3 Rules to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Relapse

Updated on June 8, 2020

Most addicts, after successfully completing alcohol rehab treatment or drug rehab report relapses. As we all know, drug addiction is a chronic disease, and it is not always easy to get rid of it or overcome it. 

Different studies have shown that every seven out of ten addicts face relapse after their recovery. They have to struggle a lot to maintain sobriety. It is not one week or one-month treatment. Sometimes it takes a lot to give you a healthier life back. 

Quitting drugs or alcohol itself is difficult and sticking to it is challenging. Moreover, maintaining your recovery and sobriety is a great challenge. The one thing you require to understand is you need the help of your loved ones to cope with it. You’ll always be required emotional and moral support of your friends and family to win this battle. 

So if you find yourself struggling with marinating sobriety and looking for help to cope up with it, we have created a guide to help you. Below are some instructions that will surely help you to stay sane and maintain a healthier lifestyle. 

What Causes Alcohol and Drug Relapse? 

For most of us, it may not make sense that after living in a rehab center for months, how can a person relapse into alcohol and drugs. The bitter reality is that addiction is a long-term disease that requires intensive care and management to prevent relapse. 

Living in addiction treatment centers for recovery is a process of avoiding, recognizing, and minimizing triggers, which are places, people, or things that can forcefully put addicts into a situation of using drugs again.  However, triggers can be different for everyone. So make sure to identify drug withdrawal symptoms and try to stay away from those particular things, places, or people that trigger your drinking habit. Signs of drug withdrawal can include: 

  • Irritability 
  • Insomnia
  • Depression, anxiety, and emotion instability 
  • Headache, body aches, or weakness 

1. Avoid Risky and Tempting Situations 

Being around the wrong type of people or putting yourself in situations that can do more harm than good is always great trouble. In medical terms the word “trigger” is often used to describe the circumstances and things that can block the recovery path. So during your recovery, make sure to identify which situations trigger your craving. 

2. Visit Your Therapist Often 

Now that you have recovered and sober, you have a lot of issues to confront without alcohol and drugs. You may find platonic, familial, or romantic relationships that may cause problems for you. And at some point, you may want to retake drugs to ease mental stress. But if you’ll continue weekly or monthly appointments with your therapist can help you to complete your healing and provide you with coping tools to stay sane and sober. 

3. Avoid Being around Substances

You can still be funny, crazy, cool, and daring. Your life can always be full of those memorable places and people that can trigger your addiction.  For this, you need to stay away from those who can block your recovery path. Avoid thinking about substances and try to make new friends that support you during recovery time. 

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