Did you know that studies suggest that the chances of relapse following addiction recovery treatment are as high as 75%? These significant statistics prove that relapses are a common part of the recovery journey. The good news is that preventing relapse is possible, and a strong support system can help you stay firm through this journey.
In today’s read, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how support can be the most valuable thing in preventing relapse. We will walk you through everything, including the best strategies to prevent relapse, its risks and types so you can have a better plan next time.
So, let’s get into the details and provide you with the necessary backup.
Introduction to Recovery
The process of recovering from drug or alcohol abuse calls for constant work and commitment. A key component of rehabilitation is relapse prevention, which aids in maintaining long-term sobriety and preventing relapse into previous behaviours. To sustain recovery and avoid relapse, a well-thought-out plan is necessary. Relapse prevention strategies including counselling, support groups, and coping mechanisms should be incorporated into this approach to assist people in staying on course and avoiding typical triggers. You may lay a solid foundation for a better, drug-free life by include these components in your recovery plan.
Understanding Relapse
You have finally stopped binge drinking alcohol or just said goodbye to substance abuse after a comprehensive treatment plan. However, then something odd happens. Maybe it’s pain, a memory, or just work stress, you give up. You slip back into the same dependency cycle you have been running from.
And it is not like one day you wake up and decide to continue with your addiction again. It is a gradual process and can be the result of external as well as internal challenges. Sometimes it’s deeply rooted in your environment. Other times, this slip may result from the storms inside your head, leading to substance use as a negative coping mechanism.
Here’s more on how relapse begins and what the signs could be related to it. Understanding and acknowledging them can help you to take action even before it takes hold.
Stages
You can fall back into the same pattern of addiction through the following three stages:
● Emotional: At this stage, you’re not yet thinking of starting your addiction again, but your behaviours and emotions are setting the ground for it. You may isolate yourself from others, have unusual sleeping or eating habits or even neglect self-care. And most importantly, you will begin to feel anxious and annoyed for no reason.
● Mental: This is the stage of mental relapse, where your mind starts to have conflict between right and wrong. A part of your brain will explain how addiction has made your past life miserable, while the other may tell you that a little usage won’t hurt anyone. This internal conflict and cravings are critical to recognize to prevent progressing to physical relapse.
● Physical: When all the previous stages combine, it finally reinforces you to use the substance again. This stage is known as physical relapse and involves the actual resumption of substance use. It may even begin with a single dose or drink, but when left unmonitored, this can turn into a full relapse.
Relapse Risk Factors
There can be a lot of cues involved in triggering a relapse. A few of the most common ones include:
● Environment: Your surroundings can play a great role in your relapse. Being in a place or around people who were previously associated with substance abuse can act as powerful triggers. Certain environments can be high risk situations for relapse, making it crucial to recognize and avoid them.
● Psychological Stressors: Stress has long been known as a major contributor to addiction relapse. And honestly, it isn’t uncommon for many of us to resort to old coping mechanisms like substance abuse when feeling overwhelmed.
● Social Isolation: Not having the right support system when recovering can significantly increase the risk of relapse. When you’re disconnected from relationships, it can quickly give rise to feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. This can eventually have you rely on the same addictive patterns that you once worked hard to overcome.
Types of Support Systems in a Relapse Plan
Below are the key support systems that are crucial for maintaining a long-term recovery:
Immediate Support
This support group may include your immediate family, friends, colleagues, or individuals in your surroundings. For the recovery to be successful and relapse to be minimised, it is important to have this type of support. However, the rule is that everyone included in this circle must be supportive and encouraging.
Reaching out to a family member can provide immediate emotional support and alternative outlets instead of resorting to substance use. These individuals are going to offer you immediate help whenever a challenge arises. Their understanding nature and ability to provide real-time emotional support can help you stay grounded.
Peer Support Groups
When recovering, your family or immediate friends aren’t the only support you need. There can be instances when you want to be understood by others. And this sense of belonging can only be attained by joining peer support groups. So what are they?
These are groups joined by individuals facing similar challenges. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are some common peer support groups you may come across.
The goal of these programmes is simple: to have everyone attending share wisdom and offer validation. Hearing others’ recovery journeys can provide incredible motivation and reassurance, which can help you stay committed to the treatment.
Professional Help
Structured guidance is an essential part of the recovery treatment. It is usually provided by professionals such as counsellors, therapists or doctors. These experts understand how various therapies can offer the necessary support during recovery. Whether it is identifying the triggers or helping you manage them, they can help you do it more safely.
The Role of Strong Support in Preventing Relapse
Having the right support can actually keep you on track and from going back. It can really speed up your recovery process by:
Promoting Emotional Stability
Addicts who have recovered from addiction are usually fearful of being judged. Due to this, they tend to avoid social events, social activities with friends and peers. Nurturing relationships, however, offers them a platform where they can open up and be themselves without fear of judgment.
In these groups, individuals are not subjected to criticism; they are accepted and empathised with. This type of setting allows them to share what they are going through. Therefore, they do not have to keep it locked in themselves, which could have caused them to seek solace in substances later in life.
Reinforcing Positivity
Having supportive individuals with you who are committed to your recovery can sustain hope and motivation. Positive reinforcement and constructive criticism can counter negative self-talk and prevent you from looking back.
Assisting Early Identification of Triggers
Sometimes, people in your life can spot warning signs before you do. Encouraging friends and family members can warn you about changes in behaviour that can predict a relapse. Recognizing specific symptoms related to emotional and mental relapse stages can aid in the prevention of relapse. This enables you to take action immediately to avoid the consequences.
Inspiring to Ask for Assistance When Needed
Recovery is not a solitary process. A quality support group reminds you that it is okay to seek help when you need it. This honesty can stop small setbacks from spiralling into a total relapse.
Strategies That Can Help Prevent Relapse
In addition to a strong support network, there are strategies that can reduce the risks of relapse. These include:
Relapse prevention skills, which help individuals cope with triggers and cravings, are essential for maintaining recovery from substance use disorders.
Daily Self-Care Practices
Understand this: you, your emotional health, and your physical well-being all come first. When you start to prioritise yourself, you begin to build inner resilience. These acts can involve fixing your sleep schedule, eating healthy, staying active and maintaining personal hygiene. Incorporating these self-care practices into your daily routine is essential for reinforcing stability and promoting sustained personal growth. No matter how small the practice is, it will surely reinforce stability inside you.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Relapse usually occurs when you are stressed or impulsive. Mindfulness and meditation can provide great support in erasing such feelings of vulnerability. And these strategies don’t require you to do much either. You just have to inhale and exhale for about 10-15 minutes, and you will be ready to handle your cravings responsibly.
Keeping a Recovery Journal
When you know you’re actually making progress in the recovery process, you tend to stay more motivated during the journey. And for that, you must start journaling your thoughts. Write out your triggers, feelings, and emotions while considering it as a safe space to reflect on your thoughts. This can also help you recognise the patterns that may lead to relapse.
Prevention Interventions
One important element of relapse prevention is preventative interventions. These therapies, which aim to prevent relapse and sustain recovery, can include counselling, support groups, and coping skills. A variety of techniques, including deep breathing, self-care, and peer support, can be used into relapse prevention programs, which can be customised to each person’s unique requirements and preferences. Support organisations, like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, can help people stay accountable and motivated during their recovery process while also offering a sense of community and connection. You can build the skills and resilience required to deal with the difficulties of recovery by participating in these programs.
Mental Health Considerations
A crucial component of preventing relapses is taking mental health into account. As part of the rehabilitation process, mental health conditions like anxiety and depression should be treated because they might raise the chance of relapse. Therapy, counselling, medication, and other therapies are examples of relapse prevention measures that can help people manage their mental health and stay in recovery. Developing techniques for controlling cravings and avoiding triggers is also crucial, as is taking into account how brain chemistry affects relapse. People can lower their chance of relapsing and sustain long-term sobriety by attending to mental health issues and creating a thorough relapse prevention plan. Maintaining your mental well-being is essential to a fruitful healing process.
What if the Relapse Plan Fails
Even with the best support and most structured professional treatment plan, relapse can still happen. If it does, don’t take it as a failure, and the end of your recovery journey. Relapse occurs in stages, so it’s important to reassess your triggers and understand the process. All you have to do is:
● Don’t Panic: Acknowledge that relapse doesn’t mean you must quit the recovery journey. Instead, it means that you need to reassess your triggers and adjust your treatment.
● Understand What Caused the Breakdown: Reflect on what patterns led to relapse. Question yourself: Was it a trigger, emotional cue, or lack of support? Understanding what has triggered the relapse can help in formulating a new treatment plan.
● Rebuild Your Prevention Plan: Once the trigger is identified, rebuild your prevention plan accordingly. You can consider adjusting the coping strategies or formulating ways to avoid the triggers.
Final Words
To sum it up, the path towards recovery is a long road, but you don’t have to walk it alone. With the right support, you can build the confidence needed to prevent relapse. Remember, every step forward counts. And if by any chance you slip, remind yourself that this is not the end. Instead, it is a learning experience that can be used to rebuild your recovery plan.
