If you’ve ever been through the road from addiction to recovery, you’ll know that it’s not as much one long journey as it is several smaller ones – and these smaller journeys involve the recovered addict taking things day by day as they happen.

Then there’s the ever-dreaded relapse that’s often sold to addicts as something to accept as part as recovery –  but the question has to be asked as to at which point relapse stops being part of your recovery process and instead just becomes another convenient excuse to turn the relapse into something it shouldn’t be at all.

Is “Relapse is Part of Recovery” Just a Convenient Excuse?

Here’s more about how relapse works, how you can spot it – and why it doesn’t have to be a part of your recovery at all if you’re approaching it the right way.

So, What’s a Relapse?

The process of recovering from an addiction involves taking it day by day – and each day, going without the addiction becomes a tick in the “success!” box and a step in the right direction. It’s obvious that a relapse is what happens when people go back on their addictions, for however brief.

That’s not all that describes the condition of a relapse to an addict, though. At the same time, a relapse also happens to be something that can be painful, and that can feel like something that destroys years worth of work.

But sometimes a relapse is even more than this. Sometimes a relapse only functions as an excuse – and whether or not you know it, your relapse could just be pointing to flaws in the way you are approaching your recovery.

The Myth of Eventual Relapse

Relapse doesn’t have to be eventual, and it doesn’t have to be part of the recovery process. It doesn’t even have to happen once – and if it did, it certainly doesn’t have to happen twice. Deciding not to relapse and sticking to your guns by whatever means possible makes for one of the most important factors if you’re a recovering addict who has decided to follow a new path.

A lot can be done to avoid the instance of eventual relapse over time – and the best thing you can do is keep an eye out for the symptoms. Once you spot or note temptation, turn right in the other direction and run, with no exceptions; if you find that certain situations are threatening to your relapse-meter, avoid them and move on with the road to recovery approached right.

Some methods for avoiding relapse include:

  • Avoiding friends who continue to use drugs and alcohol and aren’t interested in getting sober.
  • Avoiding the places you used to abuse your substance of choice (e.g., bars, clubs, parts of your college campus).
  • Considering entering a sober living home.
  • Creating a clear relapse-prevention plan and have accountability to stick to it.
  • Popping back into your rehab facility for a refresher.
  • Regularly attending your therapy appointments.
  • Staying on any medications you need, checking in with your support group, therapist or recovery coach regularly.
  • Discussing your addiction strategy with your family and/or employer and build in fail-safes around stressors on the job.

For more information, call Igotsober Recovery Center today at 402-552-8890.

IGotSober

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