Despite recovering from rehab, you might be worried about relapse and are figuring out ways of battling those demons.
Life is full of triggers, stressful occurrences, and drug cravings that will bring you down to your knees, forcing you to fall back into a life of drug abuse again.
However, you need to understand that you aren’t the only one in this world battling drug abuse issues and relapse. In fact, there are thousands, if not, millions of ex-drug addicts trying to lead and adopt a drug-free lifestyle.
Relapse is the harsh reality of addiction treatment or a twelve-step program, and you decide the way you want to perceive it. Chances are, you may have the confidence to keep yourself away from a life of addiction.
On the other hand, you might relapse within the next six months, depending on how strong and determined you are to protect yourself from drugs.
For starters, you’ll have to be extra vigilant and careful about an aftercare treatment program. Secondly, understanding relapse triggers and managing them will help you enjoy a drug-free life for the foreseeable future.
With that said, let’s look at a few ways to overcome the fear of drug-addiction relapse.
Join an addiction support group.
The recovery process requires effort and patience and can be immensely challenging. It would be wise to search for an inpatient program or addiction support group to overcome any fear of relapse.
For instance, peer-to-peer support groups like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (narcotics anonymous) are excellent choices for those fearing relapse, ways to communicate and interact with like-minded individuals, especially those participating in an addiction recovery program themselves.
In addition, registering for an outpatient treatment program offered by The Palm Beach Institute is an excellent idea, especially if you fear a relapse.
These treatment programs are designed to help overcome any fear of relapse and help identify and avoid triggers that could push you back into drug use.
Avoid drug temptations.
Addiction recovery centers and drug rehabilitation facilities are typically designed to help drug abusers overcome their alcohol or drug addiction issues.
But, when these individuals leave the inpatient environment, various triggers, cravings, and cues will make it more challenging to remain clean and avoid relapse.
So, if you fear relapse, it is crucial to stay as far away from individuals, places, and things that entice you to abuse drugs or alcohol again.
Consider avoiding people who use drugs or areas you purchased illicit substances from in the past.
In fact, try to stay away from these temptations for as long as possible after spending time at a drug rehabilitation facility to keep progressing. Don’t test your patience this early during the recovery journey.
Get ample amounts of sleep.
When you get an ample amount of sleep, your body, mind, and soul get the time they need to relax and refuel. Self-care is crucial to avoid relapse, and a good night’s sleep will add more value to your addiction recovery aftercare plan.
If you cannot get the required amount of shuteye, you will end up making ill-informed decisions and lose your ability to process emotions.
Get a good amount of ‘Zs’ every day to feel well-rested and ready to tackle the challenges of life. Remember, every healthy person needs between seven to nine hours of REM sleep, so adjust your routine accordingly.
Follow a busy schedule.
A sure-fire way to avoid thinking about drugs or alcohol is to keep yourself busy as much as possible. After all, idle hands are the devil’s tools, and they will undoubtedly put you on the road to relapse if you aren’t careful.
In fact, when you’re distracted, you won’t even have to think about fighting drug triggers and cravings in the first place.
So, occupy yourself with a new hobby or any activities you love. For instance, you could visit family members or friends that encourage and support you to recover from addiction, learn a new skill, or try a new hobby.
In the end, the possibilities are endless!
Don’t forget to ask for help and support.
Drug addiction and treatment will always be plagued with stigma, and you might feel ashamed admitting that you’re in recovery.
But, don’t be afraid to admit that you need help and support to overcome your drug addiction issues. What’s more, supportive friends, family members, loved ones, and friends are a vital aspect of any post-recovery program because they help you stay on track towards recovery.
Therefore, always keep contact details of supportive friends and family members on standby if things start going south.
Conclusion.
Avoiding the fear of relapse may seem like an uphill battle, especially if you recently got out of a drug rehabilitation facility.
However, avoiding relapse is possible. So, follow the tips mentioned in this article, and you will lead a healthy, drug-free life for the foreseeable future.
In the end, there will be numerous obstacles on the pathway to addiction recovery, and learning to manage your drug cravings more effectively will help you maintain sobriety.
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