What is a Relapse Prevention Plan?

You may need a different approach to treatment, or perhaps to return to inpatient treatment. Regardless of what led to a relapse, getting back on track quickly gives you the best chance at long-term recovery, rather than waiting until the problem worsens. It is hard to admit to others that you have experienced a relapse, but it is the best thing to do.

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Sometimes they think that avoiding high-risk situations is a sign of weakness. But their emotions and behaviors are setting them up for relapse down the road. Because clients are not consciously thinking about using during this stage, denial is a big part of emotional relapse. The plan acknowledges that relapse is a process involving emotional, mental, and physical stages, emphasizing the need for proactive planning. Setting both short-term and long-term sobriety goals is encouraged, as well as documenting reasons for choosing sobriety. Unfortunately, relapse is a part of the recovery process for many people.

Incorporating coping strategies and support networks

Clinical experience has shown that common causes of relapse in this stage are poor self-care and not going to self-help groups. By actively identifying and managing triggers, individuals bolster their defenses against relapse. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. Eat a well-balanced diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Following these healthy habits will help you feel better and more in control of your life. Certain people, places, and situations can drive you back into drinking or using drugs again.

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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 Halfway house other substances of abuse. Lastly, even in the absence of explicit consequences for alcohol or drug use, knowing they may be subject to testing provides a measure of deterrence against relapses for some individuals. Providers have long recognized that relapse is a process rather than an event. This intensive outpatient program is often used as a step-down from inpatient care or a step-up from traditional outpatient services when a higher level of care is needed. Our Massachusetts PHP programs typically last 6 hours each day, up to 6 days a week.

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Coping strategies are indispensable in managing cravings and preventing relapse. Identify healthy mechanisms representing your interests, such as exercise, journaling, or mindfulness practices. Additionally, building a robust support network is crucial; include individuals relapse prevention you can reach out to during vulnerable moments. Engage actively in support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, as shared experiences foster accountability and provide additional resources during challenging times. Relapse prevention is a skill that takes dedication and following relapse prevention strategies.

Mental Relapse

Interpersonal relationships and support systems are highly influenced by intrapersonal processes such as emotion, coping, and expectancies18. Approach coping may involve attempts to accept, confront, or reframe as a means of coping, whereas avoidance coping may include distraction from cues or engaging in other activities. Approach oriented participants may see themselves as more responsible for their actions, including lapse, while avoidance-based coping may focus more on their environment than on their own actions14. The initial transgression of problem behaviour after a quit attempt is defined as a “lapse,” which could eventually lead to continued transgressions to a level that is similar to before quitting and is defined as a “relapse”. Another possible outcome of a lapse is that the client may manage to abstain and thus continue to go forward in the path of positive change, “prolapse”4. Many researchers define relapse as a process rather than as a discrete event and thus attempt to characterize the factors contributing to relapse3.

Events, specific people (such as friends who are also using), and certain places can put you at a higher risk of relapsing. A relapse prevention plan works best when you do it under a therapist or counselor’s supervision. That way, you can explore new behaviors and thought patterns to help you stay clean.

• What many do not know, however, is how much control you have over your life by simply changing your breathing patterns.
• By understanding these stages and developing proactive strategies, individuals can better prepare themselves to navigate challenges in their recovery and minimize the risk of relapse.
• Explore long-term sobriety statistics and discover the power of perseverance in overcoming addiction.
• Relapse prevention is one of the main goals of drug or alcohol treatment programs.

For each goal you achieve, give yourself a reward as motivation to keep moving forward. For instance, book yourself a relaxing massage https://ecosoberhouse.com/ or buy yourself something you’ve had your eye on. Mindfulness is a practice that involves being present in the moment and being aware of your thoughts without judgment.