Published February 22, 2018 · Reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD · ~633 words

Recovery from a substance use disorder isn’t about willpower. Addiction is a chronic disease, and as such, requires individuals learn to manage the condition. Each individual will face their own challenges in doing so. But it’s important to remember that relapse isn’t failure and is part of the recovery process. Thoughts about drugs or alcohol are a common thing after detox, and they’re completely normal. If you, or someone you love still long for an addictive substance from the past, even after you’ve been officially “clean” for a while, don’t beat yourself about it. It’s important to understand the most common triggers and prevent them by minimizing the chances of responding. Pines Recovery Life Detox can help individuals develop the relapse prevention skills they need to maintain a lasting recovery.

Stay Focused on the Recovery

Scientists say that relapse begins weeks and even months before an individual picks up a drug or a drink. It’s important to understand the early warning signs of relapse to develop coping strategies and prevent it early when the chances of success are high.

Don’t Bottle Up Your Feelings

A big part of drug or alcohol rehabilitation is honesty and communication. It’s about discussing all your important feelings with a close friend. This is something for family and friends to keep in mind. A person that is recovering from addictive behaviors is often quiet and secretive.

Time drags when we’re having a period of boredom, and all there is to think about is how much we wish something else more exciting were going on. Boredom is an enemy for most people, especially those going through an addiction fight. Boredom was probably the main cause of substance use in the first place. A person struggling with addictive behaviors needs healthy ways to handle boredom to support relapse prevention.

There are many hobbies to choose from, plenty of movies to see, and TV shows to watch. Make sure to have friends and family close; it’s of great importance to have someone to call to in the moments you need to fill some time. Learning to focus your mind on more useful and productive things is not easy, but it’s not impossible. Instead of describing something as “boring,” think about it as “meditative” and take a mental rest from the outside world.

Make Sure You Have a Support Group

Relapse is a possible part of a recovery process. It is considered an integral part of the recovery. Do not get discouraged if you relapse. Addiction is a disease, and returning to treatment is common to most diseases.

The notion that relapse is a sign of failure is an obstacle that people with substance use must get rid of, and this is where a positive mindset can do a lot. The ability to control cravings comes with time. Those who have achieved long-term sobriety have learned well to control the urges and triggers from their past. Every mistake means a new and valuable lesson to resist cravings in the future better.

Discover How Pines Recovery Life Detox Can Help

Relapse prevention is never guaranteed, but the only way to get sober is to try. Get started on your road to recovery by contacting our team at Pines Recovery Life Detox. Call today , or contact us online today to learn more.