As many as half of all people who complete addiction treatment eventually relapse. The highest chance of relapse is within the first month of independent recovery. Since relapse is the biggest threat to addiction recovery, it’s vital to work on preventing relapse during addiction treatment. At Silver Pines, we acknowledge this risk and prepare clients by providing them with relapse prevention therapy which includes creating a relapse prevention plan, training, and education on relapse prevention tips.
Preventing Relapse From A Drug or Alcohol Addiction
One of the biggest reasons people relapse is that they only break their physical addiction. To truly recover and find sobriety that lasts a lifetime, individuals must also look at the root of their addiction issues. At Silver Pines, recovery includes relapse prevention therapy which involves addressing related mental health concerns. In some cases, mental illness may be the root cause of addiction, so it’s critical to address, understand, and resolve these illnesses. Only then can clients begin meaningful recovery from addiction. Other clients may benefit from trauma therapy, which can resolve a trauma history and be an important part of relapse prevention in addiction recovery.Healthy Ways to Manage Stress
People often turn to substances to manage stress. Even someone without a substance abuse problem may reach for a glass of wine after a tough day. The problem is that some newly sober people have lost their means of stress relief. Relapse prevention strategies should include a plan for healthy stress management. Learning how to manage stress is a big part of our relapse prevention program. Some find that talking to a friend of attending group therapy relieves stress. For others, it includes keeping busy and staying active. Stress relief can begin during treatment, especially if clients have access to recreational activities like gardening, yoga therapy, outdoor activities, social activities, and exercise like what we offer at Silver Pines.Building a Support Network for Ongoing Recovery
A relapse prevention plan should include the important step of building a supportive network. Silver Pines’ substance abuse relapse prevention involves holding clients accountable and supporting them throughout treatment. When an individual moves from this structured environment to living independently, they lose significant support and may not be held accountable by someone in their life. Fortunately, clients can be proactive and build that support network during residential addiction treatment. During treatment at Silver Pines, our team helps each client build their support network. This can include close friends, family members, peers, and therapists, who can be important parts of preventing relapse.Relapse Prevention Tips for Social Settings
Part of our relapse prevention program involves relapse prevention therapy which includes teaching clients how to avoid peer pressure. This can include close friends, family members, peers, and therapists, who can be important parts of preventing relapse. This might sound simple, but just saying the words out loud can give individuals the confidence to move forward.Warning Signs of A Relapse
Even after successfully completing a residential treatment program, relapse can only be prevented by understanding your triggers. The part of the brain that addiction affects is responsible for many different thought processes, including:- Logical decision making
- Tremors
- Self-awareness
- Empathy
- Connecting with others
- Depression
- Isolating from support groups
- Lying
- Romanticizing drinking alcohol or using drugs
