I have learned through the years that the holidays are tough on everyone. Next, I might ask if you have a relapse prevention plan, just in case. Having relapse prevention in place could help you from relapsing. I did not have a plan in place, and I relapsed. Here are a few ideas that have helped me this year.

Relapse has three different stages. Relapse begins with emotional, mental, and physical relapses.  Each stage is different, and if we could recognize these stages, we might be able to prevent relapse before it happens. In a mental relapse, a person begins to think about using. This happens because we might choose to hang out with unhealthy people or deal with stress. Other areas can cause a mental relapse. In the next phase, the mental relapse, we begin to be at war with ourselves. Me, I remember thinking back on all the good times. I even thought about how I could quickly lose weight and stop again. In the last stage, we have a physical relapse. By now, we are using drugs or alcohol. Hopefully, we will realize what has happened and stop using it again. We get back on the road to recovery.

Here are some tools to help you set up relapse prevention. Many of us might think we can handle things alone; I’m afraid that’s not right. We must be okay with asking for help. We must take care of ourselves; it is okay to be selfish. Find self-care that will work for you. I like taking a walk, especially with a friend in recovery. Another thing that I began to do was write out a list of people I could reach out to. This meant seeing the list, and when I struggled, I started at the top of the list and worked my way down until someone answered. This has come to work a lot in my recovery. Another thing I did was found me a sponsor that worked for me. Lastly, I started spending time with God. I will pray, read the bible, and listen to worship music. There is something about worship music that makes you feel better.

Written by: Melissa Pena

Ideally, no addict who begins recovery would ever have to struggle with relapse. However, relapse happens to a significant number of individuals who are trying to overcome addiction and maintain sobriety. By recognizing the signs of relapse, individuals can seek help for themselves or their loved ones.

Ceasing Consumption of Medicine

For many individuals who are in the process of recovering from an addiction, pharmacological medication is part of the treatment. When individuals who are taking medicine decide to stop, it may be a sign of a current or impending relapse.

As many as half of all individuals who struggle with addiction also struggle with some form of mental health disorder or mental illness. Through dual diagnosis treatment, both concerns can be resolved. Often, this is done through a combination of prescription medication and behavioral therapy.

By ceasing consumption of medicine, individuals may fall victim to the same thoughts, feelings and behaviors that first led them to drugs or alcohol. It is vital that anyone who wants to stop taking medication for any reason only do so with the supervision and consent of their physician.

Not Attending Support Groups or Meetings

One of the keys to preventing relapse is having accountability and support that goes beyond the length of a rehab program. Long after an addiction treatment program has ended, patients will need ongoing support. This can come in the form of family, close friends, 12-Step meetings or support groups for addicts. Quitting any or all of these support groups may be a sign of impending relapse.

When people stop attending group meetings or support groups, it is often for one of two reasons. The first reason is because they no longer feel that they need to spend the time in these group meetings. Unfortunately, this often leads to relapse, as individuals will no longer have the support or the outlet that they are accustomed to.

The second reason an individual might stop attending support and group meetings is because they have already relapsed. Often, those who relapse are ashamed to reveal their relapse to their peers. However, support group members are exactly who individuals should seek help from after a relapse, because many will have been through a similar situation.

Spending Time With Addicts

Recovering from an addiction is a challenge, and it can be difficult to resist cravings and temptation. For that reason, many individuals who are in recovery from addiction choose not to spend time with those that abuse their substance of choice. When these friendships are rekindled, it could be the sign of relapse.

Two individuals who are both in recovery can be of great comfort to one another. When one person is in recovery and one is still in the throes of addiction, however, there is a recipe for disaster. This kind of environment is simply too difficult for a sober person to endure on a regular basis. If someone you love or care about is spending time with friends who are addicts, then it is a clear warning sign that should not be ignored.

No Longer Adhering to a Healthy Routine

In addiction treatment, many patients create a healthy routine for themselves. Routine is a great tool for those in recovery, because it eliminates the need for too many decisions. If there are healthy habits in place, then it is easy to do the right thing.

Outside of rehab, it takes commitment to stick to a healthy routine. Individuals might wake up at a certain time, spend an hour exercising or meditating, go to work, attend a group therapy or support meeting, eat a nutritious meal and then relax with a favorite pastime. This kind of routine encourages health, mindfulness and sobriety.

When the routine is broken, there are suddenly more choices than ever before. Individuals might be faced with temptation at every corner. Relapse definitely breaks routine and encourages individuals to stop their healthy habits. That’s why a disrupted routine is a clear sign of a current or potential relapse ahead.

Romanticizing the Past

It is normal to romanticize aspects of the past. Many people remember their first loves with pleasure, even if the relationship failed or ended poorly. Nostalgia is a strong response and good memories can be stronger than the bad. However, it is dangerous to remember the past fondly if it contained addiction.

Those who have struggled with addiction in the past need to remember the reality of their addiction. It is important to recall the financial, relationship, psychological and health problems that accompanied drug or alcohol use. If a person is openly romanticizing addiction or abuse, be alert to any signs of relapse.

Questioning the Necessity of Abstinence

A critical component of lasting recovery from addiction is complete sobriety. A person who has struggled with addiction can’t have a single drink or a single dose of drugs. This creates a slippery slope that can lead to relapse or a full-blown addiction.

That’s why it is important to pay attention to those individuals who begin to question the necessity of abstinence. This can happen often, particularly after a year of successful sobriety. Individuals may want to test themselves and see if they can resist addiction, but this is a dangerous move that can lead to devastating results. It is far, far better to conclude that abstinence from an addictive substance is vital and that complete sobriety is the best route to a lifetime free from addiction.

Displaying Denial

Denial commonly accompanies a relapse. Individuals may be on the verge of relapse, but are in denial about their need for help. Others may have already relapsed, but are in denial about that fact. Still more may be in denial that they were ever truly addicted.

All of these forms of denial are a way to avoid the hard work and focus that recovery requires. However, the right support and treatment can prevent patients from going backwards, and it can put them on the path toward a lifetime of sobriety.

Relapse doesn’t mean failure. It may be a step back, but those who struggle with relapse can still move forward toward the healthy, happy lives they deserve.

Defining Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is exactly what it sounds like. It is when a patient is diagnosed with two separate disorders. Typically, these are a substance abuse disorder, also known as addiction, and some kind of mental health disorder.

Dual diagnosis is more common than many people expect. More than half of those with a mental illness also struggle with substance abuse at some point in their lives. Conversely, nearly half of those addicted to drugs and alcohol suffer from a mental health disorder.

Unfortunately, millions of people who suffer from both addiction and mental illness don’t get the right diagnosis or the right addiction treatment. Often, patients only receive a diagnosis once they are ready to begin addiction treatment at a quality facility. During an intake evaluation or assessment, mental health problems may be obvious to professionals trained in addiction treatment.

The Link Between Mental Illness and Addiction

Clearly, the statistics show that there is an undeniable link between mental health disorders and addiction. However, it is not always clear why that is. There are several theories, and each may be correct for some patients.

One very likely possibility is that those who struggle with mental illness turn to substance abuse as a means of self-medication. This is more pronounced among those who do not have a proper medical diagnosis and who are not using prescribed medication to manage mental illness.

When mental illness is present, it can be incredibly challenging. Without the tools to manage conditions such as bipolar disorder or anxiety, alcohol and drugs can appear to be the easiest and most accessible solution. Unfortunately, adding substance abuse or addiction will only serve to make life harder for many of these individuals.

Another potential cause for the link is that those who abuse substances and struggle with addiction may exhibit mental health conditions as a result of that addiction. This is certainly plausible, because many substances can lead to severe mental illness over time.

For example, alcohol is a depressant and can absolutely lead to depression. Stimulants can cause severe anxiety once the drugs begin to wear off. Many drug users also report paranoia, often as a result of criminal activity or because of their illicit drug use.

Sometimes, both mental illness and addiction are caused by a separate, third factor. This may be the case for patients who have suffered some sort of trauma in their past. Military personnel, for example, may struggle with aspects of their time overseas. This could lead to both PTSD and alcohol abuse.

Treating the Cause, Not Just the Symptoms

One of the biggest mistakes in addiction treatment is focusing on the physical symptoms rather than their cause. It is common for patients to complete a detox and then head straight back to everyday life. Unfortunately, a detox addresses only the immediate chemical dependence. It can’t prevent addiction from taking hold again.

Getting to the root cause of addiction is easier said than done. However, those who struggle with mental illness have a good place to start. Through dual diagnosis treatment, mental health will get the attention that it deserves.

It is not enough to treat addiction for a month or two and then have patients get help for mental health conditions. The two need to be addressed side-by-side in a simultaneous fashion. This way, patients can start to link the two and understand how mental health and substance abuse are connected. Understanding this connection is just one of the ways that the root of addiction can be targeted.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Reduces the Risk of Relapse

Relapse is a concern for most patients who have struggled with addiction in the past. Statistically, a staggering number of people who receive treatment will eventually use drugs or alcohol again. Some of the more effective ways to prevent relapse include creating a support system and completing a high-quality addiction treatment program. For those with mental health conditions, however, the best tactic will be completing dual diagnosis treatment.

During dual diagnosis treatment, patients will learn how to manage their mental health conditions. In many cases, that means pharmacological treatment. Taking medicine for certain conditions means that patients can completely eliminate some of the most traumatic symptoms.

Mental illness, simply put, is stressful. Since stress is one of the major reasons for relapse, there is clearly a problem. Patients who only get addiction treatment, and have unresolved mental illnesses, won’t be equipped to deal with upcoming stress.

There are many different coping mechanisms that can be created and learned to help handle mental health problems. For example, a person who struggles with depression, and turns to alcohol for help, can instead join a support group or even participate in daily fitness classes. The specifics depend on each individual patient, but they can truly make a world of difference.

What Dual Diagnosis Treatment Looks Like

Dual diagnosis is not a set protocol. However, it often includes a significant amount of individual talk therapy. This is the bedrock of addiction treatment and a key part of addressing mental illness. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to find talk therapy making up the bulk of dual diagnosis treatment.

Dual diagnosis might also include medical treatment, particularly for those with a severe mental illness. This could mean pharmacological treatment. Group therapy can also be helpful, and a range of alternative or holistic approaches have the potential to be beneficial.

Many of the people who struggle with addiction also have an undiagnosed or untreated mental health disorder. Treating both simultaneously through dual diagnosis treatment is the only truly effective way to combat relapse and end addiction for good.

The desire to be free is brewing inside of you more and more, but you have to avoid chronic drug relapse.

Unless you want to deal with some kind of flashback, that causes a relapse and you revert to your old ways, you should be aware of many of the common relapse triggers and how to fight them. Statistics show that 60 to 90 percent of people who are addicted to drugs revert back after a period of recovery. This could be very scary, specifically for those who are truly hoping to give up what they are addicted to. One way to prevent relapses would be to recognize common triggers.

It is crucial that you control a variety of emotions if you wish to avoid drug relapse.

Emotional distress is probably the main reason people relapse. Mental distress can include anxiety, worry, heartbreak, or other forms connected with emotional turmoil. Drugs usually are used to cope with emotions, which makes the connection between the two noticeable. Find ways to deal with your feelings differently, such as talking to a support group. Hanging with buddies who remind you of your respective drug use could also be difficult. You should also stay away from places this remind you of your substance days. You will need to cut these kinds of locations or people from your life until you are in power over your sobriety. Another thing to think about is having unrealistic expectations. Many individuals with drug problems usually think that life will improve from not having drugs. This is not the case due to the fact life will always be bittersweet without or with drugs. It is important to be realistic of what you expect from being “dry”. Keep in mind that these are just a few of the actual relapse triggers that you should worry about. You may talk to your drug rehabilitation professional(s) to help you cope with what you might be dealing with.

How to combat these persistent urges to relapse back to a drug or old behavior

There is a whole lot that you can do to fight these types of urges, from avoiding certain places, to inpatient rehab, to alternative drug treatment. Many experts believe the best thing you can do is escape the entire life you are currently living. This is why alternative drug treatment is one of the best ways of combating addiction,in addition to finding your triggers.

Alternative drug treatment usually means that you take yourself from your home and keep recovering at a treatment center for quite a while.

These centers become your real house until you are able to let go of your current addiction. There are trained psychotherapist to help you deal with emotional sparks that might set you off, as well as others dealing with the chemical addiction that can help guide you. Right now there may even be a holistic method of dealing with your urges that can advance you toward recovery quickly. Fighting addictive drugs is more about repairing your own emotional state than just avoiding external things and people and events.

A great thing about centers that take a person away from the home is they permit you to really focus on dealing with your own personal addiction to cure chronic relapse. All other distractions tend to be removed, maybe for the first time in your life, and you can start to think clearly without them and prevent drug relapse to overcome addiction.