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This plan acts as a roadmap, providing strategies to prevent relapse and a clear plan for what to do if you do relapse. Someone may find it useful to imagine how their life will be without using drugs or alcohol. Additionally, they can think about the benefits of rebuilding relationships that may have become strained when a person was using substances.

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Clinical experience has shown that this stage usually starts 3 to 5 years after individuals have stopped using drugs or alcohol and is a lifetime path. More broadly speaking, I believe that recovering individuals need to learn to feel comfortable with being uncomfortable. They often assume that non-addicts don’t have the same problems or experience the same negative emotions. Therefore, they feel it is defensible or necessary to escape their negative feelings.

• Denied users will not or cannot fully acknowledge the extent of their addiction.
• People who attend therapy learn skills and strategies for preventing relapse.
• Relapse plans can be verbalized but may also be written in order to have a more clear outline of what steps to take should a relapse seem to be a possibility.
• Dry drunks, for example, are sober people in recovery who continue to engage in risky behaviors that increase their risk for relapse.
• Contacting the supportive people in your life can have a tremendous impact on cravings and relapse.
• Understanding these stages and what to do when they appear can help stop a relapse before it takes effect.
• Since they did not allow themselves small rewards during the work, the only reward that will suffice at the end is a big reward, which in the past has meant using.

During this stage, recovering alcoholics must confront the damage their addiction caused to relationships, their careers, their finances, and how they feel about themselves. The https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/relapse-prevention-plan-how-it-can-help-you-stay-on-track/ abstinence stage starts immediately after alcohol cessation and can last for one to two years. During this stage, the main focus is fighting cravings and avoiding alcohol use.

The Stages of Relapse

And urges to perform harmful behavior are quite frequent, especially at first. So, what is a person to do if they feel on the verge of relapsing? The toolbox is a set of behaviors for the client to do when they feel like they are close to relapsing. Instead, they are actions to perform in the moment to stop someone from doing something they will regret.

• Try to brainstorm a list of scenarios that could lead to potential relapse and list the warning signs of relapse.
• By recognizing warning signs that you or a loved one may be headed for relapse, you can take steps to prevent it from occurring.
• An ironclad relapse prevention plan can help minimize those challenges.

By recognizing warning signs that you or a loved one may be headed for relapse, you can take steps to prevent it from occurring. Proper self-care can ensure you’re happy and healthy, which makes dealing with unavoidable triggers much easier. If you’re in a good place mentally and physically, it’s easier to deal with things that might normally trigger you to drink or use.

Safety Plan

A person may make a plan to prevent this with support from a healthcare professional. “There should always be a plan and skills in place,” Gottlich said. Once you’ve made your relapse prevention plan, share it with friends, family, and the people you live with, so they can provide support, but also remove triggers from the home. Share it with the people you spend a lot of the time with, including those who have used substances with you in the past, so they can be aware.

Compile a list of who you can call if you experience cravings, what you can do to distract yourself from cravings and how you can stop a craving altogether. Substance use is a negative coping skill, so healthy coping skills will prevent relapse and result in positive outcomes in the long-term. Many people are embarrassed by their addiction, but having the disease of addiction is not shameful. Being open and honest about your recovery allows friends, family members and co-workers to support you when you need it.

Second, mind-body relaxation helps individuals let go of negative thinking such as dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, which are triggers for relapse. The practice of self-care during mind-body relaxation translates into self-care in the rest of life. Part of creating a new life in recovery is finding time to relax.

• One vital component of the relapse prevention plan is looking out for and avoiding contact with potential triggers during treatment.
• Certified addiction specialists can guide your recovery and relapse prevention journey.
• Discussions often revolve around dealing with everyday situations without turning to substances.

What specific things will be the biggest challenge for you, and what can you do to manage them? Come up with relaxation techniques, stress-management ideas, and coping strategies, and include these in your plan as a reference for you to look back at. Remember, reaching out for help and support is vital if you ever feel overwhelmed or struggling. Long-term sobriety is possible and starts with taking that first step. This helps you safely manage thoughts about using substances again.