Alcohol Drug Recovery: Work on Preventing Relapsing After Drug or Alcohol Recovery

To help the Prevention of Relapse after Drug or Alcohol Recovery some people suggest that there are three stages of relapse. Relapse starts weeks and sometimes months before the actual physical relapse occurs. The three stages of relapse according to some professionals are emotional relapse, mental relapse and physical relapse.

The emotional aspect of relapsing means you are not thinking about using drugs or alcohol but your emotions and behaviors are setting you up for it. Some of these signs are anxiety, intolerance, anger and various mood swings. You may start to isolate yourself from others, you may stop going to meeting and have poor sleeping habits and eating habits. These are only some, not all, of the signs of emotional relapse after drug or alcohol recovery. These symptoms are also the same as post-acute withdrawal and if you understand those then it is easier to prevent relapse.

The earlier you catch relapse steps the easier it is to prevent. You need to recognize that you are in an emotional Relapse stage, change your behavior, recognize that you’re anxious and practice relaxation techniques, making sure you get enough sleep and eat properly. The longer you remain in this state of emotional relapse the more difficult it will be to come out of it. The reason that drugs or alcohol is attractive is to escape. The key is to take care of yourself before relapsing.

In the mental relapse state there is a war going on in your mind. One part of you does not wish to use again, but there is a part of you that does want to. The signs of mental relapse are that you are thinking about the places you use to use, or the people that you used with. You are glamorizing you’re using in the past; you may start lying or fantasize about using. It is easy to fall into nostalgia and to exaggerate the pleasures. You may even start to fantasize about using or planning an escape so that you can use. As the pull of your substance abuse gets stronger it will become more difficult to combat. When you start to fantasize about using you will think that you will be able to control it this time. Don’t deceive yourself, but play it through. One drink almost always leads to a second and a third and so on.

When you are sober the next day, you will be disappointed, you may even start again, having a drink to feel better about yourself and the vicious cycle starts it cycle all over again. You need to keep reminding yourself that you have already paid a price for your addiction and you don’t need to pay it a second time. Call a friend or a support person and share with them what you are going through. Sharing seems to make the turmoil of the mental relapse less daunting. You can distract yourself, go for a walk, call up a friend, get your mind occupied so that the urge is not foremost on your mind. If you still have the urge, wait for at least 30 minutes, most urges will dissipate after 15 to 30 minutes. Remind yourself about that. Also read famous quotes for inspiration.

If you fail to get a hold of the emotional and mental relapse the physical relapse is probably just around the corner. Focus on the first two and the third will be much less likely to occur. Take it one day at a time. Even those in recovery for a few years can find that trying to go without for the rest of their life a daunting thought. Only worry about it one day at a time. It is a wonderful journey.

Down by the Wayside Choir 11-4-12 – Down by the Wayside Choir from Louisville, KY, in concert tonight at Calvin Presbyterian Church, Zelienople, PA. http://www.waysidechristianmission.org/

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