Relapse Prevention in Bryan, TX

Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease that can't be cured, but it can be sent into remission through ongoing abstinence. Relapse prevention in Bryan helps people in recovery maintain long-term sobriety through a variety of programming.

How Relapse Occurs

Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug or alcohol use despite negative consequences. It's marked by brain changes that affect thought and behavior patterns, and re-learning healthy ways of thinking and behaving is central to drug rehab and alcohol treatment.

Once an addiction is in relapse, using in recovery can cause brain function to begin to change again, resulting in a recurrence of the addiction, once again characterized by compulsive drug or alcohol use.

Relapse prevention programs help people in recovery develop the essential skills and strategies they need to cope with cravings, stress, and other triggers. This occurs through a variety of programming, including:

Group, family, and individual therapy.
Psychoeducational classes, which are part education and part therapy and help you understand the anatomy of a relapse.
Complementary therapies like art therapy and yoga that help reduce stress and improve self-esteem and self-confidence.
Support groups.
Aftercare plans set in place once treatment is complete.
Sober living facilities.

Three Stages of Relapse

Relapse occurs in three predictable stages, and understanding each stage and their signs is essential for staying mindful in recovery.

Stage One: Emotional Relapse

You're not consciously thinking about using again during emotional relapse, but your thought and behavior patterns are setting you up for a lapse. Signs of emotional relapse include:

Neglecting self-care.
Unchecked or suppressed negative emotions like anger, intolerance, and resentment.
Feelings of isolation.
Focusing on other people's problems instead of your own.
Skipping meetings or therapy sessions.

Avoiding emotional relapse requires constant vigilance concerning your states of mind and behaviors.

Stage Two: Mental Relapse

Mental relapse is characterized by beginning to think about using again. There's an internal war going on, because while part of you wants to use again, part of you doesn't. Signs of mental relapse include:

Frequent cravings.
Thinking about the people you used to use with or the places where you used to use.
Glamorizing your past use.
Minimizing the consequences of your past use.
Thinking of ways to control your drug or alcohol use.

The mental relapse stage ends with a plan to use.

Stage Three: Physical Relapse

The final stage of relapse is where the lapse actually occurs. You're on the way to the liquor store or to see your dealer. At this point, preventing the relapse is very difficult. That's why our other addiction treatment programs in Bryan also help you develop a plan of action to use in the event a lapse or relapse occurs.

How Relapse Prevention in Bryan Works

Relapse prevention programs help you identify your triggers for relapse and develop the necessary skills and strategies you need to cope with or avoid them. They also help you:

Identify high-risk situations and come up with a plan to avoid or deal with them.
Develop specific strategies for reducing stress, cravings, and other common triggers.
Maintain motivation to stay in recovery.
Understand how relapse occurs and how to recognize the signs.
Develop a plan of action in the event a lapse or relapse occurs.
Replace harmful ways of thinking and behaving with healthier thought and behavior patterns.

Relapse prevention in Bryan reduces your risk of relapse and helps you stay in recovery for the long-term. Some of the most common relapse prevention tools and techniques include:

Engaging in activities and hobbies that reduce stress and combat boredom.
Exercising and maintaining a healthy diet.
A high level of self-care, including getting adequate sleep.
Engaging in a support group and ongoing therapy.
Replacing dysfunctional ways of thinking and behaving with healthier thought and behavior patterns.
Coping with cravings through exercise, meditation, and other strategies.
Finding purpose and meaning in life without drugs or alcohol.
Making lifestyle changes that promote long-term recovery.

Setbacks Are a Normal Part of Recovery

A setback is any event that leads you closer to a lapse or relapse. Programs for relapse prevention stress that setbacks are a normal part of recovery, and in fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse points out that up to 60 percent of people in recovery will relapse. However, relapse prevention in Bryan helps reduce your chances of relapse in early recovery.

But if a relapse occurs, it's important to approach it with a positive attitude and view it as an opportunity to develop the missing skills that led to it. Focusing on the progress you've made and maintaining hope for the future are essential for getting back on track after a relapse. Call us today at (877) 804-1531 to learn more about our inpatient drug rehab in Bryan and what we can do to help you recover.