
4. Surround Yourself With Like-minded People
On vacations, you can’t control who’s around you. When you choose a retreat, you can rest assured that most people attend the retreat for the same reason. Since retreats are purpose-oriented, you’ll be surrounded by people with similar stories, concerns, and hopes. It gives you a unique opportunity to meet new people and connect with like-minded people that can become pillars of your recovery journey.
5. Retreats Are More Affordable
Aside from luxury retreats, there are many economical and cost-effective options for retreats. Because retreats are pre-planned, there’s little chance for you to make your own spending decisions. They’re also much more affordable than traditional recovery programs or other relapse prevention courses.
Finding Support in Sobriety
If you’re struggling in your sobriety or merely looking for a way to unwind without jeopardizing your sobriety, an AA retreat might be a good idea. However, these retreats aren’t always available. The closest thing to a retreat is to join an aftercare recovery program from a licensed treatment center. These programs follow a very similar structure to retreats and offer a more casual approach to recovery, focusing on companionship, activities, and spirituality.
At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, we receive people from all across the country who want to participate in our aftercare recovery program and enjoy the beaches and sunny days of South Florida. Contact us today to learn more about our programs, and we’ll help you make all the travel arrangements and answer any questions you may have. Sobriety and recovery don’t have to be dull and inspiring. You just need to find life’s spark again.
