Relapse can happen to anyone. After a lapse in sobriety, it’s easy to feel hopeless and think that the end is near. However, a relapse does not have to spell doom for your recovery. Relapse in no means a punishment; it simply means that you’ve strayed from the path of recovery again. Here are some considerations that you should make before making the decision to go through an inpatient treatment program after a relapse.
Know Why You Relapsed
The reason for your relapse is the most important factor to consider. There might be some important clues that you’ve missed. For example: were there some triggers that pushed you over the edge? Were there some people that were waiting to encourage you to go back to using again? If there were people or situations that had contributed greatly to your relapse, you must find a way to avoid them in the future. If you’ve been clean and sober for many years, it’s also important to understand that your body has changed significantly. Although you might look the same on the outside, your body has undergone significant changes during the years of kicking drugs. Many of these changes are not desirable, and can make you more vulnerable to addiction again.
Make A Plan For Success
If you’ve relapsed, you must be willing to take the necessary steps to ensure that you don’t do it again. If you’ve been clean and sober for some time, it’s easy to become complacent and think that your recovery journey has come to an end. You may even feel that an inpatient treatment program is not necessary. Don’t be fooled into thinking that your recovery is over just because you’ve been sober for a while. You’re still susceptible to relapse if you don’t stay on guard. In order to successfully stay clean and sober, you must have a recovery plan. A recovery plan helps you to stay on track with your recovery and avoid relapse.
Don’t Underestimate The Importance Of Commitment
When you’re in the early stages of recovery, you’re likely to be great at putting effort into your recovery. However, as time progresses and you’re more comfortable with your new life, you may not put as much effort into your recovery. But, let’s be honest, how many of us really enjoy being uncomfortable? A relapse is often a sign that you’ve drifted out of the commitment that you made to yourself while you were still using drugs. What do we mean by commitment? Commitment means that you’ve made a promise to yourself. You must promise to recover. You must promise to stay clean and sober. You must promise to never use drugs again. If you make these promises, you can stay clean and sober, no matter what life throws at you.
Not All Relapses Mean The End Is Near
Relapses don’t always mean that you’re at the end of your recovery. Many people spend years in recovery before experiencing a single lapse. You might be one of them. While it’s certainly possible that your relapse is a sign that your sobriety is in jeopardy, it’s important to keep in mind that many people struggle with addiction for many years before ever experiencing a lapse.
There’s a chance, then, that you’re simply experiencing a period of struggle that’s normal, but not something that indicates the end of your recovery. You may have slipped up, and you may have taken a step back. But, don’t let this scare you away from recovery. If you continue to make the effort, you’ll be back on the right track soon enough.
Stay In Touch With Your Support System
If you’ve been clean and sober for a while, you must stay in touch with your support system. This is especially true if you’ve relapsed. You may have relapsed because you’ve fallen out of touch with your sober friends. If this is the case, you must quickly re-establish a connection with them. This can be done by picking up the phone and calling your sober friends. You can also send a note, email, or Facebook message. You may be shocked to find out how important a connection with your sober friends has become.
Banish Negative Self-Talk
Recovery is a process, and it will take time. It’s important to remember that while you’ve slipped, you’re not necessarily at the end of the road to recovery. You may have experienced a relapse, which means you’ve strayed from your path. But, don’t let this discourage you. This may just be a blip on the radar, and you’re almost guaranteed to make a full recovery from it.
Conclusion
If you’ve relapsed, don’t be discouraged and think that your recovery is over. Many people experience relapses before ever finding recovery for good. Now that you know what to expect, you have a much better chance of staying clean and sober for the long haul. Whether you decide to pursue an inpatient drug rehab program or seek out additional support, you can successfully stay clean and sober.
Our counselors are here if you’re struggling with addiction and want help. Call us at 833-610-1174. Our team of trained professionals is committed to providing support and guidance for individuals on their journey toward lasting sobriety.