Relapse Prevention

Why do many people end up overdosing when they relapse? Why is relapse still happening and how can we prevent it? These are only a few of the questions that are running through people’s minds as they go through drug treatment. Addiction education is in place to help people find the right answers and create a battle proof strategy to navigate life’s toughest temptations. Having a relapse prevention strategy in place is necessary for those trying to stay sober after detox.

For anyone to stay sober after an intense addiction understanding all of their “triggers” is a must. A “trigger” could be a sight, sound, location, person, or even an old memory that can ease someone’s mind back to their previous highs. It may tempt them to go back to using the drug of their choice and undo the hard work they put into staying sober. Every addict faces this and must learn how to deal with them as soon as possible. Let’s walk through how to successfully plan relapse prevention and common mistakes addicts can make throughout the process.  Treatment forces people to take things one day at a time, but the outcome of sobriety isn’t impossible!

Relapse prevention is key for former drug addicts.

What Is Relapse?

Everyone experiences relapse differently and may be more prone to having one in different stages of their sobriety. In order to understand relapse prevention you have to understand the different stages of relapse at first. Experts say that there’s three stages of relapse include emotional, mental, and physical relapse in addicts who are learning how to stay sober. Signs of addiction relapse may be subtle or profound so keep a close eye on what you know is normal for your body. You know yourself best and are ultimately the one who can control your actions.

Emotional relapse can start a few weeks or even a few months before the event of physical relapse. Emotional relapse signs can include being angry, irritable, discontent, feeling isolated, experiencing stress and anxiety, depression, and overall intense mood swings. Relapse prevention at this stage means recognizing that you’re in trouble and need to start changing your behavior. Remind yourself that it’s okay to ask for help and practice relaxation techniques to soothe your mind. Recognize that you’re anxious and practice relaxation techniques. Also look into changing your sleep habits and improve your nutrition if you haven’t been eating the best. Most of times, our diet and exercise plays a huge role into how we feel from day to day. If you don’t change your behavior at this stage and you wait until the point where you become exhausted, your body may shift into mental relapse which comes with larger risks to deal with.

Mental relapse is the second stage of addiction relapse overall. At this time you’re just idly thinking about using drugs, but in the later phase you’re more convinced than ever to start again. . A common mental urge is you’re getting away with using drugs because no one will know if you relapse. Maybe your boyfriend or girlfriend is away or you have a long break off work to do so. This is the time when your addiction is trying its best to convince you the drug is okay to take again and that you’re doing no harm. Key signs of mental relapse are thinking about the people, different places, and variety of things you used with drugs. You could be thinking romantically about your addiction in the past, lying about your behavior, and hanging out with old connections who once praised your highs. Any friends who judge your new behavior are probably the people who got you involved with drugs in the first place. They may be encouraging you to use drugs again and you could easily find yourself back to your previous habits in no time. To combat mental relapse, remind yourself of any negative consequences that you suffered and tell someone what you’re struggling with. Most studies show that telling someone about what your goals are and what you struggle with keeps you more accountable. You’ll be less likely to fall off the bandwagon and encouraged to find healthy distractions like going for a walk, playing music, working out, or anything that keeps you away from drugs.

The last stage of relapse is physical relapse. This means that the addict goes one step further and drivers to their weed dealer, the liquor store, or connects with old friends to consume their vice. It’s hard to stop the process of relapse at that point. That’s not where you should focus your efforts in recovery. If you do catch yourself at this point, tell someone and check into your treatment counselor as soon as possible if you’re truly serious about help. It’s up to you to control your mind and body in the end.

Lifelong Healing

With the right addiction education you can prevent any addiction relapses and learn how to deal with them if you do find yourself falling short during drug treatment. Take time to learn about how you think during times of temptation and what prevents your mind from falling off the bandwagon. If you have to cut off certain friends or stop going to certain places, take the leap. You’ll thank yourself for bettering your social circle and spending your time more wisely in the long term. Remember that experiencing a relapse is also extremely common and that it isn’t the end of the world. Relapses remind you that you aren’t perfect and have room to improve mentally and physically. Brush yourself off and think about tomorrow. Vow to make better choices for your mind and body the next time around so you aren’t making the same mistake twice!

 

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