Substance use disorders are considered chronic illnesses, which means that relapse will always be a possibility. However, certain preventative measures can help reduce your risk of relapse as you transition from residential treatment back to independent living.

1. Understand Your Triggers to Avoid Relapse

Cravings for drugs and alcohol are a common challenge in the early stages of recovery. Triggers will vary from person to person but often include:

• Being around people who use drugs or alcohol. You may be more likely to relapse if you are around people who use addictive substances. This means you’ll need to limit your interactions with people who aren’t supportive of your recovery efforts until your sobriety is firmly established.
• Being in places where you used drugs or alcohol. You may be more likely to relapse if you go back to the places you associate with being drunk or high. It is important to find new places to spend your time, which is why connecting to your local recovery community is highly recommended.
• Seeing things that remind you of using drugs or alcohol. Triggers can be anything that reminds you of using drugs or alcohol, such as a song you associate with drinking or movies with vivid depictions of substance abuse. You should limit these triggers as much as possible and come up with a plan to address them in situations where they are unavoidable.
• Experiencing strong emotions. When you can no longer turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with sadness, anger, anxiety, and other strong emotions, you need to find healthy ways to deal with your feelings. Yoga and meditation can be helpful, as can keeping a journal discussing your life in recovery.
• Feeling bored. It is important to find things to do that keep you busy and engaged. Exploring new hobbies or giving back by volunteering for a cause that’s close to your heart are just two of the many ways you can stay busy in recovery.

2. Develop a Strong Support Network

After completing residential substance abuse treatment, you’ll want to continue to build your sober support network. This can be done by attending support group meetings, participating in sober activities, and staying in touch with your therapist or sponsor. Friends and family who are supportive of your recovery efforts can also play a vital role in promoting accountability during this time.

Some people find it helpful to live in a sober living environment after treatment. This is a place where people in recovery live together and support each other in their efforts to stay sober. Sober living homes typically have rules about not using drugs or alcohol, going to meetings, and working or going to school. This provides structure and a sense of accountability that can be helpful in preventing relapse.

3. Live a Wellness-Focused Lifestyle to Avoid Relapse

Continuing the wellness-focused lifestyle practices you learned in residential treatment can help you avoid relapse by helping your body heal from the damage caused by past substance abuse and promoting mental clarity. Areas to focus on include:

• Diet. Eating nutritious foods helps to reduce cravings, improve mood, and boost energy levels. See our post on 7 Tips for Healthy Eating in Recovery for nutrition advice.
• Exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, two common triggers for relapse.
• Sufficient sleep. Getting enough sleep is important for recovery because it helps to improve mood, reduce stress, and boost energy levels.
• Stress management. Stress can trigger cravings and lead to relapse. Our Coping With Stress in Recovery post has helpful tips.

4. Ask for Help

It can be hard to ask for help if you are accustomed to handling problems on your own but knowing when to reach out for assistance is a key part of life in recovery. Instead of viewing asking for help as a sign of weakness, look at reaching out for support as a sign of strength and self-awareness.

At St. Joseph Institute for Addiction, we’re committed to your success. Our Pennsylvania residential addiction treatment center offers a full continuum of care that includes support for the transition back to independent living and referrals to any additional community resources that you may require. We also offer alumni services and continuing care programs that focus on effective ways to reduce the risk of relapse.

For those who have already relapsed, we can conduct an in-depth personalized evaluation to determine what additional support will be needed in the future. We understand that a relapse can be a frustrating experience, but our caring and experienced staff members are committed to working with clients to help them find the best way to continue moving forward in their recovery journey.

Looking for addiction treatment near Altoona, PA? To learn more about SJI Pennsylvania addiction rehab, and our programs, please contact us at (888) 352-3297.