In the event of a lapse (short-term return to substance use) or full relapse, it can help to have a plan in place to help you return to your recovery process. You may want to discuss this with a professional or in a group setting, to receive advice and support. During or following a lapse, the first steps may include contacting trusted friends or your sponsor and accessing professional support. You might find it helpful to list the benefits of professional treatment.
Steps to Creating a Relapse Prevention Plan
Most relapse prevention strategies focus on building cognitive-behavioral skills and coping responses. Creating a list of warning signs can give a person more insight into their relapse. Sharing the list with the treatment team can provide them with needed information to prevent relapse in the patient. The stages of change model is often used to help explain why people suffering from substance use disorder typically undergo a recidivism cycle before quitting for good. According to this model, people do not change addictive behavior following a unidirectional route.
Follow a model
Write down any specific circumstances that you think have contributed to substance use in the past. Relapse prevention group activities can be a cornerstone in the journey to recovery. These activities allow you and other group members to share experiences and foster camaraderie. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART Recovery provide invaluable help, relapse prevention plan resources, and substance abuse group activities.
Causes of Relapse in Late Stage Recovery
Important milestones such as recovery anniversaries are often seen as reasons to use. Alternatively, once a milestone is reached, individuals feel they have recovered enough that they can determine when and how to use safely. It is remarkable how many people have relapsed this way 5, 10, or 15 years after recovery. A missing piece of the puzzle for many clients is understanding the difference between selfishness and self-care.
Identify Triggers
The practice of self-care during mind-body relaxation translates into self-care in the rest of life. It’s important to remember that recovery is a journey, and setbacks may occur. By using this sample relapse prevention plan template as a guide, you can create a personalized plan that addresses your unique needs and circumstances.
- By recognizing what prompts the urge to use substances, you can develop strategies to manage these situations and maintain your sobriety.
- It is helpful to know exactly what has caused a relapse before, and your own history of drug and alcohol misuse.
- In the context of relapse prevention, establishing consistent routines is essential to help your loved one maintain sobriety.
- Start by listing potential triggers, such as specific places, people, or emotions that have led you to drink or use in the past.
- As part of relapse prevention it is critical to educate patients about the danger of unintentional overdose after a period of staying clean.
- Boredom or lack of purpose often occurs when individuals lack meaningful activities in their lives.
They should not have unrealistic expectations, which may involve never thinking about using substances again. During this phase, a person may experience intense difficulty with conflicting thoughts and desires. They may feel like some part of them wants to use drugs or alcohol while another part tries to fight these urges. You might also list some specific goals that you hope to achieve in the upcoming months or years.
By identifying personal triggers and warning signs, creating effective coping strategies, and building a strong support system, individuals can increase their readiness to handle potential challenges. The first step in crafting an effective relapse prevention plan is to assess personal triggers and warning signs. Triggers are situations, people, or emotions that can potentially lead to relapse.
Recognize your triggers
Relapse occurs when someone who has been sober or in recovery for a period of time experiences setbacks that lead them back to substance use. If you don’t have a support system, consider a self-helprecovery group like Narcotics Anonymous. You can meet other recovering addictswho can help you learn to manage cravings and live without substances.