Tips for relapse prevention

Every recovering addict will experience those vulnerabilities, where the avoidance of relapse risks will be key. However, we must highlight how firstly, a relapse doesn’t define failure, and secondly that the vulnerabilities linked to the post-rehab transition are common and present for most individuals throughout the first few months of recovery.

By considering both of these factors, in the event of a relapse, it’s encouraged that you do not panic, that you see relapse as a further opportunity to recover, and that your response to recovery is normal.

To prepare you for post-rehab life, and to help you feel confident and capable of maintaining a sober status, relapse prevention planning will be promoted prior to your transition home.

However, to provide some insight for you, before you begin this step of rehab, here’s some tips for relapse prevention which can be followed independently yet will also be worked through throughout rehab.

Without relapse prevention planning, it can be difficult to know where to turn to or how to overcome such risks. Overcome the vulnerabilities attached to sober living, by accepting relapse prevention here at Nova Recovery.

The importance of relapse prevention

A relapse can be experienced by any individual on a post-rehab basis. While sober living may be your post-rehab reality, great focus and effort must be instilled into long-term recovery, such as emphasis on a positive, consistent routine. In the event that your routine slips, in the event of drug and alcohol exposure, and in the event of a negative mindset, relapse risks can present themselves.

Those risks can showcase themselves in many different ways, falling within the categories of a mental relapse, an emotional relapse, and a physical relapse. All to a degree either consider ongoing consumption, justify it or actively partake in drug and alcohol abuse, however, at no fault of the recovering addict. Recovery is tough on physical and psychological levels, especially for the long-term, which can end up in increased vulnerabilities.

With this in mind, relapse risks are common, they are experienced, and they are difficult to digest. Yet, by dealing with those vulnerabilities proactively, recovering efforts can restore, avoiding ongoing substance abuse/the need for residential treatment.

This is where relapse prevention plays a significant part, by offering proactive steps to spot the signs of relapse, to work through them, and to move forward to your best of ability, without hindering your recovery.

Throughout rehab, relapse prevention planning will be covered, to help you feel confident and prepared to work beyond vulnerabilities and drug and alcohol exposure on a personal basis. However, to strengthen your recovery even greater, there are some tips for relapse prevention, acting as self-help, to improve your personal control on a post-rehab level.

Tips for relapse prevention

Below are some relapse prevention tips to gauge, follow and incorporate to reduce the risk of relapse, and to potentially work through any risks. Again, please remember, if you do experience a relapse of any degree, you haven’t failed, nor have you damaged your recovery capabilities. With proactive steps, you can revert the impacts of relapse through preventive and manageable strategies.

• Understand your triggers and relapse risks

It’s very important to understand your personal triggers when considering drug and alcohol abuse, along with the type of exposure that could influence relapse risks. This will be covered through professional rehab, especially here at Nova Recovery. We encourage you to fully digest this information, to help you create a manageable lifestyle, limited such exposure.

• Be honest with your feelings

It can be very difficult, to be honest with yourself or others when recovering from addiction. You may feel like a magnifying glass is placed on your every move. While post-rehab can feel pressurising, it’s encouraged that you be honest with your feelings as much as you can. Emotional awareness will contribute to your ability to spot and revert the signs of relapse.

• Embrace support

You may feel like a burden to your loved ones, down to the history of your addiction. However, now more than ever is the time to open up and embrace the support you have. Opening up about your feelings can deter potential relapse risks, as emotional release can help you cope alternatively to leaning on drugs and alcohol. If you’re struggling to open up on a personal level, aftercare services will be available to you on a post-rehab basis, providing therapy and counselling sessions.

• Plan ahead

Planning ahead can help to prevent relapse. For example, being aware of the environments that you’re putting yourself into can help you understand whether potential exposure to your triggers will be experienced or not.

Understandably, life itself cannot be planned. Yet, by considering your daily routine and the choices that you make, relapse prevention can be a strong possibility.

• Focus on healthy, investible steps

This is your future, whether you experience signs of relapse, or not. This is your opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle, which can uphold your capabilities of sober living.

One of our key tips for relapse prevention is, each day, to aim for a healthy, positive and investible lifestyle. Do whatever it takes, within reason to better yourself, to partake in self-care, and to lead a life where drug and alcohol abuse offer insignificant input.

Avoiding relapse through preventive planning

While prevention will not stop the materialisation of every relapse risk, it will reduce the significant vulnerabilities attached to your new lifestyle. By planning ahead, and by developing a relapse prevention plan, you can feel reassured and confident in your next steps as a recovering individual.

Within your plan, you’ll have steps to take in the event of relapse, you’ll have helplines to lean on, you’ll have your ‘why’ to focus on, and you’ll have coping strategies to utilise. All will combine together to set you up for long-term recovery, which can be secure even greater by following our tips for relapse prevention.

If you’re worried about post-rehab steps, contact our team at Nova Recovery. We’re armed with aftercare services, along with relapse prevention tips to ease this transition for you.

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John Gillen - Author - Last updated: September 8, 2023

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.