How to Write a Bulletproof Relapse Prevention Plan

Your plan will equip you for situations that trigger drug or alcohol cravings and the temptations and challenges you’ll face as you transition back into your normal routine. My physical health, mental health, and sobriety are all closely interrelated. If I drink, this will limit my ability to look after myself and others. Participating in hobbies and activities can help you to keep busy and prevent boredom from triggering cravings for substance abuse. Relapse prevention plans also work well as a blueprint you can fall back on when confronted with stressors in everyday sober life. A plan can also help to keep you fully focused on your recovery and accountable for your actions. At Integrative Life Center, we provide clients with the proper life and problem-solving skills to overcome their relapse triggers.

• Yellowbrick offers relapse prevention planning as a part of our substance use disorder treatment services.
• Relapse triggers and chances differ from person to person.
• On the other hand, you must also make an effort to remove yourself from social situations or harmful relationships that may serve as a trigger.
• And finally, we experience an emotional crisis and a return to use .
• It generally also includes relapse prevention education, which is a more formal process of learning about relapse.
• Integrative Life Center alumni benefit significantly from participating in our aftercare program.

Clients are encouraged to identify whether they are non-users or denied users. A denied user is in chronic mental relapse and at high-risk for future relapse.

What Can You Expect During Relapse Prevention?

To understand the importance of self-care, it helps to understand why most people use drugs and alcohol. It helps to acknowledge these benefits in therapy so that individuals can understand the importance of self-care and be motivated to find healthy alternatives. But clients and families often begin recovery by hoping that they don’t have to change. They often enter treatment saying, “We want our old life back — without the using.” I try to help clients understand that wishing for their old life back is like wishing for relapse. Rather than seeing the need for change as a negative, they are encouraged to see recovery as an opportunity for change. If they make the necessary changes, they can go forward and be happier than they were before.

Identifying your warning signs early on gives you time to get help before things spiral out of control. A relapse prevention plan includes strategies to reduce the risk of going back to substance misuse after addiction treatment. Find out more about relapse prevention plans and useful tips for planning one. A trigger is something that can cause stress and potentially induce cravings to drink or use drugs. They may be caused by certain events, places, people, or circumstances. For instance, you may frequent certain places where you always drink beer with your buddies, and these people and/or places may need to be avoided, at least for a while. Stress is a natural part of life, and it is important to have coping mechanisms and tools in place for managing it in a healthy manner.

Cognitive Therapy and Relapse Prevention

A trigger is simply something, anything, that will potentially make you feel like you need to use. Each person has their own specific triggers so it is important that you identify yours. A good plan can be changed and updated as time goes on, you may figure out new ways to cope or learn about different stress reduction techniques that you will want to be a part of your plan.

• Having your goals in front of you can motivate you along the way, and help you steer clear of relapse.
• However, it is important you have a plan set forth just in case a relapse were to happen.
• Think about what’s driving you to quit, such as rebuilding damaged relationships, keeping a job, or getting healthy again.
• A relapse prevention plan can serve as a way to improve all aspects of life and hold yourself accountable.
• The more detailed this plan is, the more likely you will be to get yourself back on track quickly.
• Not just to help with recovery and for a relapse prevention plan, but to help you improve and understand yourself better for everyday life.

Think about how out of control or sick you felt when you were using. Remember relapse prevention plan the embarrassing things you may have done or the people you may have hurt.

What to Expect from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Addiction Treatment in North Carolina

I want to take better care of myself and improve my lifestyle. I will start on a lifestyle change in what I eat and keep up with my fitness routine. Having people like this to talk to when you need it is important.