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Last Updated on July 5, 2024 by Alaina
Relapse prevention skills are absolutely essential for those recovering from substance use disorders. Even though you have gone through the addiction treatment plans and remained sober for several weeks or months, a sudden trigger can easily cause a relapse during your recovery. If you are determined to stay sober, you need to strengthen your mind and control your desires. Here are some relapse prevention tips to help you succeed.
1. Avoid People or Situations that May Cause a Trigger
People in the recovery phase are highly vulnerable to cues linked with past experiences of substance use. If you are around the particular substance that you are recovering from, it may cause a trigger to use the substance.
So, one of the most important relapse prevention tips is to avoid people and situations that can trigger you. Get rid of any remaining substances (tobacco, drugs, or alcohol) from your home. Even the smells, sights, or sounds associated with the substance can bring back old memories and can create a desire to use the substance again.
Once you have completed your rehab from a substance abuse treatment center and are planning to go outside, avoid any potentially triggering situations, people, and places as much as possible. This includes spending time with people who you used to use with and anyone who still uses.
Even though it may be difficult to sever relationships with old friends, it is best today goodbye to people who may expose you to drugs, alcohol, or other substances you are recovering from.
2. Develop a Positive Support Network
During recovery, you must surround yourself with people who genuinely care about you and want you to return to a healthy life. A support network of positive people who can stay by your side during your low points and help you follow all treatment recommendations will help more than you can imagine. They also regularly remind you why you decided to get sober.
While the support group generally includes family members, friends, and colleagues, a peer support group can also help you recover from the phase of substance abuse by sharing knowledge, experiences, understanding, and coping strategies.
3. Keep Yourself Busy
While recovering from substance abuse, many people cannot figure out what to do in their free time. As their empty hours were previously filled with drugs, alcohol, or other substances, staying idle for an extended period can trigger the memories of substance use and increase the desire to use them again. So, next on the list of recommended relapse prevention tips is to replace substance use with positive activities.
There are plenty of good things to do during your free time. You can find a new hobby, learn new skills, attend a certificate course, participate in sports, get involved in volunteer work, or find other healthy and productive activities to keep you busy. You may also consider recording your journey to recovery and publishing it on YouTube to help others who want to recover from substance abuse.
4. Take Medications as Suggested
Based on the assessment, the doctors may recommend medication-assisted treatment to help treat substance use disorders in certain patients. The treatment approach involves using FDA-approved medications in combination with behavioral therapy and counseling. During inpatient care, the patient is given medicines per the doctors’ recommendation, and the dosage is adjusted based on the signs.
Once you return home from the rehabilitation center, the doctor may ask you to continue certain medications to prevent relapsing. Complete the course of medication and get regular checkups. As the doctors assess your health during the recovery phase, they may make some changes in the medications and their dosages. So, meticulously follow their instructions and consult your doctor if you witness anything unusual about your health.
Another important relapse prevention tips is to let your doctors know that you are in recovery. This way they can make sure only to prescribe certain medications for pain, anxiety, or other issues if you have tried every other avenue.
Parting Thoughts
Taking advantage of these relapse prevention tips can minimize your risk of relapse but it cannot completely nullify it. So, if you end up experiencing a relapse after completing a treatment program, this does not mean that the treatment failed or you need to return to the rehabilitation center. If you were able to recover from addiction and get sober once, you can do it again. Just remember to contact your support network and get the necessary help. You can successfully prevent relapse and enjoy a healthy life with the right support and positive choices.