Relapse prevention techniques are something you will learn while in recovery. Understanding and utilizing as many techniques as possible is essential to help you continue your recovery journey. One of the things that many of those in recovery in Texas are taught is the importance of a good aftercare program.
You don’t simply walk out of a residential program with the idea that you will never face temptation again. You also don’t think that relapse is a total impossibility for you. In the first year of recovery, relapse is a strong possibility unless you learn how to recognize the signs of a coming dangerous moment and know what to do to help get you through the cravings.
At Santé Center for Healing, we help you take time to learn the signs of relapse and develop a toolkit of relapse prevention techniques. Our services for relapse prevention in Texas set clients up for a long-lasting recovery. To discover relapse prevention techniques and how to incorporate them into your life, call us today at 866.238.3154.
What Is Relapse Prevention?
Ask several people what relapse means to them, and you will get several answers. Some people think simply craving their old substance is a sign of impending doom, while others may think one drink is a minor slip, and they can still feel they are on a successful path.
It is important to know what you consider a relapse before you can prevent its occurrence. It’s also crucial to understand that a relapse doesn’t mean there’s no hope for you to recover successfully.
Relapse Prevention Techniques
Relapse prevention techniques are essential strategies that empower individuals on the path to recovery, enabling them to effectively identify and manage their triggers. These techniques are cornerstones of a successful recovery journey, providing essential tools to navigate challenging moments and reduce the likelihood of a return to substance use. Some of these techniques may include:
Understanding Your Triggers
What triggers your cravings? Is it being around others who are using, or is it attending family events? There is no right or wrong answer, only your personal answer. You don’t have to feel ashamed that you have triggers. You have to identify and acknowledge them without passing judgment on yourself.
Relapse prevention techniques help identify and avoid triggers. However, not all triggers can be avoided, so it is important to have as many relapse prevention and support techniques to fall back on as possible. A relapse prevention plan will help you deal with triggers that will always be around.
Handling Emotions
The most helpful thing you can learn to do is handle your emotions. Both positive and negative ones can trigger your urges. Maybe you always celebrated victories with a drink or night out. Then, you need to find relapse prevention techniques that help you change that.
Perhaps your triggers are difficult emotions like anger, loneliness, or sadness. Such emotions are extremely powerful triggers for addiction behavior. Again, knowing where the triggers reside allows you to learn to manage the emotions behind them.
Balance Your Life
Aiming to balance work and play will make things easier for you. No person can spend their time in one extreme or another without getting bored or overwhelmed and seeking escape. Work has many rewards, but take the time to relax and enjoy the many good things life offers. Spend a day at the beach or take a walk in the woods. Learn a new skill. Add many layers to your life.
Maintain a Support Circle
You aren’t in this world alone, which means you don’t have to be alone in getting through aftercare programs at this stage of recovery. This stage is designed to get you through the rest of your life.
Assemble a support circle that you can turn to when things get rough. They can help you utilize your learned relapse prevention techniques when you need them the most. This support circle can be made up of friends, family, and support group members. It doesn’t matter who is part of it as long as they are willing to help you succeed in your recovery.
Benefits of Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention offers countless benefits, significantly enhancing the chances of long-term recovery. These benefits extend beyond mere abstention from substance abuse, reaching into various facets of an individual’s life. Here are a few key benefits of effective relapse prevention techniques:
- Enhanced emotional well-being – Incorporating relapse prevention techniques often involves learning to manage and express emotions in a healthy way, leading to improved emotional well-being.
- Improved relationships – Maintaining sobriety can lead to repairing relationships damaged by substance use fostering better interpersonal connections.
- Better physical health – Abstaining from substance abuse leads to a surge in physical health, reducing the risk of diseases and conditions associated with substance use.
- Increased self-awareness – The techniques often involve self-reflection and understanding personal triggers, thereby fostering increased self-awareness and personal growth.
- Greater stability – Successful relapse prevention can contribute to more stability in various aspects of life, including housing, employment, and finances.
Attending Santé Center for Healing’s comprehensive aftercare program can help you prevent relapse by preparing you for potential triggers and maintaining sobriety.
Call Santé Center for Healing for Help with Relapse Prevention
If you or a loved one in the Texas area struggles with addiction, you have someone to turn to with Santé Center for Healing. We have the experience and knowledge to help you establish relapse prevention techniques tailored to your needs.
There are many temptations to overcome during recovery, and it’s unrealistic to think otherwise. However, you can get through the dangerous moments when you’re armed with the proper tools. Contact us at 866.238.3154 to discover effective relapse prevention techniques.
