What Is A Relapse Prevention Plan?

DrugRehab.org What is a Relapse Prevention Plan_

Entering treatment for drug or alcohol abuse can be one of the best choices you make in your life. Once you enter the program, you have an intense road of therapy, counseling, medication, and other possible treatment methods to help you get better. But what happens once you complete treatment, and get back to your life?

Will you relapse, or fall victim to addiction again? It’s definitely a possibility. Some may see relapse as a failure, but that is simply not the case. If you look at recovery as a spectrum, then you understand that in your newfound sobriety there may be a few falls from grace, but these do not define your progress.

It’s how you handle these lapses in your recovery goals that will determine the course of your recovery journey. When you face the triggers of addiction that pull you, will you have the stamina to push them away, to step aside? You will if you have a solid relapse prevention plan.

Relapse prevention begins in treatment. In fact, relapse prevention is treatment—all of your progress in a drug rehab center works toward preventing future relapse.

Why Do People Relapse?

DrugRehab.org What is a Relapse Prevention Plan_ Handle These Lapses In YourAs the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, “the chronic nature of the disease [addiction] means that relapsing to drug abuse at some point is not only possible, but likely.” However, contrary to what you may have heard or read, relapse is not a sign of treatment or recovery failure.

It’s not surprising to us when someone with other major illnesses relapse. You wouldn’t question someone having to re-enter treatment for diabetes. Addiction is a chronic illness as well. Though it is possible to effectively treat and cure addiction, relapse is simply part of the course.

“For a person recovering from addiction, lapsing back to drug use indicates that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted or that another treatment should be tried,” the NIDA explains.

Does Relapse Mean You Have To Go Back To Rehab?

Experiencing a relapse from sobriety is not a guarantee that you have to go back to rehab. Again, it’s all about how you handle that relapse. Life is full of substance abuse triggers. In treatment, you learn how to handle them.

When you begin going through your relapse, it’s important to call on principles, skills, and thought management processes learned during treatment. For instance, in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), you may have learned to assess a situation, identify troubling thoughts and behaviors, and confront those thoughts and behaviors through logical means.

This sort of rationale can help immensely during a relapse, but sometimes the old pull of addiction is simply too strong, or your grasp on treatment principles isn’t strong enough yet. Admitting that you need some more time in treatment to gain a stronger hold on treatment principles doesn’t make you weak. It doesn’t even mean you aren’t well.

It simply means you are still working on your recovery goals. At the end of the day, the important thing is that you’re making strides to getting well. At DrugRehab.org, we recognize that relapse is not just an unfortunate possibility, but part of your recovery and help you to work through it.

How To Design A Relapse Prevention Plan

Each person will deal with relapse in his or her own way. Prevention plans for relapse are as unique as the individuals who will use them. Unfortunately, relapse is a side effect that tends to catch you off guard. That’s why it’s so important to have a plan in place for managing relapse when it occurs, and preferably before leaving treatment.

This can be as comprehensive as a written step-by-step guide to managing triggers and emotions or thoughts that lead to relapse, or as simple as giving voice to this plan during counseling or therapy.

DrugRehab.org What is a Relapse Prevention Plan_ At The End Of The Day

The best way to design a prevention plan is to take a look at some key components that lead to relapse, and measures that will help prevent it, such as:

  • Signs of relapse: there are many things that trigger abuse, but each is specific to the individual. For some, it may be past trauma and feelings associated with it. Whatever your triggers are, you have to recognize them and know how to manage them.
  • Past relapses: if you’ve been through a relapse before, you may have the advantage of knowing how and when they may happen, which can help you in handling them.
  • Who gives you support: whether this is family, friends, or a new support group you enter, such as a 12-step support group, having people who are behind you in your efforts can make a vast difference in handling relapse.
  • Designing a life that is free from addiction: this may seem obvious, but it’s important to fill your schedule with healthy, fulfilling activities that help relieve and manage stress which often leads to relapse.

Having a plan doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be more likely to relapse. It just makes you more prepared in case it happens, helping you to stay the path of sobriety.

The Importance Of Addiction Recovery

How important is recovery? If you are falling into relapse, or have fallen before, you may be wondering just how important addiction treatment is to a healthy life. The NIDA reports that people who get into treatment and successfully complete treatment programs see less criminal activity, tend to stop substance abuse, and see better social and personal functioning overall.

Addiction can lead to a myriad of consequences in your life, especially for your health. Depending on the substance of abuse, long-term substance abuse can result in troubles with a number of organs such as the heart, liver, brain, lungs, and more. Prolonged abuse can also contribute to the development of several types of cancer.

DrugRehab.org What is a Relapse Prevention Plan_ People Who Get Into Treatment

If the damage to your health wasn’t enough, addiction changes you as a person. Once you become addicted, life becomes all about seeking the substance of choice. This can lead to some risky behavior and decisions.

No one casually uses a drug thinking addiction will be the result, or crime, or even contracting infectious or sexually transmitted diseases. But these are all possible consequences of abusing substances. Even with relapse, treatment and subsequent sobriety are far better options.

Getting Help With Your Relapse Prevention Plan

Relapse is not a step back in the path to sobriety, but simply another step along the way. You don’t have to be ashamed or discouraged if you’re experiencing relapse. Achieving sobriety long enough to relapse is a victory all its own.

But if you are finding it difficult to overcome a relapse, or you want to get back into treatment to steer yourself back in the right direction, we can help. Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to learn more about relapse, treatment options, and the best drug rehab centers available.

For more information, call now!

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Sources

American Psychological Association—Preventing Relapse
National Institute On Drug Abuse—What Is Relapse?
Psychology Today—Why Relapse Isn’t A Sign Of Failure

The Importance of Aftercare When Leaving A Drug And/Or Alcohol Rehab Program

DrugRehab.org The Importance of Aftercare When Leaving A Drug And Or Alcohol Rehab

An aftercare plan is critical to maintaining continued sobriety when leaving an addiction treatment facility . Its primary goal is to prevent relapse or a return to drug and/or alcohol abuse. In addition to this, it supports a person in maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life.

During recovery it’s important to stay engaged, informed, and optimistic. We know this can be hard. That’s why proper support, accountability, and resources are important. Staying involved in aftercare is one way to make these things happen. Even though this may seem obvious to some, the exact way to do this might not seem so clear. Aftercare includes a variety of components which together create a safety net within recovery. Aftercare is especially important for those newly out of treatment. Relapse is more common with these individuals.

Why Is Relapse Prevention Important?

It’s important to be aware of the people, places, or events that could push you back to substance abuse. Sometimes, however, you can’t avoid every cue or trigger. When this happens, you need to be prepared. Having a solid relapse prevention plan will give you the tools, coping skills, and strength to make healthy choices and to say no.

DrugRehab.org The Importance of Aftercare When Leaving A Drug And Or Alcohol Rehab People, Places, or Events

Beyond this, it will help you to fill your life with positive influences, behaviors, people, activities, and self-care. Uprooting the negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of a drug abusing lifestyle was hard. Now it’s important to put the work in to keep these things out of your life. Aftercare is a dynamic form of relapse prevention.

What Is Aftercare?

Addiction is a lonely road. Isolation, fear, and other negative emotions that often accompany this disease can be crippling. One of the most powerful, and important, components of recovery is support. Just like treatment, you can’t do this on your own. While aftercare definitely consists of self-care and other very personal endeavors, having a support system is a vital and crucial part of recovery. Without this, it can be far too tempting and easy to return to drug abuse. Friends and family members are an important part of aftercare. But this support comes in many other ways as well.

Some people may need more intensive aftercare directly following inpatient treatment. This depends on the individual, their support system or lack thereof, and other factors. Options include:

  • Outpatient aftercare
  • Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
  • Step-down residential care programs
  • Transitional living (i.e. halfway house or sober living house/facility)

In addition to or instead of these, aftercare may include:

  • The rehab center’s aftercare services (many offer these for a year)
  • A personal action plan
  • A relapse prevention plan
  • Consistently identifying your cues and triggers
  • Modifying your coping skills to the above
  • Building a support network of loved ones
  • Peer support groups (i.e. Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous)
  • Individual and/ or group counseling or behavioral therapy
  • Treatment for co-occurring disorders
  • Developing enhanced stress management and/or interpersonal skills
  • Having a sponsor
  • Online support groups
  • Peer mentorship
  • Family therapy and support
  • Goal setting
  • Having a plan should relapse occur

The best aftercare and relapse prevention plans are those which are individualized and address a person’s specific needs.

What Are The Benefits Of Aftercare?

DrugRehab.org The Importance of Aftercare When Leaving A Drug And Or Alcohol Rehab Build A Support NetworkAvoiding relapse and staying sober is the goal and greatest benefit of aftercare. But beyond this, aftercare helps to reestablish you within your life. A sober life is very different from one clouded by the negativity of addiction. While this is by far a good thing, it can at times be overwhelming and confusing. Aftercare gives you a plan when things get tough. It also connects you to resources and outreach that can help to carry you through these times. The benefits include:

  • A safe environment
  • Reduced exposure to cues and triggers
  • Decreased stress levels
  • Access to new, healthy relationships
  • Makes existing relationships healthier
  • Sober peers and like-minded individuals
  • Learning from those who’ve been there
  • Sponsorship
  • Peer fellowship
  • An increased arsenal of coping skills
  • Stress management skills
  • Emotional support
  • Accountability
  • Optimism
  • Motivation
  • Structure
  • Education
  • Family involvement
  • Something to look forward to
  • Opportunities for sober fun

Though we might know when something is good for us, sometimes it is still hard to put it into practice. Reaching out to others who understand your struggles and hopes, such as people within your peer support program can be transformative. These relationships can offer you many of these aftercare benefits, while also supporting you in other positive endeavors.

How Do I Create An Aftercare Plan?

Aftercare methods vary depending on the drug of abuse and/or if any co-occurring disorders are present. These components influence what, if any, pharmacotherapies are used within recovery. During recovery, pharmacotherapies are used to prevent relapse or for opioid maintenance. These might also include medications to treat co-occurring disorders. Medications should always be recommended, prescribed, and overseen by a trained medical professional or addictions specialist.

DrugRehab.org The Importance of Aftercare When Leaving A Drug And Or Alcohol Rehab A Good Treatment Plan

A good treatment plan should offer aftercare services and help you to develop a relapse prevention plan. If you’re just now at the point of looking into treatment, these elements are important to consider. But, if your program didn’t offer these, you’ve still got options. First, sit down with yourself and/or a loved one. Grab a notebook and a pad of paper. Now think about how you want to live each day. Where do you want to be in five years? Ten? How can you avoid the negative while taking positive steps to achieve your goals? A counselor who specializes in addiction treatment can help you to develop a customized aftercare plan and connect you to resources.

What Are Some Good Relapse Prevention Techniques?

First and foremost, take care of yourself. Self-care is one of the most important elements of aftercare. In addition to this, surround yourself with positive influences and loved ones. Remember: drug addiction influenced you on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. Because of this, you should be mindful of addressing the same components within relapse prevention. Useful relapse prevention techniques include:

  • Evaluate and alter your coping and avoidance skills
  • Stay positive
  • Be proud of even small, positive changes
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff
  • Practice saying “no”
  • Volunteer
  • Enjoy a hobby
  • Don’t overdo it
  • Take time to relax
  • Exercise
  • Eat well
  • Take your medication
  • Stay in contact with your care providers

Try to integrate these things on a regular basis. If you’re concerned that you’re going to relapse, avoid the risk and ask for help. If you think a loved one is close to relapsing, reach out to them. Enlist the aid of other people who care about them to help.

We Can Help You To Better Care For Yourself Or A Loved One

We can help you to stay focused on the positive and on track towards a sustainable drug-free life. Our compassionate and highly-trained staff can help you to create or maintain a relapse prevention plan and connect you to aftercare services. Aftercare matters. The pursuit for sobriety doesn’t stop when you leave treatment. DrugRehab.org is a great resource for you and your family as you begin, or continue, this journey. Contact us today!

For more information, call now!

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Getting Help: Signs Your Loved One Has Relapsed

Getting Help- Signs Your Loved One Has Relapsed_Content

Relapse can be a scary event for those who have faced addiction. It doesn’t just impact the drug- or alcohol-addicted person; it affects parents, siblings, children, spouses, friends, and co-workers. While relapse can feel like a failure, though challenging, it is a normal part of the recovery process. Knowing the warning signs of relapse can lead to swifter action and a more immediate and lasting response and a better recovery outcome for your loved one.

Know The Signs Of Drug Or Alcohol Relapse

If you have watched a loved one survive an addiction to drugs or alcohol, signs of a relapse can stir a complex array of emotions. It is normal to feel angry, anxious, and even depressed, though it is equally important to refrain from lashing out at your loved one or making strong accusatory statements, despite any frustration you might be experiencing.

One of the best ways to help a loved one who has previously battled an addiction is to remain open and available for them. If you are questioning whether they’ve relapsed on a regular basis, it can cause undo stress and may deter them from turning to you for help. One way to begin a conversation with someone you suspect may be on the verge of relapse, or who has relapsed is to ask them about stresses in their lives. Approach the conversation on the basis of understanding that recovery is a difficult process. This approach will leave room for your loved one to open up about any potential setbacks to their recovery.

Signs of drug or alcohol relapse include changes in attitude or a shift in behavior. In some cases, you might see more blame-oriented conversation. A person who has relapsed will typically fall into old thought and behavioral patterns quickly, so be on the look out for those old familiar issues including missing important events, a lack of interest in hobbies or social time with friends and family, financial or work-related struggles, and unexplained changes in sleep patterns or appetite.

Signs Drug or Alcohol Relapse Has Occurred Include:

  • Changes in behaviors
  • Moodiness
  • Lack of interest in social events
  • Lack of interest in hobbies
  • Missing work
  • Financial struggles
  • Unexplained changes in sleep patterns
  • Unexplained changes in appetite

How To Get Help After A Relapse

Remember, though it feels like your loved one has chosen to relapse, addiction is a disease. Those struggling with addiction may feel extreme frustration, anxiety, and depression following a relapse. Helping your loved one understand that relapse is not the conclusion to their recovery journey, but rather another stepping stone forward is hugely beneficial for the recovering individual. Relapse is normal and recovery from relapse is equally normal.

The good news is that your loved one has already gone through the program; they know what to expect and are on better footing than they were prior to their initial recovery. Remind them that relapse is a normal part of recovery and that sometimes people relapse multiple times on their way to a long-term recovery. While a return to rehab or treatment might feel redundant for someone who has just relapsed, it can invigorate the desire for change and promote new avenues or approaches to recovery with improved results. Often those who have experienced a relapse while in recovery say they came back feeling more committed to their recovery following the experience.

This first step involving communicating your support of your loved one is critical. You never want the person to feel like you’re going behind their back. Once you have talked with your loved one and discovered that relapse has occurred, talk with them about reaching out for professional support. If they give you excuses as to why it won’t work this time, remind them that it did help them previously and that additional complementary therapies may be employed to further improve their long-term recovery.

Anyone who has spent time with someone in recovery is aware of the reasons someone has chosen to enter drug or alcohol rehabilitation. For someone who has relapsed, they may need to be reminded of these goals, including preservation of their health, custody of their children, and more.

Connect them with a treatment support person who can facilitate a re-entry into treatment or recommend an appropriate course of action. Make promises you can keep about your commitment to helping them through the relapse. And reach out to other support people, including family, friends, and co-workers asking for their support.

Now is the time to address and assess any lingering issues that might contribute to future relapses.

Why Do People Relapse?

While there is no single answer to the question of why people relapse, there are some common issues that result in relapse. Someone who went from treatment directly into a home environment that promoted drug use or included drug exposure, or where stress is a large factor may feel overwhelmed by the sudden external pressures and resort to using again. Many programs require meetings or ongoing counseling. If this step was skipped, it can also result in higher rates of relapse. Ongoing meetings promote the broadening of a social network of other individuals committed to recovery. If your loved one skipped this step, they might have felt isolated from former friends or family who abused drugs. A return to spending time with those who use is a huge red flag in recovery.

Was the individual committed to their recovery in the first place? Sometimes an individual will enter rehab half-committed to achieving recovery. This thinking will nearly always result in relapse as it often includes the belief that once in recovery, they will be in better control of their drug use.

Was a co-occurring mental disorder left undiagnosed? Did your loved one previously suffer from anxiety or depression or some other disease or illness that might be perpetuating use of drugs or alcohol?

Relapse is a time to assess what needs were met in recovery and where treatment or transitioning out of treatment may have fallen short. And the earlier you intervene, the better the overall chance of recovery for your loved one.

If You Or A Loved One Has Relapsed, Help Is Near

DrugRehab.org is an online resource connecting you with the professional support and evidence-based care you need and deserve. Contact us today and take that next step forward in your recovery journey.

Contact us today and take that next step forward in your recovery journey.

For More Information Related to “Getting Help: Signs Your Loved One Has Relapsed” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org: