When you enter treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, there is always the chance you will relapse. Recovery is a long-term undertaking. No matter how far along you are, you may feel tempted, because addiction is a mental and physical condition.
If you relapse, the biggest misstep you can make is to beat yourself up. Punishing yourself won’t help. Instead, adjust your mindset to embracing Recovery after relapse. It is possible to do this successfully.
The Importance of Getting Back on the Road to Recovery
Many people feel despondent when they relapse. In those moments, they may feel tempted to surrender to addiction. But you have worked too hard and made too much progress to do that.
There is no single path to Recovery. For many people, it takes several stops and starts. That is nothing to be ashamed of. You can use a relapse as a way to learn and move forward.
What Happens if I Relapse?
First, tell yourself that you do not have to start all over again. Relapsing does not zero out your hard work up until that point. You do not need to reset. You just need to return to the path where you briefly stepped off.
Identify the things that led to the relapse. If you can pinpoint what caused it, you will be more likely to avoid these pitfalls in the future. Often-cited reasons for relapse include:
- Lacking a support system: When you are in treatment, you have a wide support system to draw on when you face difficulties. If you have completed treatment, you may not know where to turn when you struggle. Work on building a support system that can help you through hard times.
- Not prioritizing your sobriety: Once you have left treatment, it becomes more difficult to focus on your Recovery. You have your job, your family and other parts of your life to reacquaint yourself with, and you may become distracted. Make sure you are still putting in the work to stay sober.
- Quitting for other people: What brought you to treatment? If it wasn’t your decision or you did it for someone else, then you may not feel motivated to stay sober. You have to find self-motivation.
What Is Recovery Like After Relapse?
Recovery after relapse looks like something different to different people. You may need to return to treatment to get back on track. Maybe you need to ramp up your support system in your real life. Or you may want to develop better coping strategies to help you through difficult situations without drug or alcohol use.
Whatever you need, we can help you figure out what a post-relapse Recovery looks like, without any judgment along the way.
How to Get Started
Our personalized, individualized treatment plans are designed to support and promote long-term Recovery. With our Alumni Support program, you’ll experience an ongoing source of comfort and support, even after you leave treatment.
Get in touch with 7 Summit Pathways Treatment and Recovery Center to make an appointment or receive more information.