Getting sober is a crucial step in taking control of your life back from substance use. With that power in your hands, you can return to society clean and stronger than ever. But staying clean is a choice you’ll need to make over and over, and it can be easy to relapse if you’re not careful, even after going through the best rehabs in Orange County or your area.
No one wants to relapse after doing the hard work to overcome addiction, but it happens. And if it happens to you, the first thing to know is that you shouldn’t feel guilty. That guilt and shame often keep you from asking for help before a minor relapse becomes a major one.
Instead of feeling guilty or trying to hide this little setback, try to understand why it happened so that you can avoid it in the future. Here, we’ll discuss five reasons why people tend to relapse and the prevention strategies you can use to keep it from happening to you.
1. Be Open and Involved in Support Groups
Many relapses occur because the person going through recovery feels isolated and not understood by those around them. Support groups are designed to prevent this factor, giving you a consistent, stable place to go and people you can depend on for advice and clean activities.
Be open to attending these groups and get involved to meet people who can support you when you need it. This is especially essential during times when you’d be most emotional, like major holidays, anniversary dates, and birthdays.
2. Avoid People From Your Old Life
This can be a Catch-22 if you’re leaving a rehab center and the only people you know are those from your substance use days. These aren’t the people you want to be around while you’re still in the early stages of recovery. Before you leave rehab, talk to those in your support group and ask them for advice.
You may be surprised at how many people have been in your shoes. Sober living facilities, temporary group homes, and other options are often available, depending on your area.
This doesn’t mean you can never see these people again. They may have a part of your life in the future when you’re stronger, but for now, stay around people who won’t tempt you to return to your old habits.
3. Avoid Triggers
While you’re going through rehab, you’ll probably talk about the reasons you ended up addicted to drugs or alcohol in the first place. Think about what those were so that you can try to avoid them. This might have been overwork, money issues, relationships, other types of stress, or emotional avoidance.
You may not be able to prevent these problems completely, but by recognizing their dangers, you can tread more cautiously and be aware of how you’re handling them.
This also means avoiding places and situations that could trigger a relapse, such as bars, casinos, or even social events with particular people.
4. Stay Busy
Too much time on your hands is never a good thing when you’re in recovery. It’s okay to have mental downtime when using it productively, such as meditating or in yoga. But try to stay busy doing things that make you feel useful or happy. You might want to ask your support groups where you can volunteer or take up a new hobby. Think about what you want your new life to look like, and stay busy reaching those goals!
5. Know Yourself
When you’re staying busy, it can be easy to ignore stress or any negative behaviors you might slide into. It’s essential to keep productive, but know yourself enough to recognize when you’re hitting dangerous territory.
You might be reminiscing about when things were “easier” when you were taking drugs or drinking or trying to hide your cravings from those in your support group. Those are warning signs; you should share them with someone who can watch out for you and hold you accountable.
