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Top 10 Relapse Prevention Skills

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Nicky Bella

Quitting substance abuse or an activity addiction may not be as easy they always say. It is a gradual process to get over-dependence on such substance, overcome the crave and urge to use same. While fighting withdrawal, the feeling of loneliness that may erupt while undergoing treatment. To put the 10 relapse prevention skills shared below to good use, get rehabilitation support at one of the best fort worth rehabs.

10 Relapse prevention skills

These skills are essential to learning as they will give you an edge to confidently deal with and overcome any type of addiction either yours or your loved ones. Imagine after spending a lot on detox, spend a lot on therapy but your loved one who is an addicted fellow creep on back to using or abusing the same substance they trying to fight. See how that feels, it feels painful and frustrating. To avoid this scenario, you should know about the relapse prevention skills to ensure you or your loved ones stay afloat while undergoing treatment for the same.

These skills are;

Understanding The Stages To Relapse

This will ensure you know when to ask for help or when you considered yourself at risk of a possible relapse. The stages to relapse are;

  • Emotional Relapse: This is when an individual tries to withdraw from families and friends, isolate themselves against contacts, tempers flying and anxiety creeping in.
  • Mental Relapse: this is the battle stage. Part of you starts craving for such substance while your other part wants to stay healthy and clean of such substance. This is when you start comparing the satisfaction to be gained by using a substance and the momentarily stress you are going through, thus weighing the benefits of both.
  • Physical Relapse: this is the final stage where tragedy sets in. It is the first sip or drink or use. It may be out of curiosity or to effectively test if you have overcome the addiction which is a trap that will precipitate further use or turn to regular usage of such substance.

Avoid Triggers

Triggers are the enabling conditions, environments, and people. These may be trying to battle withdrawal symptoms (such as stress level, loneliness), visiting bars and clubs, addicted friends on the same substance or other addiction, poor eating habits, lack of sleep.

To avoid relapse, ensure you avoid your triggers as much as possible. You can't do this without possibly knowing what causes your triggers are. So, learn about it.

Know Your Why

Know and always remember your reasons for quitting such a substance in the first place. This will ensure you be able to stay a loaf and fight the craving to use such a substance. When you focus on how beautiful your life would be in the absence of such substance abuse, you become motivated to fight it the more.

Seek for Help

Trying to recover by yourself may not be foolproof enough to facilitate proper and full recovery. So your best shot is seeking medical help and support from family members. Therapy helps in fighting stress and combating withdrawal symptoms that may arise during treatment.

Join Support Group

Rehab center can help prevent a future relapse as it erases the feeling of loneliness that may trigger a relapse. Support Group will avail your support and knowledge to fight future relapse. It will also make you more accountable, having like minds to share your experience and feelings with will alleviate the crunching power of the same and make it more comfortable.

Healthy Living

Exercise daily if you can. This will increase your tolerance to stress and help counter insomnia. Eat good food, ensure restful sleeping, drinks a lot of water.

Take good care of yourself, this is not limited to what you eat alone but what you wear and but your appearance too.

Meditation

Mindful Meditation helps quells stress and fear, so engage in the same.

Deep Breathing

Practice deep breathing whenever you crave substance use, you are anxious, stressed, or doubtful if you can truly overcome your addiction and stay sober for long.

Celebrate Your Wins

Normalize celebrating your little accomplishment like staying sober for months, weeks, or another day, resisting the use of substance at a party or gathering of friends, this must not be in the form of other substance abuse, it can just be a visit to your favorite concert, watching a movie at the cinema and other nonharmful pleasure-seeking activities.

Set Goals

Find attainable goals to give you direction in life such as wanting to remain healthy, getting a new job, recovering from a strained relationship. This will ensure you stay motivated always.

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Nicky Bella
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