Discover 5 Tips to Avoid Relapse After You’ve Been Through Rehab
As recovering addicts and their families know, going through the program of alcohol rehab centers is just the first part of the process. The bigger challenge is when you get out of the controlled environment and are exposed to the many temptations that might have pushed you to the addiction in the first place. Relapse is one word feared by patients and their families. Below, we will outline just some of the tips to avoid falling off the wagon when you graduate from rehab.
1. Keep Yourself Busy
This might be a simplistic way of avoiding the temptation, but it really works. You know the adage, “idle hands is the devil’s playground?” When you are distracted, you tend to forget the urges that will creep up on you when you least expect it. Although it’s not really set in stone but a typical craving lasts between 15 to 30 minutes, once you survive that then you are good to go.
2. Change Your Routine
People who go back to rehabilitation centers time and time again oftentimes have a common denominator: they went back to where they were comfortable after they were released. Do you still go out with friends when they go bar hopping? In fact, a better question would be, are you still maintaining the same circle of friends who drink in order to de-stress? Sometimes, you have to cut cleanly in order to change your behavior. Just don’t do anything that will expose you to a situation where you could not refuse.
3. Acknowledge and Release
Relapsing is a process. You may make a mistake but the biggest one would be to get too hard on yourself when you do. Counseling in alcohol rehab centers would allow you to pinpoint your “triggers,” or the factors that drove you to drink in the first place. Sure, you can’t always be optimistic, so the important thing is you acknowledge the negative feeling and then you release it.
4. Continue Therapy Sessions
The therapy sessions inside alcohol rehabilitation centers can only do so much. There are too many patients vying for limited hours that there’s bound to be some sacrifices. People react differently to therapy, some may need a couple of hours to finally have a realization about what’s causing them to pick up that bottle. Others need a lot of time due to the deep issues they are dealing with. So continue your therapy sessions outside. The rehab center should have some names listed that you can choose from who can help you moving forward. In the same vein, you can also join groups who can provide the necessary emotional support in your journey to recovery.
5. Always Be Vigilant
One of the most common reasons given by patients who relapsed is that they let their guards down. Just because you went through the 12-step process doesn’t mean that you are already bulletproof from temptation. That’s why you have to always be vigilant and really plan your schedule for the day. That means avoiding putting yourself in a situation that you may lose control. One moment that you become complacent and then you find yourself drowning in alcohol once again.
These are just some of the tips that you can use, but there are more. They are just a tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Again, the important thing to note is that patients react differently to various stimuli. There’s no generic treatment that can cure all alcohol problems. Rehabilitation centers are just the first step in your journey. Ultimately, it’s about self-control, planning, and a lot of emotional support from family and peers so you can finally stay sober all your life.
His House Rehab offers industry-leading Alcohol Treatment Program. We were founded in 1994 and we base our Drug and Alcohol Treatment programs on five key principles: commitment, honesty, integrity, respect, and service. These five principles guide us in all that we do and all the care we provide. Contact us today to see how we can help you or your loved one.
