Relapsing is a common concern for people that are working on addiction recovery, so you may become anxious or worried about some of your concerns. You may question whether you should talk with your therapist about it and how to bring it up. We have some tips to walk you through the process so your therapist can talk about potential relapses with you.
Cast Aside Your Concerns of Judgement
Many people worry about asking their therapists questions when it comes to relapsing. They think that their therapists will judge them and look down upon them if they bring up concerns with potential relapses. However, you need to remember that your therapist is there to help you and that he or she has studied to help you with these concerns. Remember that therapists have helped many people with multiple issues, so you aren’t the first and you won’t be the last person who has concerns about relapse. If you have an experienced therapist, then he or she has most likely helped people with similar issues. With this in mind, you can feel reassured that your therapist will help you with your concerns.
Inform Your Therapist Beforehand
After you decide you want to talk with your therapist about potential relapses, then you should bring them up before your next session. Inform your therapist through a phone call or message that you want to discuss your concerns with relapsing so he or she can prepare ahead of time in a way that will assist you. On top of this, telling your therapist about it ahead of time will commit you to the conversation during your next sessions. This way, you won’t second guess yourself when you go to your sessions since he or she will already know that you want to talk about relapse concerns. This will encourage you to stick with it and get the advice that you need.
Be Honest as You Explain
Once you sit down with your therapist and discuss your concerns, you need to be honest as you explain yourself. Your therapist can’t help you if he or she doesn’t know what you are concerned about. Tell your therapist exactly what concerns you about potential relapsing and ask him or her what you could do. Keep in mind that relapses happen all the time, so you don’t need to feel ashamed if it does happen. Instead, you can talk with your therapist about “what if” scenarios. For example, you could ask what you should do if you end up relapsing and your therapist can provide you with an answer based on the concerns on your mind.
Listen
After you explain your concerns to your therapist, you need to listen to what he or she says. Many people become so focused on what they want to say and what they will say next that they forget to listen to the advice given to them. Remember that a therapist will know what to do, so you need to listen to his or her words. Your therapist will listen to you and want to help you, so you should show that same respect back to the professional. Listen to his or her words and think about how that will impact your life and what you will need to change to address your concerns that involve potential relapses.
Apply What You Learn
After you listen to your therapist, you can figure out how to avoid relapses or what you should do if you relapse. For example, your therapist may tell you to talk with a loved one so you have a person to hold you accountable if you do relapse. If your therapist suggests this, then you can immediately think of and talk with someone that you trust. Make a plan after the session: decide how you will do what your therapist suggests so you can properly tackle your concerns. Keep in mind that a therapist may give you direct advice or he or she may ask you questions to help you figure out what you should do. Either way, you should apply what you learn during your sessions.
Conclusion
If you have concerns about potential relapses, then you should discuss them with your therapist. Doing so will allow you to figure out how to handle various situations and reassure you that you have someone to help you through your struggles. Call us today at 833-610-1174.