Addiction is a chronic disease, and while there isn’t a cure to end it, there are research-backed methods that can help people with treatment and recovery. Getting sober is an accomplishment you should be proud of, but recovery takes work.
Are you worried about losing control and looking for ways on how to prevent relapse? If so, you’re on the right track. Educating yourself is the first step in preventing relapse.
Thankfully, laying the groundwork and following through on the aftercare plan can put you on the path towards success. Learn how with these seven tips.
1. Join a Support Group
Support programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous provide a support network and resources for people looking to stay clean and sober. You’ll meet people in similar circumstances and find much-needed support, which can help if you’re feeling frustrated or misunderstood.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship, and many members do believe in a god or higher power, but there are also atheist or agnostic members. According to A.A., the only requirement to join is the desire to stop drinking.
There are many different options for support groups out there, so if one type of treatment doesn’t seem to work for you, don’t be afraid to try something new.
2. Create a Positive Network of People
Friends and family can often provide the support you need to stay sober, but they may not always understand your situation. It helps to find others who are striving hard to stay clean and sober, so you can hold one another accountable and praise good decisions.
Group therapy is an excellent place to start. You can often exchange contact information with other members and form new bonds, helping to create a positive network of supportive people.
Surround yourself with positive people working towards a better life, and it will help you achieve more in your own life.
3. Do Yoga and Meditation
Stress is one of the most common reasons that people relapse after treatment. Many people reach for mood-altering substances to help cope, and this self-destructive habit can be hard to break.
Recent studies have shown that alternative treatment methods such as yoga can be an effective tool in helping treat substance-use disorders. Combining yoga and meditation with other treatment methods can help you avoid relapse, lower your stress levels, and learn to cope with stress in a healthier way.
Yoga for recovery is a holistic way to provide mental, spiritual, and physical benefits. If you frequently deal with high levels of stress in your life and often turned to substances in the past, yoga and meditation can help. You’ll learn to gain self-awareness, focus the mind and body, fight compulsive behaviors, and encourage positive thinking.
4. Try New Hobbies and Learn Skills
Sometimes taking your mind off your cravings and stress can help prevent relapse. If you’re faced with a lot of free time, it’s a good idea to fill that time with healthy activities that keep you busy and help you achieve your best self.
One of the best tips for preventing relapse is to learn new skills and try new hobbies (or revisit old hobbies). Learn to cook and take a cooking class, try your hand at painting or pottery, or take nature walks and give photography a try.
Hobbies don’t have to be expensive either. There is probably plenty around the house you can use to fuel your new hobby. Use an old notebook to practice drawing or pick up that book you’ve meant to read, for example.
5. Exercise More
If you’re struggling with stress, anxiety, and depression while trying to stay sober, it’s important to find healthy ways to cope. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that trigger positive feelings in the brain and make you feel good.
Other benefits of exercising more during recovery are a boost in self-esteem, more energy, better sleep, lowered blood pressure, a healthier heart, and much more.
Exercises, such as walking or yoga, are an excellent place to start and can help you prevent relapse by keeping your mood up and your body healthy. For the best results, combine exercise with the other methods you learned during your individualized addiction treatment.
6. Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal is an easy way to track your moods and pinpoint your relapse triggers. Keep track of the people, places, and things that tempt you and avoid them. You might even consider using a habit or mood tracker chart.
Writing down your feelings is an excellent way to record where you started, how you felt, make goals, track your progress, and make plans for the future. You can look back on earlier entries and see how your treatment has worked and how far you’ve come.
7. Follow Through With Aftercare
Your treatment program may have aftercare strategies for you to follow, such as follow-up appointments or check-ins. Don’t skip these!
Keep up with your treatment to prevent relapse, and don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help. Contact your case manager or therapist if you need to, or call your support network for advice.
Keep track of any habits that are part of your aftercare in your journal. If you miss a day of exercising or slip up on your diet, simply return to your routine the next day.
Don’t give up—the road to recovery after achieving sobriety is a long one, but no matter what happens or how many bad days you have, keep trying. There is help out there, and you can do it.
Preventing Relapse Starts Here
Addiction might be a chronic disease, but there are many treatment methods that have proven successful time and time again. Others have gone through this struggle before, so you can use their tips for preventing relapse to help you on your own journey to recovery.
Remember to keep your mind focused, your body busy, and to take strides toward bettering yourself rather than falling back into old habits. Help is there if you need it, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
The Akasha Center is here for you. Find serenity and freedom through our individualized treatment program. Discover more and contact us today.