A fundamental fear of recovery is that the individual will not be able to recover. The belief is that recovery requires a special strength or will that the individual does not possess. Past relapses are considered proof that the person does not have what it takes to recover.[9] Cognitive therapy helps clients see that recovery is based on coping skills rather than willpower. Try to think of a list of scenarios that could lead to a possible relapse and list the warning signs of a relapse. Some people begin to feel, think or behave differently when a relapse is brewing. Another goal of therapy at this stage is to help clients identify their denial. I find it helpful to encourage clients to compare their current behaviour with their behaviour during past relapses and see if their self-care is deteriorating or improving. Marlatt`s model illustrates how tonic (stable) and phasic (short-lived) influences interact with each other to assess the probability of relapse. The difference between these two variables is that tonic processes represent the probability of relapse, while phasic reactions serve as factors that cause or prevent relapses. During emotional relapse, people do not think about its use. They remember their last relapse and don`t want to repeat it. But their emotions and behaviors prepare them for a relapse on the street. Since customers don`t consciously think about its use at this point, denial is a big part of emotional relapse.
This is a short list of the types of negative thinking that are barriers to recovery and topics for cognitive therapy [9]: 1) My problem lies with other people; 2) I don`t think I can manage life without using it; 3) Maybe I can only use occasionally; 4) Life will not be fun – I will not have fun – without using; 5) I`m afraid of becoming someone I don`t like; 6) I can`t make all the necessary changes; I can`t change my friends; 7) I don`t want to leave my family; 8) Recovery is too much work; 9) My desire will be overwhelming; I will not be able to resist them; 10) When I stop, I start again; I never finished anything; 11) No one needs to know if I will relapse; and 12) I worry that I`ve been so hurt by my addiction that I can`t get over it. Relapse prevention is the reason why most people seek treatment. If most people are looking for help, they have already tried to quit smoking on their own and they are looking for a better solution. This article provides a practical approach to relapse prevention that works well in individual and group therapy. The negative thinking that underlies addictive thinking is usually all-or-nothing thinking, disqualifying positive, catastrophic, and negative self-labeling.[9] These thoughts can lead to anxiety, resentment, stress, and depression, which can lead to a relapse. Cognitive therapy and mind-body relaxation help break old habits and retrain neural circuits to create new, healthier ways of thinking [12,13]. This section is based on my experience working with patients for over 30 years in treatment programs and in private practice. Experience has shown that most relapses can be explained by a few basic rules [4].
Teaching clients these simple rules helps them understand that recovery is not complicated or out of their control. It is based on a few simple and easy-to-remember rules: 1) Change your life; 2) be completely honest; (3) ask for help; 4) take care of yourself; and 5) not to circumvent the rules. Individuals fail to recover by simply not using. Recovery involves creating a new life in which it is easier not to use it. If individuals do not change their lives, then all the factors that contributed to their addiction will still be there. But most people are starting to recover hoping to return to their old life without the use. Relapse is a gradual process that begins weeks and sometimes months before a person takes a drink or medication. There are three phases to relapse: emotionally, mentally and physically.
The common denominator of emotional relapse is low self-sufficiency. If individuals don`t take care of themselves, they will end up feeling uncomfortable in their own skin and look for ways to escape, relax, or reward themselves. The goal of treatment is to help individuals recognize the warning signs of relapse and develop coping skills to prevent relapse early when the chances of success are greatest. Most relapses can be explained with a few basic rules. Understanding these rules can help customers focus on what`s important: 1) Change your life; 2) be completely honest; (3) ask for help; 4) take care of yourself; and 5) not to circumvent the rules. Making a list of warning signs can give a person a better insight into their relapse. Sharing the list with the treatment team can provide them with the information they need to prevent the patient`s relapse. Relapse prevention plans may include ways to hope to change the damage caused by addiction in your life. By breaking down this damage into areas such as relationships, legal issues, financial issues, or education, you can review why you chose to get sober in the first place and create motivation for positive decisions. Determining what caused a previous relapse is crucial to avoid it in the future.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when creating a relapse prevention plan: If you`re dealing with a relapse, it can be helpful to invest energy and time in support groups. You can visit the 12 steps again and judge their place. This is also where a sponsor comes in. If you have a sponsor, they should be one of the first people you turn to when you feel a relapse is possible. Since they were probably in your shoes, they may have ideas and suggestions. These are some of the signs of psychological relapse [1]: 1) craving for drugs or alcohol; 2) Think about people, places and things associated with past use; 3) minimize the consequences of previous use or glorify past use; 4) Negotiate; 5) Lies; 6) Think of systems to better control use; 7) Search for opportunities for relapse; and 8) Plan for a relapse. Therefore, it is important to have a plan on how to avoid a relapse and what to do if it happens to you. Clinical experience has shown that common causes of relapse at this stage are poor self-care and do not go to support groups. The tasks of this phase are similar to the tasks that non-addicts face in everyday life. When non-addicts do not develop healthy life skills, the consequence is that they can be unhappy in life. If recovering people do not develop healthy life skills, the consequence is that they can also be unhappy in life, but this can lead to a relapse.
Rejected users will not fully recognize or be able to fully recognize the extent of their addiction. You can`t imagine life without using it. Rejected users invariably make a secret agreement with themselves that they will try again at some point. Milestones such as recovery anniversaries are often considered reasons for use. Once a milestone is reached, individuals feel that they have recovered enough to determine when and how to use them safely. It is remarkable to see how many people have experienced a relapse 5, 10 or 15 years after their recovery. Numerous studies have shown that mind-body relaxation reduces drug and alcohol use and is effective in preventing long-term relapses [28,29]. Relapse prevention therapy and mind-body relaxation are often combined in mindfulness-based relapse prevention [30]. This plan is often referred to as a relapse prevention plan.
Learning how to create a relapse prevention plan and go through the process of creating a relapse prevention plan could make the difference between longer periods of sobriety and repeated relapses. First, list the people, places, and things that have the potential to lead to a relapse. Relapse triggers are anything that could lead to taking or using drugs again. It may not be possible to list all the potential triggers, and sometimes you won`t know a trigger until it`s already in front of you. The following questions can be helpful in identifying triggers: Addiction requires lying. Addicts have to lie to get their drug, hide the drug, deny the consequences, and plan for their next relapse. After all, addicted people lie to themselves. Clinical experience shows that when clients feel they can`t be completely honest, it`s a sign of an emotional relapse.
It is often said that people in recovery are as sick as their secrets. One of the challenges of therapy is to help clients tell the truth and practice admitting when they have spoken wrong, and correcting it quickly. .