Before you got sober, one of your biggest worries was how to take the first step and admit that you had a problem. Now that you’ve overcome that hurdle, you’ve likely heard many other people talk about how they experienced a relapse. Going through a relapse can often feel like you are standing back in your old shoes again. You might be wondering how you’ll ever admit that you’ve fallen back into old habits to the people that supported your sobriety the first time around. Or, you might be wondering if it is even possible to achieve long-term sobriety when so many people stumble at some point in their life. As disappointing as it is to face a relapse, you have the ability to move forward. Asking how should I deal with a relapse is a perfect first step that shows you are ready to make some important decisions about how to proceed with getting back to your recovery plan.
The first thing you’ll want to do is remember that no one is immune to having a relapse. Usually, returning to your old habits means that something is missing in your recovery plan. You might not have been able to fully prepare for having strategies on hand to deal with a recent tragic event in your life. Some people go off track when they’ve experienced a hardship or simply get bored. Although you can spend many hours trying to figure out what went wrong, it is better to stop ruminating and take action. Choosing to go back to a treatment program as soon as you recognize that a relapse is happening helps you to stop using drugs or alcohol before you dig yourself into a deeper hole.
How to Get Back On Track After a Relapse
Going back to a treatment center doesn’t mean that you’ll just be repeating everything you did the first time around. Instead, your treatment team will work with you to correct some of these common causes of a relapse.
•Learn how to cope with a recent hardship
•Find new activities to fill your day with joy
•Delve deeper into complicated personal challenges
•Resolve relationship conflicts
•Create new coping methods to manage triggers
•Assess your current lifestyle to make sure it is healthy
•Adjust your treatment plan for underlying mental health conditions
When there is a relapse, there is usually an identifiable reason that goes beyond just lacking willpower. However, it might take a professional’s perspective to help you see where you could make some changes that support your sobriety. The good news is that you are entering rehab with more knowledge now than you had before. You know how good it feels to be sober, and you have the experience to draw on to get you through the withdrawal process. You’ve made it through the first phase of your sobriety and learned many lessons. This time will also be a learning process that leaves you with more insights into what makes you happier in life.
Similar to your first round of rehab, you’ll only get out of it what you put into it. Admitting that you’ve had a lapse is hard, but no one will judge you in the treatment center. In fact, a large number of people who seek treatment are on their second or third round of care. Addiction is complicated, and there are many factors that can arise and serve as a trigger. Depression and anxiety can pop up at any time in your life, and it is possible that you’ve been self-medicating. Figuring out why you are dealing with a relapse and getting back on track is easier when you have professional support.
As you plan to return to rehab, remember that you also have the option of doing something new this time around. Visiting a different treatment center can expose you to a new environment with other perspectives than you received in the past. Or, you might prefer to go to a familiar environment. Either way, the important thing is to get into treatment right away.
Are you dealing with a relapse and not sure what to do next? Give us a call at 833-610-1174 to get support from caring professionals who know how to get you back on track with your sobriety.