As many ex-addicts will attest to, recovery is a lifelong process. Completing your treatment program is just the first step. Nevertheless, there are many people who have successfully recovered from addiction and many more who will continue to do so. After completing treatment, some people never use again while some others suffer relapses. There’s no magic formula to preventing relapses, however there are some helpful steps you can take to reduce your chances of relapsing.
In this article, we share with you a prevention plan to avoid addiction relapse.
Surround Yourself with The Right People
Chances are, you would already have identified your triggers with your counsellor during your rehabilitative treatment program. A common trigger for many addicts is people: people who drink with them, people who tease them for not drinking and more. If you used to surround yourself with such people and know that they may bring on a relapse, cut them out of your life. Change your number if necessary. Surround yourself with people who support your substance-free lifestyle and are supportive of your efforts.
Avoid Your Triggers
A common test recovering addicts like to try out is being in the presence of alcohol and not succumbing to temptation. However, that can be a bad idea, especially for those who are in the beginning stages of recovery. Even if you manage to resist temptation once, that may not always be the case. One glass can always lead to more, and before you know it, a relapse may have occurred. To prevent this, simply do not put yourself into situations where you will be surrounded by alcohol or your triggers.
Create A Routine
A routine is important when it comes to cutting alcohol out of your life. Even after you have completed treatment, keep up this routine. Schedule in time for necessary activities such as work, meals and grocery runs. Fill up the remaining time with hobbies and social activities. It’s important not to leave yourself with too much “spare” time on your hands as many addicts find themselves reaching back for a bottle when that happens.
Forgive Yourself After Relapsing
You may see every relapse as a failure, but it’s this mindset that will keep you down. After relapsing, don’t allow yourself to lose focus. Go back to your recovery plan and follow everything that has been working for you so far. Reach out to friends and family for support and engage professional help if needed. If you have managed to stay sober before, you will be able to do it again. Learn from your mistakes and continue down the path on recovery instead of giving up on yourself.
Rehabilitation from A Safe Distance
At Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group, we believe that rehabilitative treatment is the best way for DUI offenders to prevent addiction relapse. However, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, DUI telehealth sessions have temporarily replaced in-person relapses. These sessions are conducted via online platforms for a limited time only and will be resumed in person as soon as it’s safe to. If you have any questions about our services, please feel free to check out our FAQs.
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