Stress can be a significant factor that leads to a relapse in those who are battling an addiction. Better understanding the connection between stressors and addiction can better prepare you to manage triggers and cravings as part of your recovery. Relapse prevention techniques are an essential part of a substance use disorder treatment program at an accredited treatment facility like The Arbor. Aftercare services like a sober living program can further reinforce the techniques learned so that the risk of relapse is lessened.
Contact The Arbor to learn more about how a sober living program can aid in relapse prevention.
The Connection Between Stress and Relapse
The risk of relapse is something that hangs over the head of each person trying to recover from an addiction. Cravings can be hard to control, and managing added stress or a co-occurring mental health disorder can make staying on the road to recovery very challenging at times. Without the right coping skills, it is all too easy to fall back into a pattern of drug or alcohol abuse when triggers to your addiction present themselves. Not being able to effectively manage negative thoughts and emotions that run alongside stress makes the impulse to give in to cravings even stronger.
Stressful situations that can lead to a relapse include:
- Legal problems
- Money issues
- Workplace insecurity
- Strained relationships
- Illness or injury
- Death of a loved one
- Attending events where drugs or alcohol will be present
Learning healthy coping techniques will allow you to face stress head-on in a constructive way. These are also extremely important in helping to maintain your sobriety. This link between stress and relapse is a key focus in a treatment program. For people in recovery, dealing with any of the stressful situations listed above puts them at risk for a relapse.
Managing stress with the proper techniques sets you up for recovery success.
Relapse Prevention Techniques
Relapse prevention techniques are an important part of treatment for a substance use disorder. These techniques will help you to better manage everyday stress and the stresses associated with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. The goal is to be able to use these techniques in everyday life so that relapse does not happen. The Arbor team is dedicated to giving each client the tools needed for lifelong sobriety.
Some of the relapse prevention techniques include:
- Regular exercise
- Developing a healthier diet
- Routine sleep patterns
- Meditation and breathing exercises
- Recognizing triggers
- Removing unhealthy and negative thoughts or feelings
- Sober support groups
The biggest part of these techniques is the willingness to participate and put them into action. You will be amazed how incorporating these into your life can fully support your sobriety. When you commit to putting the work in, you will see wholly worthwhile results.
Reach Out to The Arbor For Relapse Prevention Techniques
Stress is present in most people’s lives and can be managed with minimal effort for the most part. But for those who are struggling with a substance use disorder, stress can be a trigger to relapse. Managing your emotional, physical, and mental well-being is part of the comprehensive care one receives as part of an addiction treatment program at a professional treatment center like The Arbor. This holistic approach will allow you to customize your treatment with a variety of therapeutic modalities.
The Arbor offers treatment for:
- Cocaine addiction
- Benzo addiction
- Opioid addiction
- Fentanyl addiction
- Meth addiction
- Alcohol addiction
Managing triggers through relapse prevention techniques will better equip you to stay on the recovery course without temptation. Learn more about the relationship between stress and addiction by contacting The Arbor online or speaking with a treatment professional today at 844.413.2690.