Relapse Prevention in North Texas

Relapse prevention in North Texas is a crucial aspect of any addiction recovery plan. Drug rehab centers use a combination of therapies to address the triggers behind behaviors associated with addictive substance abuse. However, a primary part of learning to remain sober after leaving drug rehab is to learn solid new ways to reduce the risk of a potential relapse.

Relapse prevention programs work by helping each recovering person identify their own personal addiction triggers. Addiction specialists in a drug rehab center then help the person learn to recognize early warning signs of a potential relapse.

A big part of most relapse prevention programs is encouraging each person to develop their own personal strategy for avoiding high-risk situations associated with past using behavior.

Drug and alcohol rehab programs also introduce a range of alternative and holistic therapies designed to promote relaxation, reduce stress associated with the recovery process, and enhance self-esteem, all of which can help reduce the risk of the person relapsing back into self-destructive behaviors.

What is Relapse Prevention?

Relapse prevention in North Texas is a plan of action designed to help a recovering addict prevent returning to dysfunctional behaviors associated with past addiction. Just as the reasons and triggers behind each person's addiction are different, the strategies needed to remain clean and sober also need to be unique to that person's needs.

No one responds in the same way to all treatments, so specialists in drug rehab encourage each recovering person to begin developing their own recovery plan.

Relapse Statistics among Addicts and Alcoholics

Statistics indicate that the relapse rate among addicts and alcoholics ranges between 40% and 60% on average. The relapse rate is comparable to many other chronic health conditions, including asthma, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

However, the relapse rates can be significantly higher and is thought to be as high as 90% in people who attempt to detox from drugs or alcohol at home without the assistance and therapy provided by professional drug rehab treatments.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released statistics showing around 90% of recovering alcoholics are likely to relapse at least once during their recovery. The rate of relapse can potentially be reduced with longer stays of more than 30 days in drug and alcohol rehab facilities to ensure new recovery skills are taking hold.

One key fact recovering people are taught during rehab is that relapsing back into a pattern of addictive substance abuse does not mean that treatment has failed.

People with other types of chronic health conditions are taught that a relapse in symptoms means that current treatments are no longer working effectively, so the person is encouraged to seek medical advice immediately to bring the condition back under control.

The same principle is true of recovering drug addicts or alcoholics. A relapse is simply a signal that the persons relapse prevention strategy needs to be revisited and amended accordingly.

Stages of Relapse

Relapse prevention in North Texas is never an isolated event. Rather, there are several stages a person moves through before returning to use. These include:

Emotional Relapse

During the early stages of relapse, the person may not be actively thinking about using. Rather, the person may believe they're remaining motivated to stay sober, but their emotions and actions could be setting them up for a potential relapse in future. Some signs of emotional relapse include:

  • Poor eating habits
  • Bad sleeping patterns
  • Lack of self-care
  • Mood swings
  • Uncontrolled stress levels
  • Anxiety and defensiveness
  • Isolation from others
  • Behavioral changes
  • Not attending meetings
  • Not asking for help

During the emotional relapse stage, it's important the recovering person recognizes the signs and takes positive action to stop them progressing to later stages.

Mental Relapse

During mental relapse, a part of the person's mind might still be focused on staying sober, but the other part may idly begin thinking that using again might be easier than the constant challenge of remaining clean. Signs include:

  • Thinking about people or places associated with past use
  • Fantasizing about using
  • Glamorizing past use
  • Associating with past using friends or associates
  • Believing the addiction is now under control and using ‘just once' won't hurt
  • Planning a relapse around other people to avoid getting caught

When the lure of addictive behaviors begins to take over the recovering person's thoughts, the actions soon follow. Relapse prevention programs teach people to recognize their own symptoms of potential relapse and find healthy ways to get back on the right track. Dual diagnosis in North Texas is often how these mental issues which cause relapse get dealt with.

Physical Relapse

The act of using drugs or taking that drink is physical relapse. The objective of relapse prevention in North Texas is to teach the person a range of strategies and tactics designed to help them avoid reaching the point of no return, which increases the likelihood of remaining clean and sober over the long term.

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Relapse

Relapse prevention programs teach a recovering addict to watch for early warning signs associated with the different stages of relapse. However, there are some warning signs and symptoms that could increase the risk of a person relapsing. These might include:

  • Not practicing self-care
  • Financial difficulties
  • Relationship breakdowns, divorce, or death of a loved one
  • Not dealing with symptoms of post-acute drug withdrawal positively
  • Uncontrolled stress levels

The key to reducing the risk of relapsing back into a pattern of self-destructive drug or alcohol abuse is learning strong relapse prevention strategies. Implementing healthy tactics and mechanisms for avoiding high-risk situations and emotions can make it easier to remain clean and sober over the long term. Call us now for help (877) 804-1531.

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