How to Guard Against Relapse

But clients and families often begin recovery by hoping that they don’t have to change. They often enter treatment saying, “We want our old life back — without the using.” I try to help clients understand https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/relapse-prevention-plan-how-it-can-help-you-stay-on-track/ that wishing for their old life back is like wishing for relapse. Rather than seeing the need for change as a negative, they are encouraged to see recovery as an opportunity for change.

Engaging in self-care may sound like an indulgence, but it is crucial to recovery. For one, it bolsters self-respect, which usually comes under siege after a relapse but helps motivate and sustain recovery and the belief that one is worthy of good things. Too, maintaining healthy practices, especially getting abundant sleep, fortifies the ability to ride out cravings and summon coping skills in crisis situations, when they are needed most.

Manage withdrawal symptoms

You may also want to make a list of people you can talk to if you start to feel yourself falling back into old habits and thought patterns. These people should be individuals you trust and that are familiar with your sobriety goals, such as family members and people from your outpatient support groups. Review your plan for relapse with them and discuss how they can help get you back on track if you do relapse.

They do not mean the individual will relapse or that they are doing a poor job of recovery. Once a person has experienced addiction, it is impossible to erase the memory. But with good coping skills, a person can learn to let go of thoughts of using quickly.

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The distinction is critical to make because it influences how people handle their behavior. A relapse is a sustained return to heavy and frequent substance use that existed prior to treatment or the commitment to change. A slipup is a short-lived lapse, often accidental, typically reflecting inadequacy of coping strategies in a high-risk situation. Keeping
a list of consequences can help keep you stay focused on your recovery.

A relapse prevention model is a simplistic way of explaining what motivates a person to stay sober and what factors contribute to a slip-up. By understanding what drives it, mitigating measures may be put in place to increase the patient’s chances of full recovery. Since the possibility for deterioration is high, recidivism prevention worksheets also include activities where the individual must lay out a plan in case the worst does happen.