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Building The Ultimate Relapse Prevention Plan

man builds relapse prevention plan with therapist

In 2017, U.S. News reported that between 40 to 60 percent of people who’ve been treated for a substance use disorder (SUD) relapse within a year; and despite relapse being an incredibly feared part of recovery, it’s quite common. Relapse occurs when a person reverts back to addictive patterns of behavior, and often serves as a major learning experience for a person to understand what type of events, people, thoughts or feelings influence them to want to use again. If you’re currently at the beginning stages of recovery, don’t be afraid; a strong relapse prevention plan can help you stay on track towards reaching your recovery goals – and if even if relapse does occur, you can still push forward in recovery.

The relapse prevention plan you create will be a collaboration between you and your therapist as well as other members of your healthcare team. There are many components to developing the ultimate relapse prevention plan, such as:

·    Identifying certain people, places, things, or sensations that you already know spark cravings

·    Increasing awareness on the physiological symptoms that occur when cravings emerge, such as: sweaty palms, heart racing, tension, headaches, etc.

·    Recognizing emotions that can be dangerous for relapse, such as anger, anxiety, depression, overconfidence and more

·    Listing people whom you can reach out to if you feel a relapse coming on, as well as identifying places you can go to cool off

·    Creating a ritual of meaningful activities that can set you on a path towards wellness, such as equine therapy, meditation, yoga, etc.

·    Establishing a healthy working system of self-care, such as through healthy eating habits, exercise routines, sleeping patterns and more

If you’re ready to become part of a customized program where your voice will be heard and you’ll be supported in mental, physical and spiritual health, speak with a professional from The Arbor today. It’s never too late to turn your life around.

Arbor Behavioral Healthcare offers an integrative and holistic approach to treat substance abuse and a wide variety of addictions, as well as underlying mental health and psychological issues. All of the addiction recovery programs offered by The Arbor are designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit leading to a lifetime of sobriety, health and wellness. If you’re ready to find healing and restoration in a peaceful, loving environment, please call us today at 844-560-7269.

References

https://www.verywellmind.com/why-did-i-relapse-21900
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2017-04-24/why-do-alcoholics-and-addicts-relapse-so-often