How to Prevent Relapse: Top 10 Effective Strategies SJRP Drug & Alcohol Rehab Florida

Twelve-step groups include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Marijuana Anonymous (MA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Gamblers Anonymous (GA), and Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA). Every country, every town, and almost every cruise ship has a 12-step meeting. There are other self-help groups, including Women for Sobriety, Secular Organizations for Sobriety, Smart Recovery, and Caduceus groups for health professionals. It has been shown that the way to get the most out of 12-step groups is to attend meetings regularly, have a sponsor, read 12-step materials, and have a goal of abstinence [24,25]. They think it is almost embarrassing to talk about the basics of recovery.

When people enter a substance abuse program, I often hear them say, “I want to never have to think about using again.” It can be frightening when they discover that they still have occasional cravings. They feel they are doing something wrong and that they have let themselves and their families down. They are sometimes reluctant to even mention thoughts of using because they are so embarrassed by them. When an urge comes, it can be difficult to manage it, especially in the beginning of recovery.

Know Your Triggers

The New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) suggests that insomnia and fatigue are the common triggers of relapse. By engaging in sober activities and implementing physical exercise, following a structured sleep and eating schedule, one can reduce the risk of relapse. Triggers can be internal (anxiety, irritability, stress, anger, low self-esteem) or external (people, places, or things that remind one of their past addictive behaviors). Make a list of internal and external triggers to gain awareness, reduce the risk of relapse and increase the degree of control. Using a wave metaphor, urge surfing is an imagery technique to help clients gain control over impulses to use drugs or alcohol.

There are many ways to alleviate stress, and we can use the ones that suit our unique personalities and needs. Some activities will help one person cope but not another, depending on their mood and personality. Remember that recovery is not an all-or-nothing process; relapse does not mean one should abandon their goals or give up on their recovery journey. Get professional help, and care for yourself during your recovery.

Relapse road maps

Moderation analyses suggested that RP was consistently efficacious across treatment modalities (individual vs. group) and settings (inpatient vs. outpatient)22. Hence, the dynamic model posits a non-linear progression to relapse19. relapse prevention skills Inaction has typically been interpreted as the acceptance of substance cues which can be described as “letting go” and not acting on an urge. “Staying in the moment” and being mindful of urges are helpful coping strategies4.

Mental and emotional self-care are all about an increased level of self-awareness. By actively working towards a healthier understanding of one’s emotions and triggers, patients can learn to treat themselves with greater respect, be more honest with themselves, and start to feel better about who they are. Relapse prevention can incorporate many skills and strategies to reduce an individual’s potential for relapse, from deep breathing and meditation exercises, to group therapy and exercise routines, and much more.

Holistic Treatment

These relapse prevention models offer a unique take on the process. Contacting the supportive people in your life can have a tremendous impact on cravings and relapse. The phrase “cravings” is https://ecosoberhouse.com/ used to refer to the feeling someone has when they wish to use again. However, if you have a solid plan to confront such cravings, a relapse won’t be on the radar.

When a person who used to abuse alcohol or other substances resumes their addictive behavior after abstaining from it for a while, this is referred to as relapsing. Inpatient treatment allows you to spend time in a sober environment. There, you can focus more time on therapy and adjusting thoughts and behaviors to be better at handling stressful situations. Meditation and yoga, as well as spiritual healing, are important to even out thought distortions that may lead to the path of future relapse. These mindfulness skills are intended to help the patient increase their awareness of cravings and other unpleasant feelings without judgment of the feelings as “bad” or necessitating a reaction.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 40 to 60 percent of people who were once addicted to drugs will eventually relapse. Whether you encountered a trigger and let your guard down, or thought you had a handle on things so tight that “just a little” wouldn’t send you into a downward spiral once again into relapse. One slip and it feels as though everything that you’ve done to stay on track seems like it was for nothing at all. Even worse, you feel as though you have not only failed yourself but everyone that believed in you and celebrated your sobriety.

Since they did not allow themselves small rewards during the work, the only reward that will suffice at the end is a big reward, which in the past has meant using. Addicts must lie about getting their drug, hiding the drug, denying the consequences, and planning their next relapse. Clinical experience shows that when clients feel they cannot be completely honest, it is a sign of emotional relapse. It is often said that recovering individuals are as sick as their secrets. One of the challenges of therapy is to help clients practice telling the truth and practice admitting when they have misspoken and quickly correcting it.

Learn to Relax in Any Situation

This type of therapy helps by focusing on identifying and addressing triggers, as well as developing coping strategies to prevent future relapses. At Bluff, treatment extends well beyond the initial rehabilitation period. After residential treatment, patients can step down to an outpatient program offered through Pyramid Healthcare. Relapse is often thought of as a moment in time when an individual takes a drink or does drugs. With this in mind, creating a solid drug relapse-prevention plan before you leave inpatient treatment is a great proactive step to protect your sobriety. One of the important coping skills which may be taught in a relapse prevention class is called mindfulness.

When non-addicts do not develop healthy life skills, the consequence is that they may be unhappy in life. When recovering individuals do not develop healthy life skills, the consequence is that they also may be unhappy in life, but that can lead to relapse. They occur when the person has a window in which they feel they will not get caught. Part of relapse prevention involves rehearsing these situations and developing healthy exit strategies. Finally, physical relapse is when an individual starts using again. Some researchers divide physical relapse into a “lapse” (the initial drink or drug use) and a “relapse” (a return to uncontrolled using) [8].

How Relapse Prevention Skills Can Help Patients Stay Sober

Emotional relapse is the first stage in a return to substance abuse. It is therefore critical to address and understand how to control your mindset once out of rehab. At this stage, thoughts or temptations of using have not yet occurred, but negative or self-destructive behaviours begin to sabotage one’s long-term recovery. Anxiety, mood swings, poor eating and sleeping habits, or failing to follow a set aftercare plan are all signs of emotional relapse. This, in turn, can lead to greater mental and physical struggles and an increased risk of a return to substance abuse. Cognitive therapy is one of the main tools for changing people’s negative thinking and developing healthy coping skills [9,10].