Recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol is not a quick process; it’s a life choice. Finding a substance use treatment program that prepares you for life after rehab will greatly help you avoid relapse down the road. Completing a treatment program at Crossroads is your first step. Contact our caring treatment team to learn more about our programs and how to prevent relapse. We provide a home-away-from-home atmosphere focused on treating women and their addictions. To learn more about relapse prevention and our substance abuse treatment programs, please contact Crossroads today at 877.978.1667.
Avoid Triggers to Prevent a Relapse
While people who struggle with addictions can relapse during or after recovery, the team’s goal at Crossroads is to give you the skills to avoid relapse altogether. Understanding some of the things that could trigger you to relapse is one of the first steps. Our treatment team will help you put a plan in place to avoid common triggers.
Some triggers can include things like:
- Locations where you used to drink or do drugs
- Movies and television shows that feature excessive drug or alcohol use
- Friends who you only know because of your addiction
- Stress from work or family
However, it’s not always possible to avoid every trigger. So it’s best to have a wide range of relapse prevention techniques.
Treat Your Mind and Body Right to Avoid Relapse
In addition to learning how to avoid triggers, keeping yourself busy constructively is a great way to prevent relapse and do your health some good.
Exercise
Just 10 minutes of exercise a day can boost your mood and distract your mind from temptations. We all have excuses, but think about it, if you have time to Netflix and chill, then you can probably have time to get up off the couch and exercise. If you are early in your recovery, developing a routine that involves daily exercise can significantly reduce your chances of relapse.
Healthy Eating
Developing healthy eating habits is another great way to prevent a relapse. Set regular mealtimes that take place at the same time every day with foods that are low in fat and high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. It is essential to restore the body with the necessary vitamins that the body was missing while using drugs or alcohol.
Environment
Avoiding negative situations during recovery is key, as well as creating healthy outlets. It may be challenging to find new places to hang out on your days or nights off, especially if bars were your go-to. Try exploring parks and gardens or picking up a new sport or hobby to meet new people, hang out with friends, or just be by yourself with no distractions.
Mental Health
Maintaining a healthy sense of self is one of the most critical pieces of your well-being during recovery. Even if you’ve suffered a relapse before, put your focus on the future and how you can continuously improve your well-being.
Practice Mindfulness
Practicing meditation and really focusing on the present can help you achieve heightened awareness and clarity. There are a variety of quick exercises you can do to practice mindfulness, including breathing, being physically present, and creating a restful environment.
Contact the Crossroads Team to Learn More
At Crossroads, we have a highly trained team of professionals. Our clinical and medical providers hold multiple licenses or certifications and are specially trained in working with women and families affected by addiction, mental health disorders, and eating disorders. We also offer a wide array of therapeutic options that we’ve designed to help with relapse prevention, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Yoga therapy
- Acupuncture therapy
- Equine therapy
If you are looking to receive outstanding care from a passionate team, in a homelike setting, then contact our team today at 877.978.1667.
