Addiction 101: What to Do When You Feel Like Relapsing

Fighting the urge to relapse when you’re in recovery from addiction can be challenging and at times feels almost impossible, especially in the face of peer pressure and social situations that trigger you.

However, relapsing isn’t your only option if you feel tempted to use it again. There are several effective ways to fight the urge to relapse so that you can get back on track with your plan to achieve long-term sobriety.

Preventing Relapse

The road to sobriety is long but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to navigate.

Be sure to follow these tips to do your best to prevent relapse:

Recognize the Trigger

Recognizing your triggers is vital for remaining sober and preventing relapse. Unfortunately, these are often hard to recognize. If you’re feeling anxious or stressed, it can be difficult to tell whether it’s because of substance abuse or something else. The good news is that identifying your triggers by yourself isn’t the only option. Remember that you can always talk to a friend, family member, or professional about drugs or alcohol if you need more help in determining what causes these cravings in your life.

Get Professional Help

If you’re struggling with addiction and can’t seem to quit on your own, consider seeking professional help from rehabs in Southern California. An expert trained in substance abuse disorders can guide you through a relapse-prevention strategy, keep you accountable and meet you wherever you are in your recovery journey. This should not be viewed as quitting on yourself. Instead, it shows that you care enough about yourself to ask for help.

Start an Exercise Routine

Sometimes addiction is easier to beat when you have something to distract yourself from it. Starting an exercise routine can do just that. When you focus on getting in shape, you take your mind off of your problems and add a much-needed boost of self-esteem to your life. You’ll also feel healthier and better equipped to handle future problems without having a substance abuse relapse.

Form an exercise routine by joining a local gym or taking up a new physical activity. Choose whatever will help keep you engaged in what you’re doing that can keep you from dwelling on past regrets or what-ifs in your head. Even just a brisk walk will do; the important thing is being active, even if it doesn’t seem like enough at first.

Reach Out to Friends & Family

If you feel like relapsing, it’s very important to reach out to trusted friends and family. Tell them what you’re going through, what you are thinking about doing, and anything else that is on your mind. Be honest with yourself and others. If you don’t have anyone to turn to, consider joining a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Have a Relapse Prevention Plan

Relapse is a common component of most addictions. This means that it’s important to have a plan for what you’ll do if you feel like relapsing. Relapse prevention plans usually involve three components: positive self-talk, a list of reasons not to use and ways to cope with urges, and a realistic goal for staying sober or clean. If you don’t have a relapse prevention plan, make one today. If you do have one, it might be time to revise it!

Forgive Yourself

Forgiving yourself for a mistake you made is a lot easier said than done. For many people, forgiving themselves for their mistakes is something they struggle with every day. The first step to forgiving yourself for a mistake is realizing that it’s okay to feel regret and acknowledge your wrongdoings without beating yourself up over them.

The next thing you can do after making a mistake is trying to learn from it so that you don’t make the same one twice. This way, instead of being stuck in an endless cycle of making mistakes and never learning from them, you’re able to live life in full and fix any problems in your life when they arise.

Having the urge to relapse after completing an addiction recovery program can be scary, especially if you haven’t been in recovery before. An addiction can take control of your life and make you feel like there’s no way out, but the right recovery plan can get you back on track quickly without pain or suffering. Take a look at these six ways to fight the urge to relapse and get back on the road to recovery instead of going down that dangerous path again.

Originally posted 2021-09-29 19:15:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter