When you’ve struggled with addiction in the past, one of your greatest accomplishments can be becoming clean and sober. Sobriety can prove to be extremely rewarding and allow you to feel like you’ve gained control of your life back.
Although it may be exciting to become sober, there’s always the risk of relapsing during your journey. If you happen to relapse, it can feel discouraging and can cause you to feel like the progress you’ve made is in vain. You may not know how to pick yourself back up and gain the strength to continue your sobriety. Although it’s important to never relapse, there are a few steps to take if it occurs in the future to ensure you know how to continue your progress.
Find Support
You may want to isolate yourself once you relapse and are disappointed in your decisions, but this can make it difficult to break the cycle of using drugs or alcohol. It can also put your life at risk if you continue to use drugs or alcohol and don’t get immediate support. Reach out to your sponsor and explain the situation without the fear of judgment. Understand that your support system is there to help you and has always been aware of the risk of relapse. It’s also important to continue attending therapy sessions or AA meetings that allow you to have accountability and have a safe space where you can open up.
Consider the Triggers
Consider your relapse as a learning lesson that can be avoided in the future if you evaluate your triggers and what caused you to return to substance abuse. Reflect on the days leading up to the relapse. Ask yourself if you were stressed or if you become hurt by someone important in your life. Anxiety is also a common trigger for many people who relapse because they don’t know how else to cope with their heightened feelings.
Once you determine what your triggers are, it can help you to plan ahead in the future to avoid them. This may require meditation or stress-relieving methods to practice each day. It may also include not spending time in familiar settings where you’ve used drugs or alcohol in the past. Working with a professional can allow you to create a plan of action in the future to stay clean.
Determine if You Should Return to Rehab
One of your main questions after relapsing may be if you should return to rehab. It can be easy to feel like you’ve failed and need to go through the treatment process again. Understand that addiction is complicated and can reemerge within the first month or year of leaving your treatment facility. There are many factors to consider when determining if you should seek treatment again.
Determine if you feel you’re able to manage your sobriety or if you’ve been feeling out of control in recent months. If you feel you have the strength to move forward without looking back or relapsing again, you may not need to enter a treatment facility. Keep in mind that relapsing doesn’t mean you’ve failed in recovering from an addiction.
Many times, it can be a minor setback that allows you to become stronger and learn from the mistake. It can be an opportunity to learn more about yourself and how to manage your sobriety in the future. If you’re open to seeking help, there may be a better treatment program available that is more effective than the original facility you visited. You may also need to learn better coping strategies when you encounter triggers. It may have been several years since you’ve obtained treatment, making it necessary to obtain support and guidance again.
Detox Under Medical Supervision
One of the most challenging parts of relapsing is detoxing from drugs or alcohol. Prepare for the detox process to break the cycle of addiction and return to sobriety. Avoid detoxing on your own, which can put your health and safety at risk. Always detox in the care of a medical professional to ensure your withdrawal symptoms are closely monitored. Contact us today at 833-610-1174 if you’re ready to get started on the recovery process.