Creating a Relapse Prevention Plan After Rehabilitation

The journey to becoming free from addiction is not easy - even after learning the positive things in an alcohol or drug rehabilitation facility. As it took a long time to develop the addictive habits, it would also take some time (or probably longer) to get rid of them. Your mind and body has gotten used to doing it over and over that it won’t just suddenly snap out of trance and get back to doing “normal” stuff.

Alcohol and drug rehab centers are designed to help drug dependents and alcoholics start a new life. And upon learning all the basic tools in fighting and winning over the cravings, a recovering individual needs to create a relapse prevention plan in order to maintain abstinence and completely recover from the addiction.

In the process of alcohol and drug rehabilitation, the patient’s addiction issues will at times resurface; causing him or her to have the urging to go back to what he or she is used to be doing. This resurfacing is what psychologists basically call “relapse”. When an addiction patient relapses, it simply means that he or she is once again falling victim to addiction for a period of time until it is addressed and brought under control.

If relapse is not addressed or taken care of immediately, it can result to the patient permanently falling under addiction again, but this time with greater intensity. This is the reason why creating a relapse prevention plan is so important whenever a victim of addiction undergoes rehabilitation. Relapse prevention plans provide contingencies in the event that the patient relapses, thus putting the situation under control as soon as possible.

In order to effectively prevent relapse, one must first understand the idea behind it. Contrary to how many people think of relapse as a recurring event in an individual’s post-addiction years, it is actually more of a process that begins the moment the addiction victim stops holding on to whatever he or she is addicted with. Relapse is more than the physical act of going back to addictive habits – it begins entirely with the individual’s mind.

There are three different stages to relapse: Emotional, Mental and Physical. Long before a victim of addiction goes back to being an addict, he or she has already had relapses in his or her mind and emotions. Always remember that every physical act originates from the mind, so in order to stop a person from doing something, you must first address the issues on his or her mind.

Here are some actions that you can take to address each stage of the relapse process:

1. Assurance and Encouragement

These two actions can help stop relapse long before they even start manifesting. The first area that relapse affects is an individual’s emotions, so it is sensible to start working from there. Addiction victims have very weak emotional states, so it is important to always bombard them with constant encouragement and the assurance that they can overcome their addiction problem.

2. Building Self-Esteem

People who have suffered from addiction have low self-esteem because of what they think other people think of them. Thus, it is important to always build the individual’s self-esteem through positive and encouraging words. This way, it helps them become stronger emotionally, paving the way for a successful rehabilitation. After a rehab program, it is highly recommended to engage to social interaction to develop self confidence and enhance the relationship with other human beings.

3. Focus and Conditioning

Focusing and conditioning deal with the possibility of a mental relapse. When a person takes his or her attention off something, another must come to replace it; otherwise, that person would simply go back to what he or she was used to doing. It’s the same with dealing with mental relapse. When you’ve taken the victim’s mind off the addictive substance, make sure to replace it with something else. Recreational activities or self-awareness sessions would be very effective. Physical activities like sports will not only build up physical fitness but will also develop decision making skills.

4. Rest and Relaxation

Turning away from addiction is a struggle for both the individual’s mind and body, so it is essential that you help them relax and keep their mind at rest. Resting increases blood flow to the brain, helping the person think clearer, while relaxation energizes the physical body so the individual can do more activities instead of sitting around thinking about using and abusing.

Spiritual reflection can also help in developing faith and spirituality. It helps release the tension of being rehabilitated and further enhances the positive thinking scheme.

5. Abstinence

Abstinence is always part of every relapse prevention plan, and for good reason. If you really want to get off drugs or alcohol, then you shouldn't hang around places where you’ll always be reminded of your days as an addict, nor should you be out there where you have easy access to these things. Abstinence is very effective in treating addiction cases.

Aftercare Program is Necessary to Prevent Relapse

Addiction is a serious disease that needs medical treatment. If the condition is severe, the best available option is to bring the patient to a medical facility. It is also highly recommended to seek help from rehab center which utilizes scientific, spiritual and familial approach in resolving addiction cases.

There are many rehab programs that can help a patient recover from the dreadful condition. It is the role of family members or friends to identify which facility is suitable for their loved one. Understanding the differences between these centers and the kind of program they are offering is indeed the key in finding the suitable treatment for an alcoholic or drug dependent.

The efficacy of a rehab program is connected to the principles behind that program. It should also meet the individual needs of each patient in order to provide the patient the necessary treatment and approach. We want a program that will totally develop strong willpower and self-discipline to cope up with the urges and cravings, peer pressures, depressions and everyday stress when the person leaves the rehab facility.

Aftercare Program is Important

An important part of ensuring a secure sobriety is living a healthy lifestyle. Taking care of your own health is important - physically, psychologically and emotionally, as unhealthy lifestyle can stimulate cravings. Avoid staying up too late, not getting enough sleep, skipping meals, eating fast food, and spending time on things or people who make you angry, upset or depressed. A clean body and a clean mind will encourage a happy heart, promoting self-discipline and strengthening willpower.

If you spend most of your time doing nothing, you will eventually find yourself doing negative activities to fill your time. Come up with some goals and make a plan to earn them, starting as soon as possible. Make sure that they are positive. Make some important goals to help you get back into work, whether it is at your old job or looking for a new job. Come up with a realistic life plan that you can start working on to keep busy.

Remember that recovery from addiction is a never-ending task and a work in progress. It is important to take it one day at a time.