Relapse Prevention Plan Depression University of Washington AIMS Center

Keeping yourself accountable for your own success means knowing your goals and exploring potential consequences if you fail to stay sober, whether they are personal or professional. Ask your clients to keep their relapse prevention plan so they can refer to it during cravings or when they know they will be confronted with triggers. Involving other individuals in your recovery is essential to long-lasting change. Contact someone from your support group, a close friend or your therapist and ask them if it’s okay for you to call when you’re experiencing extreme cravings. These are all healthy distractions that will keep your mind off cravings and help you develop relationships with people who want to actively support you in your sobriety. Creating a relapse prevention plan is an essential part of living life in recovery. Although every person’s strategy will be different, the following five components should be a part of any solid relapse prevention plan.

Breaking your addiction, completing a treatment program, and embarking on a drug and alcohol-free life is liberating. Creating a relapse prevention plan during this time can ensure continued sobriety. A relapse prevention plan is the best way to prepare yourself for stumbling blocks and triggers which could hinder your recovery. This means it is possible for people in recovery to relapse, or return to drug or alcohol use after a period of abstinence. However, there are several prevention methods that individuals can take to reduce their chances of relapse significantly. For example, long-term drug treatment programs often make relapse prevention a key focus for clients. Those who stick to their treatment program and care plan are less likely to relapse.

How to Write a Relapse Prevention Plan

On the other hand, you must also make an effort to remove yourself from social situations or harmful relationships that may serve as a trigger. Whether it’s a friend you used to use drugs with or an ex-girlfriend who simply can’t enjoy a night out without a drink—these types of relationships are toxic to your sobriety goals.

This can help you understand why you got sober and motivate you to make positive changes. When facing a relapse, it can be beneficial to reinvest your energy and time in support groups or online support groups. Then, you can go back to the 12-steps program and evaluate your place.

PROGRAMS

Get familiar with the red flags of an impending relapse back to substance use. In reality the habits that resulted in altered brain pathways and neurotransmitters are not immediately overcome in a few short months. It takes time to establish new healthy habits in recovery. Recovery skills are in their nascent form, not practiced and second nature yet.

A good plan can be changed and updated as time goes on, you may figure out new ways to cope or learn about different stress reduction techniques that you will want to be a part of your plan. And the more relapse prevention plan details you have in your plan the more likely it will be that you will be able to implement the plan and avoid relapse. Now you may wonder, what exactly would a relapse prevention plan look like?

Developing a Relapse Prevention Plan

Relapse is a return to drug and/or alcohol use after a period of abstinence.

It then becomes more mental, often turning into regular fantasies about drugs and alcohol or thinking about opportunities to use drugs. After that phase, it can become a physical reality, but having a relapse prevention plan can help it from progressing that far.

Relapse Prevention Plan: Techniques to Help You Stay on Track

Understand that people in the criminal justice system who have substance addictions are at higher risk for relapse, overdose, and overdose death upon release from prison or jail. Lead case planners should periodically check in with the person and their support system to adjust the plan as necessary.

• Set goals — Talk with your therapist or counselor about some goals you want to achieve.
• Instead of worrying about all the things that can cause relapse, focus on the fact that you’re preparing and empowering yourself.
• Having people like this to talk to when you need it is important.
• Concluding what caused a previous relapse is crucial in preventing them in the future.