Relapse is a common aspect of addiction recovery, and it’s essential to address this potential occurrence openly. Normalizing the idea or experience of relapse is helpful for anyone who is working to achieve sobriety, especially as they struggle to establish a new way of life or reestablish themselves personally or professionally.
Ways to Cope with Relapse
One of the most important things a person can do if they suffer a relapse after holistic rehab is acknowledge the setback. Make the vow to yourself that you will get back on track to sobriety again, something that can occur in many ways:
- Seek professional help: You won’t necessarily have to return to holistic rehab after relapse, but depending on the severity and length of the relapse, an inpatient stay may be the smartest choice. No matter what, reach out for help immediately.
- Ask for support: If you feel yourself being tempted or starting to slip, increase your meetings attendance, daily if necessary. Reach out to the supportive family and friends who are healthy and substance-free so they can help you stay sober.
- Minimize obligations: Many people leave holistic rehab and attempt to go back to life as it was before they got treatment. This attempt at normalcy can be overwhelming, especially if you attempt to make up for lost time. Recovery is paramount and should be your priority – lighten the load if relapse knocks.
- Keep a list of coping mechanisms: Whether you carry a piece of paper in your pocket or add a new entry to Notes on your smartphone, a literal list of coping mechanisms can help jar you out of a tempting or negative situation when there are triggers threatening your sobriety.
- Forgive yourself: Holistic rehab is designed to help you work through your addiction and cope with your unique life challenges without alcohol or drugs. But setbacks can and do occur, and it’s important to seek assistance during them without beating yourself up in the process. Just like someone with an autoimmune disease or reoccurring medical condition, relapse can occur when you least expect it, even when you’re doing all the right things to keep yourself on a healthy road.
Learn from Relapse
There is always something new to learn about life and ourselves, and anyone who has worked to achieve and maintain sobriety knows that better than anyone. What’s most important is keeping that ongoing knowledge front and center. You can learn how to prevent a relapse — or at least learn how to try to prevent it and know what to do if you cannot.
Once you’ve completed holistic rehab, you are officially in recovery — and you will always be in recovery. It will take time and ongoing care for your body to heal mentally and physically from the toll that substances have taken. But you also leave rehab with a stronger mind and body that has been trained to prioritize nutrition, hydration, exercise, and sleep. When any of these elements are shoved to the back burner, pay attention to the red flags and acknowledge that a relapse could be imminent.
If you find yourself falling backward, give yourself permission to engage with recovery again. Learning from relapse means recognizing when you need to go back to rehab or seek support.
The Importance of Seeking Help
You don’t have to pursue sobriety alone, and you should not attempt to manage it after a relapse. One of the biggest developments for every individual in holistic rehab is building a reliable support network, resources who will always be ready to help you in the darkest times, especially if you have given in to temptation.
What’s most important is allowing yourself to accept aftercare, to attend meetings, visit your therapist, participate in outpatient care, and reach out to your most valued contacts when relapse hangs over you.
You can dig your way out of a relapse. Remember:
- Recovery is ongoing.
- The work of sobriety is constant.
- Give yourself permission to work hard.
- Give yourself permission to rest.
- Do not punish yourself.
- Pursue activities you enjoy.
- Nurture your spiritual side.
- Seek help.
Maintain a Positive Mindset
Recognize relapse for what it is – a setback. It’s not a sign that you can’t maintain sobriety. It’s not a sign that you’ve failed. It is a bump in the ongoing road that is the rest of your life – your sober life.
Reach out to reps at our holistic rehab center in West Palm Beach, Florida, to learn about Beachside Rehab’s inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol rehab and holistic recovery. Tap into your spiritual side, nourish your body, learn what your mind needs to achieve sober living and physical, mental, and emotional equilibrium. Call today at 866-349-1770 to speak with a trained admissions counselor.