The World Health Organization defines substance addiction as a chronic disease. Therefore, if you are recovering from substance abuse, there is always a risk of relapse. It would help to consider recovery as an ongoing process even after you are done with treatment.
Moreover, you must know that relapse is not the end of the road. It only means that the symptoms of addiction resurfaced, and you need treatment. In case you relapse, it would be best to get help from a treatment center like Coastline Behavioral Health in Orange County, CA. We will help you adjust treatment to help you achieve long-term recovery.
However, it is best to avoid relapse and starting treatment again.
Research shows that cognitive therapy and relaxing your body and mind are the core tools of relapse prevention. You will take cognitive therapy during addiction treatment. It helps you to gain the necessary skills to identify and cope with relapse triggers. On the other hand, mind and body relaxation measures help you to reduce your stress levels which could trigger substance abuse or relax.
You may need either of these two tools to successfully apply measures to help you prevent relapse and maintain long-term recovery:
There are various situations and places that can trigger relapse. Such places include raves, bars, clubs, and more. Some people believe that they should visit such places to prove that they can resist. However, it only exposes you to temptations and triggers that can cause a relapse. Therefore, avoid such situations especially during the early stages of recovery.
Your friends and company you hang out with have a lot of influence in the activities you engage in together. If they hang out to abuse substances, it would be best for your recovery to avoid hanging out with them. Someone who will sell or give you drugs or alcohol during your recovery is not a friend.
Friends are supposed to support your recovery journey. They should not expose you to substances especially in your early stages of recovery. Moreover, you should also try and make new friends that engage in activities other than substance abuse.
It is hard to achieve and maintain sobriety all by yourself. Therefore, we need a strong support network to help us cope with various triggers and temptations. Surround yourself with people who embrace healthy and positive living. They should also be in a position to encourage you and remind you to stay on your recovery journey. Your support network could include family, friends, or even people you met in treatment or support groups.
Some people get a dual diagnosis during addiction treatment. It means that they are struggling with addiction and another underlying mental health issue like depression. Research shows that about 51% of people struggling substance use disorder have a mental health issue.
Failure to take medication for psychological disorders like anxiety and depression will increase your stress levels and easily cause a relapse. Some people stop medication because the symptoms of the psychological disorders go away. However, it does not mean that you are fully recovered. The symptoms will reappear if you stop medication and can easily cause a relapse.
People in recovery go through various individual challenges. We may not openly talk about these issues with our friends and family. However, we still need to cope with them to avoid relapse. Therefore, one of the best ways to cope with various triggers and stresses is to attend individual therapy.
Moreover, there are those who face similar challenges as you. You can get insightful help from them at group therapy and support groups. In case there are any family issues, it would help to consider family therapy to reestablish and strengthen your bonds.
Insomnia and fatigue are common triggers of relapse. It is important to take some self-care measures to avoid or reverse these symptoms. Some of the self-care measures include:
Sober Living Homes are residences with a set of rules for people in recovery to help them avoid relapse. Most people start sober living after inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab but you can join sober living anytime. The rules in sober living houses vary from home to home. Some of the common rules include:
Addiction recovery and relapse prevention is an ongoing process. Do not be afraid to reach out for help from friends or family for help. On the other hand, it would help your loved one if you understood that addiction is a disease and get them professional help.
Relapse is not the end of the road. Addiction is a chronic disease which means that its symptoms are bound to recur. You have higher risks of relapse if you are trying to stop addiction on your own. If you have made it so far without professional help, it would help to visit an addiction treatment center near you.
In California, you can get professional help from Coastline Behavioral Health located in Orange County. We offer various addiction treatment and mental wellness programs for men and women. Our treatment approach is individualized and gender-specific to help our patients address all their unique issues.
We offer treatment programs like inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, luxury rehab, executive rehab. Contact us today at (714)841-2260 for addiction treatment and relapse prevention skills for you or a loved one.