Experiencing a relapse after a period of recovery can be extremely disheartening. But relapse isn’t a failure, and you can get back on track by recommitting to your recovery or enrolling in relapse prevention therapy.
Addiction is a pervasive mental health challenge, but it can be overcome. Reach out to Promises by calling 844.875.5609 to speak to a professional about what to do after a relapse or get back into treatment today.
Steps to Take After a Relapse
As the saying goes, you have to get right back up on your horse. Relapse is not a failure but a reminder that recovery is not easy. There are several things that you can do to support you in your continued recovery efforts, including:
Practice Self-Compassion
When asking yourself what to do after a relapse, the first step should always be to show yourself a little compassion. People who relapse often feel as though the weeks, months, or years they had in recovery before a single lapse means that their effort was wasted and they’ll need to start all over again.
In reality, relapse is often part of the recovery process. Most people don’t get sober permanently the first time they try, but that doesn’t mean their efforts in recovery were squandered up to this point.
Cut yourself some slack. If you used drugs every day for years, got sober for six months, and relapsed once, you’ve made incredible progress on the journey to recovery. Don’t throw everything you’ve learned away because the results weren’t perfect; you can still keep moving forward in your goal of abstinence.
Consider Your Next Steps
When you’ve experienced a relapse, something in your plan for recovery has gone awry. Consider what led to the relapse, how your behaviors may have shifted, or what situations contributed to your returning to substance use.
With this information in hand, you can plan the next steps of your recovery journey. This could include anything from:
- Attending more addiction support groups
- Reaching out to a therapist
- Reconsidering your social circle
- Avoiding high-risk situations
- Enrolling in a substance use treatment program
Determining your next steps requires careful consideration of your situation. A single, isolated lapse may not require the same next steps as a relapse lasting over a month, for instance. Take careful stock of what you think you need to get back on the path to sobriety, and consider reaching out to an addiction professional for support.
Watch Out for Warning Signs of a Relapse
A single lapse doesn’t have to mean a return to active addiction. Look out for warning signs of a relapse happening again, which could include:
- Increased drug and alcohol cravings
- Glamorizing past drug and alcohol use
- Reaching out to people who were part of your addiction
- Distancing yourself from recovery
- Boredom, isolation, or growing mental health symptoms
These can all be indications that you’re on the path to return to active substance use. If you start to notice these signs more often, it might be time to reach out for help.
Use the Skills You’ve Learned in Recovery
When you relapse, you don’t suddenly lose all the skills you learned in recovery. Think about what’s worked for you in managing your substance use disorder in the past. Are there healthy coping mechanisms that you’ve temporarily set aside? Have you stopped seeing your therapist? When did you last get in contact with your sober support system?
Returning to these healthy skills and strategies can help you get back on track.
Call Promises for Relapse Prevention Therapy Today
Sometimes, a relapse is too much to handle on your own. Even a single episode of alcohol or drug use can feel devastating, and many people will need the support of addiction professionals to get back to living a healthy and fulfilling life in recovery.
To get started with treatment at Promises, call 844.875.5609 to speak to one of our addiction experts. Don’t let a single relapse throw you off course when there are evidence-based treatment options available to help.