Preventing Relapse From A Drug or Alcohol Addiction
Healthy Ways to Manage Stress
Building a Support Network for Ongoing Recovery
Relapse Prevention Tips for Social Settings
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
When these thought processes are affected, it can be dangerous. Without self-awareness and the ability to make decisions, an individual is at a greater risk of relapsing. Additionally, staying sober can be challenging when an individual is having difficulty connecting with others. In the case of many people who relapse, the process begins months, weeks, or even days before the relapse. Being mindful and aware of the signs of relapse can help an individual prevent relapsing again. Warning signs of a relapse vary by individual, but some can include:
- Depression
- Isolating from support groups
- Lying
- Romanticizing drinking alcohol or using drugs
Learning relapse prevention tips and techniques is vital to help individuals struggling in recovery. This is why relapse prevention treatment that includes creating a relapse prevention plan should be a part of addiction treatment.