After leaving addiction recovery treatment, the fear of relapse may start to creep in. A common question people in recovery have is how to prevent relapse. Another question is how one can receive support, stay safe, and continue to uphold a healthier lifestyle when risks are so high.
Relapses often occur when a previous thought process, experience, or event where the substances were used to cope is triggered. To avoid relapse, it’s best to understand how you can get insights on what your triggers are and, at the same time, avoid disrupting your new healthy lifestyle. When you can recognize and sidestep things that may trigger a relapse, you have the keys to a successful recovery.
The COVID-19 pandemic has launched a series of evasive maneuvers around the highly contagious virus in the form of social distancing, quarantines, and isolation in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease. Interestingly, these techniques for disease avoidance can be applied to addiction recovery.
Think of substance use like the highly-contagious Omicron variant for a moment. Getting sober through treatment and therapy is like putting on a mask and getting vaccinated against addiction. While these measures go a long way, they don't one hundred percent prevent you from getting sucked back into the world of substance abuse. Just as you wouldn't sit in a room with coughing COVID-19 patients, you don't want to hang out with people who use and abuse drugs or alcohol.
However, it is difficult to separate yourself from others at times because a lack of social interaction can lead to a downside of your mental health. Many studies have found that social distancing and separating yourself from others can increase your fear, anxiety, depression, boredom, anger, frustration, or irritability. This may lead to a vulnerable mental state which can cause a potential relapse. During times like this, turn to your support group to engage in healthy social interaction without temptations or triggers. This way, your sobriety stays safe, and you've gained an insight into things to avoid and things to do.
The best way to attack triggers is to make a plan to avoid them altogether. Learning about relapse prevention may have taught you some things to look out for, but there might be triggers in your life you weren't prepared for. These can include environmental factors, like unresolved concerns, stressful situations, social events and outings, work-life, physical impairments, and lack of self-care. These environmental factors all play a vital role in potential relapse triggers. Adjust your aftercare plan accordingly when new triggers pop up to be able to avoid them in the future. This reduces the risks of relapse and teaches you healthy coping skills.
If you utilize everything learned in treatment and practice recovery principles, you can minimize the risks of relapse. It might be hard to find ways to work these things into your life, but if you keep at it every day, they will become second nature. Recovery requires change, honesty, support, practice, and commitment. Practicing all of these in your aftercare plans can give you insights into helping you reach new milestones and achieve a successful recovery.
When you put yourself into dangerous — or triggering — situations, it can lead you to potential relapse. It is vital to practice safety scenarios and avoid risky situations. Your aftercare plan is designed to best fit your lifestyle and help you uphold your recovery commitment, and you can add to or change it any time you feel it needs to be strengthened.
It may seem difficult to maintain the commitment at times, especially when you’ve first left treatment and are away from a completely substance-free environment with a built-in support system. While this is a normal feeling, remember that you’re never alone. Upholding a healthy lifestyle is a life-long process, and many individuals need daily reminders and motivation to practice the recovery process and maintain their safety. You can improve your self-care and life skills techniques to uphold your commitment and further support your journey.
If you feel that your aftercare plans are not meeting your self-care or precautionary measures needs, reach out to your support network or a qualified professional. You've worked too hard to achieve sobriety to let fear get in the way of your progress now. By utilizing your support network, including family, friends, your therapist, and a recovery group, you can find ways to gain insights into furthering your new, healthy lifestyle while staying safely away from things or people that could pull you back under.
At NorthStar Transitions, we believe that your aftercare plans are an essential part of your recovery journey. There are ways to continuously improve your environment, fill up a recovery-supportive social circle, and prepare yourself for any potential risks that might come up. Your aftercare plan is, in part, intended to help with relapse prevention. If you feel that your aftercare plan is not adequate or needs more concrete ways to help you avoid triggers and relapse, reach out to our team now to help you stay safe. We at NorthStar Transitions believe that your continued health and safety are of the utmost importance. We can help you get back on track and work with you on your aftercare plan to help you gain insights and stay safe. For more information on how you can get deeper insights on addiction recovery and stay safe at the same time, call our team at (303) 558-6400.
