‌5 Effective Ways to Prevent Relapse After a Drug and Alcohol at Home 

It is with great concern that you know how to prevent relapse after a drug and alcohol detox.

Factually, relapse is often triggered by strenuous situations which include peer pressure, triggers, stress, money problems, lack of support, and relationship issues.

These things are part of life and so the chances of relapse are always there. But luckily, there are multiple practical ways of relapse prevention, one of which is detox.  

Lantana Rehab is one of the leading rehab centers that offer detox services. Charleston detox services make sure that during your drug addiction treatment, you are also trained on how to handle relapse and what to do if, because of whatsoever reason, you fall into relapse.

This training is easily implementable in daily life and can be practiced either individually or with the help of a sober companion.

The article discusses five tips in which you can prevent relapse after recovery and stay sober. 

Five Ways on How to Prevent Relapse after Recovery from Home

Relapse prevention strategies help patients to become aware of how to avoid or overcome specific triggers for substance use in their lives.

These strategies are developed during drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and clients continue to use them at home.

1. Join a Support Group

The most useful tip is to join a support group after your rehab. Overcoming addiction is not an easy process, and a support system of people who have experienced similar things can keep you motivated on the right path. 

Participating in a support group after recovery, will not only provide the support but the ability to control the relapse.

Support from peers and groups is essential in the recovery, and it also decreases the feelings of isolation and loneliness, which are common triggers for the relapse. 

In addition, it is essential to attend the programs all the way through that are offered by the support groups.

In contrast, you can also opt for the after-care program that will provide you with some form of counseling or meeting programs to live a sober life.

2. Take Care of Yourself

Another way to control relapse after detox is to take care of yourself. Common symptoms after the recovery are insomnia and fatigue which can become potential triggers.

Therefore, it is important to handle the triggers by maintaining physical exercise and a balanced diet.

An individual can achieve this by setting up a schedule to get a structured sleep, diet, and workout routine. 

Since it takes time to adjust to your new life, moving your body physically will release endorphin hormones in your body, which will elevate and regulate your mood and feelings.

Discover which exercise you enjoy the most and the type of food you like to consume. It helps in balancing the needs of your body and mind. 

3. Meditate and Know your Triggers

Meditation is a process that helps individuals become self-aware about their bodies and mind.

When someone is aware of themselves and their triggers, they can better cope with the relapse after the substance abuse.

There is a greater chance that people who go through the meditation program after their rehab remained clean and sober as compared to people who did not go through the meditation program as reposted by NCBI. 

Meditation helps with knowing the internal triggers (isolation, anxiety, low self-esteem, or anger) or external triggers (people, places, or past reminders) that invoke the feelings in your body.

It is an efficient way to reduce the risk of relapse that may occur after the detox.

Related: Top 10 Effective Ways to Cope with PTSD Anxiety

4. Follow the Grounding Technique

Another effective way to prevent relapse is to follow the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique.

This technique is handy for avoiding stress and anxiety, which are the common triggers for relapse. This technique focuses on indulging the five senses at the moment and enforces mindfulness.

It helps dissolve the feelings of stress, depression, negative thoughts, unhealthy emotions, and anxiety. 

For this technique, sit somewhere quiet and take a deep breath. After that, focus on the following points:

• Appreciate five things your eyes can see.
• Appreciate four things that you can touch.
• Appreciate three things that your ears can hear.
• Appreciate two things that your nose can smell.
• Appreciate one thing that your tongue can taste.

Related: 12 Major Foods To Avoid If You Have Anxiety

5. Ask for Help

Drug and alcohol recovery is a strenuous process, and preventing relapse is even harder. No one can face the recovery process alone, let alone avoid the relapse.

Therefore, no matter how hard it is, you must learn how to ask for help. Reach out to your family members, close and trustworthy friends, or your counselor. 

Although the fear of relapse can be crippling, it is never too late to contact your therapist or recovery center to opt for outpatient programs and get help.

That is why 12 step groups or recovery support groups are very helpful in avoiding relapse.

Remember that recovery from drugs and abuse is not 100 percent effective, and chances of relapse are always there. However, the process gets easier with time.

Plus, you do not have to deal with this all alone. Following the tips discussed above will surely make the detox easier and prevent relapse, thus increasing the chances of your maintaining the recovery.