After overcoming an addiction, it’s common to feel like you’ve finally made progress and that you’re stronger than before. All good things must come to an end, and eventually, the person will find herself slipping back into old habits. A relapse is easy to succumb to if a person isn’t sure how to bounce back from one successfully. This post will provide some tips for regaining control after a relapse, creating positive memories, staying away from old triggers, and developing new healthy habits.
Tips to Bounce Back After Relapse
Create Positive Memories
It’s natural to be concerned with the past after a slip-up, but it’s important to remember that you’re in control of your own recovery, and no one can take that away from you. Without going back and analyzing the details of a relapse, remember what your goals are, why you wanted to change, and what exactly it was that made you so eager to get clean in the first place. Always remember that each relapse is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what helps keep you on track.
Stay Away From The Triggers
In order to stay away from the triggers that may have caused you to slip up, it’s important to know what exactly those triggers are. A trigger is anything that brings about an uncontrollable craving for your drug of choice. The first step in overcoming this problem is to identify the trigger, and then make a plan for how you’ll deal with these situations in the future. Having an arsenal of strategies to deal with these situations will help you conquer this obstacle.
Develop New Healthy Habits
One of the most important ways to successfully overcome a relapse is by developing some new healthy habits. Creating new healthy habits may seem like a daunting task, but when you look at it in the right way, it can actually be viewed as a really exciting adventure. It can be hard to think of some new acceptable habits that will help you overcome your old habits, but instead of trying to think up the perfect strategy, it’s important to follow your own personal style. Taking on new healthy habits can be a very exciting experience — seeing yourself making progress can be a great confidence booster. It can also be very helpful to look at what these healthy habits are and then dissect them into smaller, manageable chunks. You can apply this to any new habit you may be taking on as well.
Take Control
It’s natural to feel like you’re at the mercy of your previous actions, but as long as you’re aware of your actions, you’re not powerless when it comes to this. The next time you slip up, don’t beat yourself up or blame anyone else. Just realize that this is another learning experience that will lead to a better future for yourself. It’s important to remember that as long you’re still breathing, you have the power to turn things around. Don’t focus on the fact that you’ve relapsed — focus on getting back up and trying again.
Get Professional Help
Professional help can be one of the most vital factors in dealing with a relapse successfully. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to overcome these issues alone. It can help to seek the advice of a professional through in-depth therapy. They can give you support and insight and teach you effective coping skills that you can use for life. A therapist can also provide valuable insight into what your triggers are and how to overcome them.
Stay Consistent and Persistent
One of the best ways to overcome a relapse is by staying consistent and persistent. You have the ability to create a new, healthy habit, and this means that you must continue that routine in order to keep yourself out of relapse territory. Whether your goal is to get off crack or whatever your specific addiction may be, you must always remain consistent with your treatment plan — no exception.
Take on New Challenges
Because you’re dedicated to overcoming your addiction, it will help to take on new challenges. Challenging yourself can keep you on track and give you a sense of purpose. Whenever life throws you a curve ball, remember that you’re strong enough to handle it. This is one of the most important factors in helping you overcome your relapse. No matter how bad things get, never allow yourself to think for a moment that there’s no hope for a good life. In conclusion, there are many different ways to deal with a relapse. The best way to overcome these obstacles is by being able to create new healthy habits, stay away from the triggers that caused your slip-up, and taking control of your situation. To get help on a personal level, contact us at 866-963-7200.
