The road to sobriety is rarely a straight one, as many individuals will relapse once, if not multiple times, along the way. During the recovery process, people will inevitably face stressors from work or family, which compels them to start using again. The cravings for drugs never completely vanish, and they can return in full force during periods of stress.
Relapses are common among those in recovery, but they’re not inevitable. Knowing your warning signs and triggers is helpful in preventing relapses, or at least minimizing their intensity. Most relapses do not occur suddenly, so if you notice some of the signs of a relapse, you might be able to help before you do something they regret.
The Baltimore Detox Center team wants to help you maintain recovery for the rest of your life. During substance abuse treatment, we want to equip you with the tools to avoid a relapse. If you have questions about our drug addiction treatment, contact our helpful team today by calling [Direct] or completing our online form.
What Are Some Ways to Prevent a Relapse?
There are many methods to prevent a relapse once you have completed treatment. Some of the most common techniques to prevent a relapse include:
Know Your Triggers
There are certain people, places, and situations that can drive you back into drinking or using drugs again. Once you identify these triggers, you can develop strategies to avoid them. The most common triggers include:
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Unhealthy relationships
- People who enable you
- Drug supplies (pipes, etc.) and other things that remind you of using
- Places where you used to drink or use drugs
- Loneliness
- Stress
- Poor self-care like not eating, sleeping, or managing stress well
Remember Your Reasons for Quitting
Focus on how much better your life will be once you stop using drugs or alcohol for good. Think about what’s driving you to quit, such as rebuilding damaged relationships, keeping a job, or getting healthy again. Keep in mind why recovery is the best choice that you’ve ever made for yourself.
Ask for Help
Don’t try to recover by yourself. Getting support will make the process much easier. Make sure to maintain your relationships with people in your group therapy sessions.
Reward Yourself
Addiction recovery isn’t easy. Give yourself credit for each small gain you make, such as one week sober or one month off drugs.
Practice Self-Care
Get into a self-care routine. Try to sleep for at least seven to nine hours a night. Eat a well-balanced diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. And exercise every day. Following these healthy habits will help you feel better and more in control of your life.
Also, another way to remain sober and prevent a relapse is to participate in sober activities.
What Are Some Sober Activities?
The key to avoiding a relapse is to keep your schedule filled with sober activities. Some examples of sober activities include:
- Exercise
- Go to a comedy show
- Take online classes
- Discover a new hobby
- Learn a musical instrument
- Cook new healthy recipes
Learn More About Our Drug Addiction Treatment Program Today
Drug or alcohol abuse can be eased or even ended with the right drug addiction treatment program. Our Baltimore Detox Center team wants to help you with addiction recovery. If you are interested in a drug addiction treatment program, contact our team today by calling [Direct] or completing our secure online form. With the right program, you can have a healthy lifestyle that is from drugs and alcohol. Don’t wait another day to take back control of your life.
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