Common Relapse Prevention Techniques

Relapse is a return to drug or alcohol use after you’ve achieved sobriety for a time. You are the greatest obstacle in preventing your relapse. Our staff wants you to understand the power you have in staying clean and sober. However, we can only foster what you bring to the table. At the end of the day, you are in a battle for your long-term health and sobriety. Though you may opt for inpatient treatment, we cannot be with you every day at every moment. You have to be committed to overcoming your addiction and entering recovery. At Springfield Recovery Center, we want to support and undergird your recovery. To learn more about how we can help you recover, please contact our treatment center today at 844.334.4727.

What Are The Signs That You May Relapse?

An online resource offers a concise blueprint for a solid relapse prevention plan. You may have heard the phrase that people, places, and things are the triggers behind your substance abuse or alcohol abuse. Let’s add seven more triggers to the list:

Being overly confident that your drug or alcohol problem is completely over
You are isolating
Stress around relationships and sex is building
You’re feeling acute withdrawal symptoms (physical)
You’re suffering from post-acute withdrawal symptoms (feeling anxious and irritable)
Not taking care of yourself
Having uncomfortable emotions

If you’re experiencing these triggers and fear that you may relapse, please reach out to Springfield Wellness Center today.

The Three Stages of Relapse

Relapse doesn’t just happen. Once you begin treatment, you will hear over and over that there are three stages of relapse:

Emotional: At this stage, you’re not thinking about using drugs. However, your behaviors and emotions may lead you to relapse in the future.
Mental: A mental relapse is when you’re battling thoughts of relapse. Part of you wants to stay sober, and part of you wants to start using substances again. You may have been fantasizing about using substances again.
Physical: If you don’t address mental and emotional relapse symptoms, you may be on the road to physical relapse. As a result, you may have started using drugs and alcohol.

It’s best to practice relapse prevention techniques to avoid a physical relapse.

The Most Common Relapse Prevention Techniques

Experts agree that stopping the relapse before it becomes physical is your best chance. Understand the emotions involved with post-acute withdrawal. If you don’t practice self-care at the point of emotional relapse, slipping into physical relapse is harder to stop.

Better self-care is a relapse prevention technique. Take great care of yourself emotionally. Think about why you want to abstain from drug or alcohol use. Take great care of your diet, your sleeping habits, pay close attention to your emotions and ask for help when you’re becoming too anxious. Self-care is an important relapse prevention technique throughout the three stages of relapse because it puts the focus back on you. Not taking great care of yourself emotionally, mentally, or physically was part of the cause of your drug abuse.
Be honest with yourself. Know where you are. If you are in emotional or mental relapse, that means you haven’t physically used substances yet.
Distract yourself.
If you get an urge to use substances, make yourself wait for 30 minutes before you walk it out.
Understand that recovery occurs one day at a time. Don’t focus on staying sober forever; just focus on the moment.

If you’ve used these relapse prevention tips and believe that you’re still at risk for relapse, please contact Springfield Wellness Center for help.

At Springfield Wellness Center, We Can Help You Change Your Mind

Relapse prevention techniques are interwoven throughout the programming at Springfield Wellness Center. The following is a few of the treatment options we offer:

You are already strengthening your resolve by gathering information about relapse prevention techniques. You are well on your way. Contact our intake department at 844.334.4727, or contact us online to continue on your road of recovery and understanding relapse prevention techniques. Deciding to call is a major step in the right direction!