How To Prevent A Relapse

[TheBlueWolf]

How to prevent a relapse into addiction. Strategies, coping skills and help with triggers.

A relapse is never nice. Often we have mentally relapsed before we start physically using again so it is important to have various strategies in place and be working on new behaviours and thoughts to help us to prevent a relapse.

Avoiding temptation can be hard, particularly with alcohol as it is available pretty much everywhere. However rest assured that we are in full control and, however insane we may feel, not to mention tempted, at times, we do have the power to not pick up again.

Having a list of reasons for not drinking, a list of reasons why we are grateful to be sober today, a constructive 'to do' list; these are just some of the things we should be putting into our daily routines. Also, realising that our emotions are neither negative or positive; they simply are. It is how we act on our emotions that define them as good or bad.

A good day may start with some meditation and perhaps a reflection on the previous day followed by what needs to be done today. Don't forget though that life is a learning curve, especially so for us, so we should be careful not to beat ourselves up too much if we did not do particularly well yesterday. It is done and it is now today, a day we can do something about and improve.

Triggers are certain events, places, people and things which remind us of our drinking past and perhaps encourage us to drink again. We should be mindful of that and, while not putting ourselves in danger, consider what we could do differently and how. There are various strategies, from deep breaths, positive affirmations, perhaps prayer if that works for you. Some of us choose a Higher Power to believe in and ask for guidance.

How about phoning a sympathetic friend? If we are in the Fellowship, around treatment centres, etc, we may have a support network of other people who understand. Just picking up the phone and sending takes a little time and is time spent more constructively.

Owning our sobriety and positively doing something about it is a constant lifelong learning process. We are not perfect but neither should we begrudge ourselves the small victories either. Gaining sober time will give us confidence that not only is sobriety achievable, it is something we can maintain.

Most importantly, stay safe, try not to isolate and enjoy the moment.