Relapse Prevention: How to Successfully Avoid Slipping Back into Addiction

Struggling with an addiction may feel isolating. Even if you’ve been clean for weeks or months, the urges are still there. However, though you may feel alone in your recovery, you’re not.

Nearly 10% of Americans will struggle with drug use disorder in their lifetimes. Furthermore, addictions are prevalent among us, even if it’s not drugs or alcohol. If you consider food, pornography, sex, video games, and other vices, nearly everyone has something they can’t say no to.

The key to relapse prevention is learning how to find strength in yourself and others. Just as importantly, it’s about taking steps in the right direction. Keep reading for our top tips.

Identify Your Triggers

One of the most important ways to prevent relapse is to identify your triggers. You need to take an objective look at your life, your lifestyle, and your friends to figure out what may lead to relapses in the future.

For example, if you’re an alcoholic, you shouldn’t work as a server at a place that serves alcohol. This includes avoiding situations (such as stress) that may lead to using again. You can’t necessarily avoid stress, but you can learn new coping methods.

Avoid Old Habits

Relapse prevention also comes down to avoiding your old habits. Drug and alcohol users are not bad people. However, you may need to avoid hanging out with old friends who may influence you to use again.

Even if they know you’re trying to stay clean, simply being around them may be enough of a trigger to initiate a relapse. This may also include avoiding old hangout spots and activities you associate with using.

Find Relapse Prevention Support in Your Friends and Family

Finding strength and support in your loved ones is one of the best things you can do to avoid addiction relapses. Your close friends and family members care deeply about you and your well-being. They will do everything they can to help you get through this difficult point in your life.

Avoid viewing yourself as a burden. If they need your help, you would be there for them, right? This is exactly what friends and family are for.

Consider Continuing Treatment

If you started treatment to get clean or sober, you don’t have to stop once you quit using. In truth, you may always experience urges to use again. Therefore, we highly recommend continuing your treatment to stay sober.

It won’t be as intensive, but there’s nothing wrong with continuing to seek counseling for years after you’ve gotten clean. Some people seek counseling indefinitely for relapse prevention.

Join an Addict Support Group

Finally, join a support group to learn more tips on how to avoid relapse. Not only will talking to other people in your position help you get through recovery, but you can also learn new skills for resisting urges.

Furthermore, most support groups provide sponsors. These are people who have been living sober for a long time. They can give you advice or support whenever you need it.

Support groups are also a great place to talk about your progress. You can get sobriety coins from challengecoins4less.com and share them with your peers. You can also encourage others to stay sober by giving them coins for sobriety anniversaries.

Looking for More Health Advice?

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction, getting help is vital for their long-term health and happiness. Additionally, you need to understand that getting clean is only half the battle. You also need to master relapse prevention.

If you need more health tips or advice, our blog is full of valuable content. Check out some of our other articles before you go for more information.