Addiction recovery is a life-long journey that can be filled with many ups and downs. This is because receiving addiction treatment and overcoming addiction does not guarantee life-long sobriety. Relapsing is a recovering addict’s greatest threat to achieving life-long sobriety. Unfortunately, 40-60% of people treated for substance use disorders will relapse; however, maintaining life-long sobriety is possible. Keep reading to learn more about the key relapse prevention skills for life after treatment you should know about.
At Outpatient LA, we are a leading outpatient drug rehab committed to helping patients safely and effectively achieve long-lasting sobriety. We understand that no two recovery journeys are ever the same. We offer a comprehensive range of addiction treatment options so you can receive the best possible care to address your unique recover needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your recovery journey.
5 Relapse Prevention Skills for Post-Treatment
Every recovering addict will without question be faced with triggers and cravings after treatment. However, there are several key relapse prevention skills you can use to reduce your risk of relapse so you can maintain long-lasting sobriety.
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Understand and Avoid Your Triggers
First, it’s important to identify and understand what your triggers are so you can make an effort to avoid your triggers. Triggers can be people, places, events, or situations that can increase your cravings or urges to abuse drugs and jeopardize your sobriety. For example, a recovering alcoholic will likely be triggered if they go to a bar where drinking alcohol is prevalent. Therefore, it’s important that a recovering alcoholic avoid places, like a bar, that could raise their risk of relapsing.
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Establish Healthy Coping Strategies
Next, you should have healthy coping strategies in place you can turn to when you do experience cravings and urges to abuse drugs. For example, some healthy coping strategies may be journaling, calling a trusted friend, going on a walk, meditation, or hiking. Essentially, healthy coping strategies help distract your mind and body so you can reduce your risk of falling for triggers and cravings to abuse drugs.
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Surround Yourself with a Positive Support System
It’s also key to surround yourself with a positive support system of friends, family members, therapists, and/or addiction specialists who can help keep you accountable along your road to recovery. You should never feel like you need to overcome your addiction and maintain sobriety all on your own.
Another effective way to build your support system after treatment is by going to a support group. Here, you’ll be surrounded by individuals who share similar experiences and struggles as you. And, these support group members can keep you accountable along your recovery journey.
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Practice Healthy Habits
Practicing healthy daily habits like exercising consistently, getting quality sleep, and eating a well-balanced diet are more ways you can reduce your risk of relapse. Taking care of your health will in turn take care of your mind and body which can ultimately help you maintain long-term sobriety.
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Create a Plan for How to Deal with Triggers or Cravings
Another important relapse prevention skill for life after treatment is creating a plan for how to deal with triggers and cravings when they do arise. It’s not a matter of if but when you’ll experience cravings that can put your sobriety at risk. This is why it’s good to have a plan in place for how you’ll deal with those cravings so you know what to do when the time comes.
Top-Rated Outpatient Drug Rehab in Los Angeles
As you can see, there are several key relapse prevention skills for life after treatment you can use to help you achieve long-lasting sobriety. Every recovering addict will inevitably face old triggers and cravings to abuse drugs. Yet, having the above relapse prevention skills in place can help you recognize and cope with these cravings in a healthy way to ensure you don’t jeopardize your sobriety journey.
At Outpatient LA, our compassionate team of addiction specialists are here to help you every step of the way along your recovery journey. We understand how debilitating a disease addiction can be. That’s why we offer a broad range of addiction treatment options so you can receive the unique care you need to help you overcome addiction once and for all. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your recovery journey.