Relapse is an incredibly scary part of recovery that most people fear because they’re afraid it means they have failed. While nobody enjoys taking a few steps forward just to take a few steps back, the reality is that relapse can provide some valuable insights.
For example, relapse can show a person what cues are heavily affecting them – and once you know what they are, you can do something about them. Relapse can also help a person realize that what they’ve learned in treatment so far just isn’t sticking quite yet. They may need more of that type of treatment, or they may need to try something else altogether.
Relapse is just as personal as anything else in addiction recovery – including coping mechanisms, which can vary depending on what works for each individual.
Avoiding Relapse
Everyone in recovery experiences situational, physical, and emotional cues to use their substance of choice, especially in the early stages of treatment. The key is to silence the cues by redirecting your energy elsewhere. There are many alternatives you can choose to help you avoid relapsing. For example:
- Call up someone who is supportive of your sobriety and who you feel comfortable and safe speaking with.
- Use simple distractions like watching a movie, reading a book, or spending time in nature – anything to take your mind off using.
- Apply holistic practices like meditation or yoga to ground yourself and stay focused.
Have a Plan
If you’re currently pursuing addiction recovery, consider what works for you – and what doesn’t – when it comes to preventing relapse. Sometimes certain things work only for specific situations, and what works for you may not work for someone else. That’s why having a relapse prevention plan in place can be so important. During these moments of intense and often impulsive feelings, it’s important to find healthy outlets to pursue so we don’t have to go down that path if we can help it.
If you have relapsed and need help, speak with a professional from Alta Loma today.
When a person doesn’t receive care that properly addresses their needs, they often find it difficult to maintain lasting recovery. Once they return home, their issues will likely return and trigger a relapse. By providing integrated treatment for both mental health and substance use disorders, the team at Alta Loma is able to improve treatment outcomes with a level of care that can’t be found elsewhere. We can help you put an end to relapse once and for all. Call us today at (866) 457-3843.
