After you have been to rehab, there is always a possibility of relapse. Thus, while it is important to recover, you must make sure you don’t go back to the previous state. Recovery is just one point on the long road to staying sober, so it should not be considered an end itself. Most people relapse because they become negligent and start testing their resolve. Deliberately going near your temptations can get you straight into a relapse.
Triggers and temptations are very common that can throw you off a loop, and the subsequent events lead to using the drugs again. But fortunately, there are a lot of treatment centers to ensure that a relapse is not the end. Getting back on track should be your goal. You need total sobriety where you don’t get back to a relapse. But this requires you to be vigilant about your surroundings and ensure you stay away from all the triggers.
Here is what you should promptly do after a relapse.
- Contact the professionals at a rehab
The relapse is often not sudden. It is trailed by multiple warnings that your body and mind give you. A few weeks before you start using drugs or drinking alcohol again, you may find your mind giving emotional warnings, forcing you to rethink your decision of being sober. The thoughts of partying and spending time with friends might look attractive again. This is when you should contact the professionals without waiting for an actual relapse because you are already in the emotional and mental stage of going back to your previous condition. You may contact the facility on their website, where they often have their representatives available to take your queries. One such rehab is Serenity at Summit; you can reach them at serenityatsummit.com and talk to the customer care representative to book an appointment. They offer many services, from family therapy to addiction recovery, to name a few. If you have been to a rehab treatment before, you might want to contact the same facility. Otherwise, there is no harm in taking an alternative opinion and going with a different treatment program.
If you ignore these stages, it won’t take long before your thoughts overpower your resolve and you end up taking drugs again. Enrolling in a follow-up rehab treatment can fill all the gaps and put you back on track.
- Reach out to your friends and family
After contacting a rehab facility, talk to your friends and family and tell them what you have been going through. Their support can become your strength at this time as you are unsure of what to do. More than them, you have to make yourself realize that it is a momentary blip, and you will overcome this in the coming days. Even if they are unsure of what to do or how to react, they can still be there around you, offering you a sense of connection and association.
- Get rid of the triggers from your surrounding
Next, you must focus on being sober only. After a relapse, you are not strong enough to stay in an environment with multiple triggers around you. For instance, remove all the alcohol bottles from your house and avoid people who can misguide you. Don’t hesitate to do it, even if it means cutting ties with your loved ones.
- Develop healthy habits
Apart from staying away from people, you have to develop habits that help you stay sober. It could be about taking a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, or having regular gym sessions. You need healthy distractions more than anything else in your life. For that, you can enroll in any learning course, such as cooking, art, or an educational course.
- Get into the treatment recovery mode
Even if you have completely recovered, you must have a relapse recovery plan. Often participants develop this plan during their stay in rehab. So, now is the right time to retrieve that plan and follow through with it. All things mentioned in the program for not getting into a relapse can help you get sober again too. You will find options and recommendations helping you reduce stress, get good sleep, relaxation techniques, and tips for eating healthily. You will also find a list of triggers that can get you into relapse. It also means avoiding those triggers can help you get back again.
- Be gentle with yourself
Many people who get into a relapse start thinking that sobriety is not for them. Feelings of anger, fear, and guilt are normal. But you mustn’t let them consume you or distract you from your path to sobriety. These feelings of helplessness and failure are detrimental to the efforts you have put in so far. Know that there are countless people in the same predicament as you. Getting into a relapse might not be their doing, but not doing anything about it surely is. So, forgive yourself and focus on what you have achieved so far instead of what you have lost. Think of this as an opportunity to introspect and see why you relapsed in the first place. This is the period to learn about yourself and your weaknesses and avoid them in the future. Take your relapse as a chance to cement your resolve of never experiencing this ever again.
- Avoid places that give a glimpse of the past
Getting back to sobriety is not just about avoiding people but also places. It would be best if you did not revisit the places where you used to hang out and have fun while overdosing on alcohol and drugs. The memory of past events can increase your craving making your recovery after a relapse more complicated. Avoid all the social events and parties where alcohol is abundantly available and drugs are dealt with covertly. Spend more time with your family as they can be your ultimate support in this difficult time. Get back to your responsibilities and think of your obligations.
Conclusion
Studies show that 40-50% of the people attending a rehab relapse one month after recovering, and up to 85% relapse within 12 months of getting treatment. So, the statistics for relapse are quite alarming. But, a relapse does not mean staying in the same situation, feeling dejected, and a total failure. The tips mentioned above can help you get back on track after a relapse and ensure you stay on the path of sobriety.
