12 Strategies for Preventing Relapse

The most important rule of recovery is that a person does not achieve recovery by just not using. Recovery involves creating a new life in which it is easier to not use. When individuals do not change their lives, then all the factors that contributed to their addiction will eventually catch up with them. 5) People think that they have a better understanding of drugs and alcohol and, therefore, think they should be able to control a relapse or avoid the negative consequences. In late stage recovery, individuals are subject to special risks of relapse that are not often seen in the early stages.

Leveraging Grounding Techniques

Unlike acute withdrawal, which has mostly physical symptoms, post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) has mostly psychological and emotional symptoms. Its symptoms also tend to be similar for most addictions, unlike acute withdrawal, which tends to have specific symptoms for each addiction 1. But their emotions and behaviors are setting them up for relapse down the road. Because clients are not consciously thinking about using during this stage, denial is a big part of emotional relapse. While self-implemented marijuana addiction strategies are crucial, professional recovery centers like Findlay Recovery Center can elevate your relapse prevention efforts. During this phase, individuals begin to romanticize past drug or alcohol use, struggle with cravings, or actively think about relapsing.

The Three Stages of Relapse:

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. One of the important tasks of therapy is to help individuals redefine fun. Clinical experience has shown that when clients are under https://biralmadinah.org.sa/?p=2994 stress, they tend to glamorize their past use and think about it longingly. They begin to disqualify the positives they have gained through recovery. The cognitive challenge is to acknowledge that recovery is sometimes hard work but addiction is even harder. If addiction were so easy, people wouldn’t want to quit and wouldn’t have to quit.

Prioritizing Self-Care in Recovery

• Its symptoms also tend to be similar for most addictions, unlike acute withdrawal, which tends to have specific symptoms for each addiction 1.
• These addiction relapse triggers can vary from person to person and can be incredibly powerful, leading to an increased risk of addiction relapse.
• Most people who find their way into recovery do so because they experience some crisis or level of pain that they finally connect to the substance use.
• We do not receive any fee or commission dependent upon which treatment or provider a caller chooses.

Have someone on call for weak moments when you might slip back into your old habits. A good friend can talk you down and remind you of all the wonderful things in your life worth protecting addiction relapse by staying off drugs and alcohol. Certain people, places, and situations can drive you back into drinking or using drugs again. As well as emotions that impact substance use, you may recognize particular situations or environments that cause cravings.

Situational Triggers

• Recovery from addiction is a perpetual process that extends beyond initial treatment phases.
• These sessions help family members understand addiction, improve communication patterns, and learn how to support recovery effectively.
• For example, celebrating these milestones may provide a tempting excuse to give into old habits.

Navigating early recovery and avoiding relapse requires a proactive, informed, and resilient approach. Recognizing warning signs, managing triggers with effective techniques, building strong support networks, and continuously developing coping skills are essential steps toward lasting sobriety. Recovery is a dynamic process that involves ongoing personal growth, emotional regulation, and lifestyle adjustments. Cognitive strategies encourage individuals to replace negative thoughts related to substance use with positive affirmations about sobriety.