Working to actively prevent relapse after you have begun to make strides in your recovery is essential. Although relapse does not mean the end of recovery, it is still important to take steps to minimize your chances of relapse. Below are some practices you can cultivate in your life that serve as a protective layer against relapse.
Have a Treatment Plan in Place
Entering a treatment program for addiction recovery includes meeting with your treatment team to create a holistic, evidence-based treatment plan that supports your recovery needs long after you have graduated treatment. Having this plan in place and continuing to meet with your treatment team—no matter your motivation level for recovery that day—is one action that allows you to build up recovery strength and reduce the potential for relapse.
Lean On Your Support Team
Another integral part of recovery is defining and creating a support team that works for you. Your support team should be made up of people who encourage your continued sobriety and are not a danger to your recovery. It can take time to find out who those people are, especially as you let go of familiar people, places, and things that previously kept you sick rather than healthy.
Having a strong support system is crucial for those times when you feel you might fall into old habits or make bad decisions. Your team can be a phone call away to remind you how far you have come and give you healthy alternatives when you feel on the verge of relapse.
Discover What Makes You Feel Full
People often fall into substance use as a way to escape difficult situations or negative emotions—especially if trauma is involved. These coping mechanisms can protect you from feeling empty and lonely, but they never make you feel whole.
Recovery is a process of discovering what makes you feel truly and authentically full, which can allow old patterns to fall away naturally. By putting your recovery first, you can discover what filling yourself with good things means to you and experience a new way of being.
Relapse is a common experience in recovery. Relapse happens, but it is not the end of your recovery story. At Avalon Malibu, we recognize how challenging it can be to put your recovery first. We are here to support you and help you find a treatment plan that works for you as you learn how to stay healthy. Our team of professionals is here to walk with you as you continue to take strides in your recovery. If you are struggling with substance use or relapse after recovery, call Avalon Malibu at (844) 857-5992.
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