You will learn how to avoid relapse during addiction treatment. However, it is easier said than done. During treatment, you will learn coping skills theoretically. However, when you go back to your normal routine, you may experience unique and intense triggers that could cause a relapse. Moreover, studies show that addiction is a chronic disease which means symptoms such as cravings will recur.
It is important to know that relapse is not the end of the road. Therefore, you should not be hard on yourself or a loved one after a relapse. Some of the steps you can take after rehab include try to be sober for the next minute, take an aftercare treatment program, get support from family, support groups, and your therapist, learn a new skill, and more.
What Are the Causes of a Relapse?
It is important to understand the common causes of relapse to help you prevent it. Some of the triggers of relapse include:
- Withdrawal symptoms like physical weakness, anxiety, and nausea
- Poor self-care in terms of diet, sleep routine, and stress management
- People or old friends who use drugs and alcohol
- Relationship stress
- Places where you would use or buy substances
- Isolation or loneliness
- Uncomfortable emotions like hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness
What Should You Do if You Relapse?
The following steps will help you to manage relapse successfully:
Be Sober for the Next Minute
Focus on being sober for the next minute, hour, day, and so on. It is a mental strategy to help you manage relapse bit by bit. Your ultimate goal is long-term sobriety but breaking the goal into small bits of time makes it appear more manageable. It will help you to gain the necessary momentum for long-term sobriety.
Engage in Aftercare Addiction Treatment Programs
It would help to get professional addiction treatment immediately after relapse. The professionals will help you prevent a small or one-time relapse from becoming a severe abuse or addiction case. Aftercare programs are meant to help individuals cope with daily triggers with the support of addiction treatment professionals. Some aftercare programs to consider if you relapse include intensive outpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and sober living homes.
Talk With Your Therapist or Counselor
Your therapist or counselor is a neutral party that will help you overcome various issues like negative emotions. It would help to be open with your therapist about your issues. Moreover, you can trust them because they will not discuss your issues with other parties.
Visit a Doctor
Some health issues may cause sudden emotional and physical changes. These changes can easily trigger a relapse. Therefore, it would help to book an appointment with your physician to rule out or address the possibility of any health issue. The doctor will refer you to a therapist or addiction treatment if you do not have any other health issues.
Reach Out to Your Loved Ones
People can relapse because of strained relationships with their loved ones. It could be hard to gain their support, especially if substance abuse or addiction affected them. However, it would help to put your issues aside and try to get their support. On the other hand, if a loved one relapses, you should offer your support because addiction is a disease and not a choice.
Moreover, it is important to be honest with your loved ones, especially when asking for their support. Remember to fulfill the promises to your loved ones to avoid affecting your relationship with them.
Join a Support Group
There are various groups of people facing similar challenges in addiction recovery. They form various organizations to support each other without judgment. Most of these organizations maintain their members’ anonymity to help them express their issues more freely.
Examples of these organizations include Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and more. They have members from all over the world. Their members usually meet locally, and you can find a support group meeting near you. However, due to COVID-19 safety regulations, you may have to engage in their online meetings.
Learn a New Skill or Take Up a New Hobby
After you have the appropriate help and support, it is time to occupy yourself. Learn a new skill to keep your time and mind off drugs. You can also use the new skill to channel and express your emotions. Some of the new skills you can learn include painting, sports, drawing, and more.
Volunteer
Volunteering helps some people get their attention off their struggles. Less focus on your struggles means you will have lower stress levels and a lower risk of relapse. Some of the volunteering options available include animal shelters, homeless shelters, children centers, food banks, and more.
Participate in Holistic Therapies
Research shows that mindful meditation helps ease stress and anxiety. Anxiety and stress are common causes of relapse. Therefore, it would help to engage in mindful meditation techniques like yoga.
Conclusion
Relapse is normal and not the end of the road to recovery. You may feel as though you have hit a wall, but some steps can help you get past it. Studies show that the relapse rate among individuals struggling with substance use disorder falls between 40% to 60%.
Furthermore, addiction is a chronic disease. Chronic disease usually has recurrent symptoms. Some of the steps to take after relapse are try to be sober one minute at a time, enroll in aftercare treatment programs like outpatient treatment, engage your doctor and therapist, reach out to family, and support groups for support, enroll in holistic therapies, volunteer, and learn a new skill or hobby.
Get Help With Relapse in California
Coastline Behavioral Health is an addiction treatment facility in Orange County, CA. We offer customized treatment to help patients address individual issues and overcome addiction. In case of a relapse, we offer outpatient services to make adjustments to your treatment and help you resume recovery.
You can also get inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, luxury rehab, executive rehab, and mental health treatment for you or a loved one. You can make a walk-in visit to our premises or Call us today at (714)841-2260 to schedule treatment or make an inquiry.