If addiction were so easy, people wouldn’t want to quit and wouldn’t have to quit. There are different models and techniques to include in your https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/9-most-important-relapse-prevention-skills-in-recovery/ plan. They’re based on building your knowledge and skills to combat substance use. Relapse prevention is an umbrella term that refers to strategies that help reduce the likelihood of relapsing.
Research has found that getting help in the form of supportive therapy from qualified professionals, and social support from peers, can prevent or minimize relapse. In particular, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people overcome the fears and negative thinking that can trigger relapse. When an urge comes, it can be difficult to manage it, especially in the beginning of recovery. A very helpful relapse prevention skill is making a list of healthy family members or friends who are also in recovery that you can call for support. Having a safe person to talk to can help you get past the craving and remember why you do not want to return to previous behaviors. Keeping that list on you at all times is important because it is a readily available resource you can use by quickly calling someone safe.
Resource Box 1. Building a Whole Health Receovery Foundation
Objective evidence of abstinence has been a critical component of many relapse prevention programs. The results often inform contingency management programs (discussed above) of drug tests. Also, the use of some medications (i.e., buprenorphine and methadone) require periodic drug screens to ensure the individual is not diverting the medication or using other substances of abuse.
Recovering individuals tend to see setbacks as failures because they are unusually hard on themselves [9]. Setbacks can set up a vicious cycle, in which individuals see setbacks as confirming their negative view of themselves. Eventually, they stop focusing on the progress they have made and begin to see the road ahead as overwhelming [16].
Understanding Relapse
This is a group of people that includes family, doctors, counselors, self-help groups, and sponsors. Individuals are encouraged to be completely honest within their recovery circle. As clients feel more comfortable, they may choose to expand the size of their circle. Other than joining therapy groups and treatment programs, accessing relapse prevention workbooks can help immensely. One of the most widely used relapse prevention techniques is the HALT model.
Denied users invariably make a secret deal with themselves that at some point they will try using again. Important milestones such as recovery anniversaries are often seen as reasons to use. Alternatively, once a milestone is reached, individuals feel they have recovered enough that they can determine when and how to use safely. It is remarkable how many people have relapsed this way 5, 10, or 15 years after recovery.
Following Through with Treatment
This could involve going to a bar or liquor store, contacting your dealer, or retrieving your old stash. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. B4DT is common throughout Norway, with the treatment offered at 55 clinics, and has been trialed https://ecosoberhouse.com/ in other countries including the United States, Nepal, Ecuador, and Kenya. Shift perspective to see relapse and other “failures” as opportunities to learn. If you are at a gathering where provocation arises because alcohol or other substances are available, leave.
- A relapse prevention plan includes various strategies and techniques, such as identifying personal behaviors, to help reduce the risk of a relapse following treatment for substance use disorder.
- It’s important to know which triggers might cause you to relapse and come up with strategies for managing them.
- If you fear you are at imminent risk of relapsing, contact them immediately.
- Clinical experience has shown that individuals have a hard time identifying their high-risk situations and believing that they are high-risk.
This is also the time to deal with any family of origin issues or any past trauma that may have occurred. But they can be stressful issues, and, if tackled too soon, clients may not have the necessary coping skills to handle them, which may lead to relapse. The tasks of this stage can be summarized as improved physical and emotional self-care.
