Relapse is the biggest threat to recovery. As many as half of all people who complete some form of addiction treatment eventually relapse. The highest chance of relapse is within the first month of independent recovery. At Silver Pines Treatment Center, we acknowledge this risk and prepare clients through training, education and the right relapse prevention tips.
Addressing Mental Health is Key to Relapse Prevention
One of the biggest reasons that people relapse is that they only break their physical addiction. To truly recover and find sobriety that lasts a lifetime, you have to look under the hood and go beyond the basic withdrawal symptoms. At Silver Pines Treatment Center, part of the recovery process includes addressing mental health concerns.
In some cases, a mental illness may be at the root of addiction development. It’s critical to address, understand, and resolve these illnesses. Only then can clients begin making meaningful recovery from addiction. Other clients may benefit from trauma therapy, which can resolve a history of trauma and go a long way in preventing relapse down the road.
Healthy Ways to Manage Stress
People often turn to substance abuse as a way to manage stress. Even those without a substance abuse problem might find themselves reaching for a glass of wine after a tough day. The problem is that for some people who are newly sober, they’ve lost their means of stress relief. Relapse prevention has to include a plan for a healthy means of stress management.
Learning how to manage stress is a big part of rehab treatment. Some people find that talking to a friend or attending a group therapy session can instantly relieve stress. For others, it includes keeping busy and staying active.
Stress relief can begin during treatment, especially if clients have access to all the following amenities:
- Gardening
- Yoga Therapy
- Outdoor activities
- Social activities
- Fitness facilities
Building a Support Network for Ongoing Recovery
Another key way to prevent relapse is to build a supportive network. During treatment, clients will have accountability and support 24/7. If you move from this environment to a completely independent lifestyle, you lose significant support and accountability very quickly.
Fortunately, clients can be proactive and start building that support network during rehab. Addiction experts can encourage this, showing clients how to reach out. A support network often includes close friends and family members, but it can also include peers and therapists, among many others.
Relapse Prevention Tips for Social Settings
In substance abuse treatment, clients learn how to steer clear of peer pressure. They also learn how to say no to temptations in social settings, which many people find to be the toughest of all. In a group setting, clients can practice the responses they’ll use when others offer them drugs or alcohol in the future. This might sound simple, but just saying the words out loud can give individuals the confidence they need moving forward.
Full Continuum of Care
One of the best ways to prevent relapse is to acknowledge the need for a full continuum of care. Relapse is most likely among people who try to detox on their own. It’s also more likely to occur among people who complete a detox without rehab.
The best chance for success is a combination of detox programs and ongoing addiction treatment. A residential program, in particular, can give clients the tools, resources and support they need to tackle addiction.
Relapse prevention tips can go a long way, but the secret to overcoming addiction is comprehensive detox as well as rehab. At Silver Pines Treatment Center near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, you’ll have access to both in one relaxing, peaceful location. Call us at 866-345-2147 to learn more about preventing relapse and working toward recovery.