If you are planning recovery treatment for drug addiction, relapse can occur. However, you’ll want to take the necessary precautions to prevent that. This guide will show you the seven best strategies.
A relapse can set back the recovery process. You want it to be as smooth and seamless as possible. If you want more information about treatment and how it can help you, check out the Epiphany Wellness website at https://epiphanywellness.com/.
Now, let’s take a look at the following seven strategies that will help you prevent a relapse from happening while recovering from addiction.
1. Make a plan to get treatment for your addiction
The first strategy of course is putting together your plan for addiction treatment. Know that you are not alone. You will have others fighting alongside you including your family, like-minded recovering addicts, and the professionals working with you.
You’ll want to cover your bases since relapse is still possible during treatment. Think about your situation. How far in the addiction stage are you at?
Is it serious enough to where you need inpatient treatment? Or was it in the early stages where it can be easily managed? Making an assessment will put together a treatment plan that will be tailored to your needs.
2. Make sure you attend your regular sessions
Attend your regular sessions, whether it’s inpatient or outpatient. This will help hold you accountable for your actions. If you are serious about beating your addiction, sticking to the plan will be easy.
It’s important that you continue to do this until you are further instructed by your counselors and medical professionals. You will need to follow a schedule on when to attend your sessions. The facility will be flexible with your daily schedule if you have work, school, or any other obligations.
3. Spend time building your support network
One of the big things about recovering from addiction is your support network. While you already have one in your family, you can build on it. Add on the professionals you’re working with.
Also, spend time talking with like-minded recovering addicts. They will be looking for people to add to their own network as well. So it will be an ‘in-kind’ exchange.
This network will come in handy in times when you are having a bad day both during or after treatment. You’ll have someone you can talk to and confide in. Likewise, they’ll do the same for you when they are having a bad day as well.
Your support network will be stronger with each addition. Use it to your advantage as much as you can. You can never underestimate the true power of what it can do for you.
4. Make individual therapy a priority task
While you will be attending group therapy on a regular basis, there’s also individual therapy. You’ll have a one-on-one setting with a dedicated counselor. This will be ideal to discuss your progress as well as plan for the future regarding life after addiction.
If you are dealing with a mental disorder, it may be ideal to find a separate counselor for that. They will specialize in what you’re dealing with. You will have a specific and detailed plan to deal with the disorder.
Individual therapy is considered more private since it’s just you and the counselor. You may find that doing one-on-one sessions only can be appropriate if you so choose. Not everyone will be comfortable with sharing their struggle with addictions with other people (including other recovering addicts).
However, don’t be discouraged or ashamed. If you feel comfortable sharing your story with others, feel free to do so. You can attend group sessions unless you don’t feel comfortable doing so.
You may need to make arrangements with your counselors if this is the case.
5. Attend regular support group meetings
If you are comfortable meeting with groups of people, you can attend regular meetings. There are 12-step programs that are specialized for addiction. There is Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and similar groups.
If you are unsure if there is a meeting of such groups in your area, ask your counselors. They will be happy to help you find a support group that you can attend on a regular basis. Even after you have recovered, you can continue to attend these support groups and provide your words of encouragement to others.
Regular attendance of support groups even after treatment has ended will reduce relapse. This and aftercare are a great combination.
6. Plan your life after treatment
There is nothing quite exciting than planning life after treatment. Imagine what life would be like without dealing with addiction. How will you spend time with family?
What will a day in your life look like? What activities are you looking to do? There are so many questions to ask, it’s a challenge to know where to begin.
Sit down and take a moment to think about it. Jot it down in a journal. In one entry, do a brain dump on what your ‘perfect day’ looks like.
You’ll be excited about the anticipation that builds around it. Then, you can take a look at that entry and visualize that perfect day. You can visualize that life you’ve dreamed of without having to worry about addiction or the mental disorder you may have.
7. Take advantage of aftercare programs
Aftercare programs are available online and offline. You’ll be able to draw one up based on your needs or preferences. For example, you may need to consider living arrangements if your home environment is not ideal for your recovery.
You may request information on sober housing. Your rehab facility may have housing of its own or have a partnership with one. Either way, they will be able to take good care of you.
Whatever your needs and preferences, there is always a specialized aftercare program that will be tailored to you. Be sure to take advantage of it so the chances of you relapsing are less.
