What are the keys to preventing relapse for someone who is in recovery?

It's often said that getting sober is the hardest part, but that's typically not the case. Staying sober is one of the most difficult things you'll ever have to do, but recovery can be a life-changing experience. Many people who manage to stay sober for at least a year will begin to see the gifts that recovery has to offer, which makes them want to stay on the right path in order to prevent relapse. Relapse prevention is crucial for any addict because just one drink or one drug can send a person back into a downward spiral within days or weeks.

Relapse Prevention is Knowing There's no Cure for Addiction

Addiction is a progressive disease, which is why your recovery is so important. As you probably encountered in your addiction or during a previous relapse, there were many things you said you'd never do, but you did them anyway. For some people, never trying harder drugs was something they thought they'd never do, but they did when they were going through withdrawal or had built up a high dependence. Some people would never lie, cheat or steal, but their addiction became so bad that they did these things to loved ones. Even though you've begun a life of recovery, one relapse may lead to years of addiction. There are many people who have anywhere from one to 30 years of sobriety, and they think they can drink or use drugs now because they've overcome their addiction. The abnormality in the brain that causes addiction is never fully healed, so those who relapse end up right back where they left off or worse.

How to Prevent Relapse

In order to maintain your sobriety, it has to be your top priority. Everything has to change when you get sober if you want to see the change in yourself. As you learned in rehab, addiction is a disease of the mind, and unless you work on changing the way you think, you may find yourself drinking or using when you least expect it. This is why so many people continue with aftercare programs at their rehab or go to 12-step meetings. There is a lot of work they must do in order to maintain their sobriety, and a lot of it has to do with learning how to deal with life on life's terms in a healthy way. Maintaining your sobriety means that you now of the opportunity to share your experience, strength and hope with a loved one who might be struggling. They may see that it's possible to get sober, and we'll be there to help them if they decide that they need treatment so they can receive the same gifts of sobriety that you've been given. If you've relapsed before, there's still hope. You need leading-edge addiction treatment that can minimize the possibility of relapse. Freedom From Addiction can help you. Call us today.