Mastering Relapse Prevention Planning: Your Guide to Sustained Recovery
A good relapse prevention plan will help your client recognize when they are at risk, and it will give them several ways to navigate these experiences successfully. Though relapse prevention plans are unique to each individual, there are specific components that are helpful to include in a final plan. There are different models and techniques to include in your relapse prevention plan. They’re based on building your knowledge and skills to combat substance use.
Will Hemp Products Show Up on a Drug Test?
The concept of Relapse Prevention was developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s by G. It emerged from the need to address the high relapse rates observed in individuals undergoing addiction treatment. Besides signing up for recovery programs, keeping track of your progress is also integral to maintaining sobriety. Relapse prevention workbooks provide convenient ways for you to perform self-evaluations and assessments. Practicing mindfulness also aids in dealing with triggers without using substances.
Managing Cravings and Urges
- Relapse-prevention plans can be individualized based on our preferences.
- With the guidance of experienced professionals, these plans offer strategies for behavioral change.
- The more committed you are to the process, the more likely you’ll be to succeed.
These should align with your personal values and long-term aspirations, such as restoring relationships, staying employed, or improving mental health. Defining clear goals helps maintain motivation and provides direction. Incorporating healthy habits like regular exercise, adhering to a nutritious diet, and ensuring adequate rest can contribute significantly to the maintenance of a sober lifestyle. Prioritizing physical health in a relapse prevention plan not only supports overall well-being but also provides a strong foundation for success in rehab. The more detailed your plan is, the more likely it is to be helpful during a variety of situations and events.
How to Write a Bulletproof Relapse Prevention Plan
But clients and families often begin recovery by hoping that they don’t have to change. They often enter treatment saying, “We want our old life back — without the using.” I try to help clients understand that wishing for their old life back is like wishing for relapse. Rather than seeing the need for change as a negative, they are encouraged to see recovery as an opportunity for change. If they make the necessary changes, they can go forward and be happier than they were before. It forces people to reevaluate their lives and make changes that non-addicts don’t have to make.
The effectiveness of a support network depends on the clarity of the roles and responsibilities of its members. Doing so will help you quickly identify and deal with them before they become too overwhelming. You can also find ways to replace old habits with healthier activities. In this stage, you may not be actively feeding your addictive behavior.
- This written plan will help you navigate challenging times when you become tempted to use drugs or alcohol again.
- Convenient and confidential, Hazelden Betty Ford’s Connection program provides you and your loved ones with personalized, phone-based, addiction recovery coaching by professional recovery coaches.
- Part of this involves knowing yourself and tuning into the feelings that contribute to the desire to use.
Feeling conflicted is typical – you may feel that you want to use but are trying to talk yourself out of it. At this stage, the thought of using can be very strong and you may experience cravings or seek out other users. A useful tool for identifying your triggers is the ‘If – Then’ strategy. Create a chart with two columns, one labelled ‘If’ and the other labelled ‘Then’. In https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/support-for-those-who-struggling-with-alcohol-addiction/ the ‘If’ column, list out all the triggers you can think of, such as social events, arguments or feelings of loneliness.
They start to think that recovery is hard work and addiction was fun. They begin to disqualify the positives they have gained through recovery. The cognitive challenge is to acknowledge that recovery is sometimes hard work but addiction is even harder. If addiction were so easy, people wouldn’t want to quit and wouldn’t have to quit. A basic fear of recovery is that the individual is not capable of recovery. The belief is that recovery requires some special strength or willpower that the individual does not possess.
- Join Dee Johnson, a Senior Therapist from the Priory Hospital Chelmsford, as she takes you through the key elements of any relapse prevention plan.
- Contact a healthcare professional if you or someone you know suffers from a substance use disorder.
- In this article, we lay out a realistic and grounded example of a relapse prevention plan and how you can customize it to your needs.
- Clients are often eager to make big external changes in early recovery, such as changing jobs or ending a relationship.
- When developing coping strategies, it’s important to remember that what works for one person may not work for another.
- For instance, this might involve reaching out to support persons, attending support group meetings, or practicing relaxation techniques as an immediate remedy.
Does BCBS Cover Addiction Treatment in Kansas
Part of this is learning effective ways to develop relapse prevention strategies and techniques. The cycle of relapse and recovery is common in chronic conditions like SUD, and relapse itself is not an indicator of failure heroin addiction but rather a signal that an individual may need additional support. With proactive relapse prevention strategies that we will uncover below, individuals can strengthen their recovery journey and reduce the risk of returning to substance use.
Family and Friends
With the guidance of experienced professionals, these plans offer strategies for behavioral relapse prevention plan change. Your recovery journey is personal, and so should your relapse prevention plan. Feel free to modify and adjust the template to align with your goals, triggers, and coping strategies.
Giving attention to mental health by utilizing stress management techniques, mindfulness, and seeking professional help when necessary can bolster recovery. Strategies to prioritize mental health may include developing stress-coping skills, practicing mindfulness techniques, and consulting with a therapist when appropriate. Establishing realistic and achievable recovery goals significantly contributes to the success of a relapse prevention plan. Regular assessment and adjustment of these goals as needed ensures progress is maintained and setbacks are minimized. Celebrating milestones and achievements along the way can be extremely helpful by providing a sense of accomplishment further supporting relapse prevention strategies. Formal, evidence-based addiction treatment can not only help someone get sober but also give them the skills needed to remain in long-term recovery.