For me personally the two words relapse and recovery go hand in hand. It took me several attempts before I could fully put the bottle down and walk into long term recovery and to this day, every once in a while a craving pops up and although the chance is low, it still leaves for me to potentially relapse if I’m not properly prepared.
That being said, I’d like to discuss this topic in a more specific way and to do that, I must first breakdown what relapse is. Relapse can be broke down into three different components, emotional which serves as the trigger in most cases. Mental because now the though of wanting to use a substance may occur while being triggered emotionally, and physically which would be partaking in the substance once the the thought to consume becomes to much for the individual to control.
I always tell people I work with that once I actually knew what relapse was, I had to identify and do an inventory of my triggers. Whether emotional, environmental or even social, I had to acknowledge my triggers in order to come up with a proactive strategies like deep breathing and mindfulness excercises. I also began to journal and do a lot more reflecting. I also began engaging in hobbies and physical activities and continue to plan ahead should I see my self potentially being in a high risk area.
I cannot forget to mention the importance of building a strong social circle in support of your sobriety. Family, friends, recovery groups and sponsors can all be places of support as well as therapists and counselors. I always tell people to try different positive experiences that support your sobriety and find what works best for you including your relationships with people.
Next I strongly suggest creating a relapse prevention plan. This was and is key for me to this day and something I never take for granted. Start by identifying not just your triggers, but warning signs as well. List coping strategies you can use. Establish a support contact list of people you can trust in moments when you may need them the most. set long term and short term goals for your recovery as well. Really put some thought into your relapse prevention plan because you never knowing you may need to use it.
It goes without saying that relapse can be a part of the recovery journey, but don’t let that discourage you from taking that first step. If relapse occurs, it does not have to define you and remember that their is always support available here at Believe Detox Center as well as other places throughout the country. Build connections proactively and you will increase your chance at success going forward.
I know a man personally that relapses his bee twenty times, but he did not quit. His story alone reminds me that it’s not how you many times you
fall as they say, but how many times you get up. He continues to this day to be a shining beacon of hope in the recovery community and continues to tell his story wherever he goes. So if your reading this, don’t quit, keep going, because you do got this!
