April is Alcohol Awareness Month is a time to spread awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse and how to spot the signs of addiction in a loved one. It is also an excellent time to check in with those recovering from alcohol addiction. Remember that addiction treatment isn’t a cure. In fact, recovery is a lifelong journey. A person in recovery can slip back into alcohol abuse at any time. In fact, it can happen even if they’ve been sober for decades.
Reach out to your loved ones in recovery to see how they are doing and if they may need any support to maintain their sobriety. Learning more about alcohol relapse prevention can help you or someone you care about stay on the path to a healthy, sober lifestyle.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida, we understand the work that goes into staying sober for life. Relapse can be a normal part of any recovery journey. Therefore, we are always here to welcome any of our clients needing help getting back on track. Reach out to us at 866.294.5306 anytime you need support for alcohol relapse prevention at our beautiful sunny Florida location.
What Causes Alcohol Relapse in Recovery?
Before you learn how to prevent alcohol relapse in recovery, you need to understand what relapse is and what causes it. A relapse is when a person who has quit drinking begins to drink again. There is no such thing as just one drink for a person in recovery—any alcohol consumption is a relapse. This may seem strict, but it is because one drink can easily trigger the addictive habit to start back up. Even if a person does not want to drink again, certain factors can unearth powerful temptations, such as:
- Stress
- Relationship problems
- Loss of a loved one
- Mental health conditions, especially if untreated
- Financial issues
- Genetic predisposition for alcohol addiction
- Lack of support for recovery
You cannot do anything about your genes, and it’s impossible to eliminate stress from your life. So, what can you do to prevent alcohol relapse in recovery?
How to Prevent Alcohol Relapse in Recovery
While relapse is a common part of recovery, it isn’t inevitable. You can help support alcohol relapse prevention by:
- Staying committed to an addiction treatment plan – After completing addiction treatment, inquire about long-term support, such as addiction aftercare programs or alumni programs.
- Learning and practicing stress reduction techniques regularly – Stress is a common culprit in relapse and addiction. Therefore, developing healthy stress management techniques and using them can reduce your risk for relapse.
- Receiving treatment for mental health disorders – Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD often lead to substance abuse. When you are in recovery, it’s critical to treat these conditions with therapy and medication, as needed.
- Joining recovery support groups – These groups can be found online and in-person and range from 12-step groups to sober social groups. Surrounding yourself with people in recovery can provide you with motivation and encouragement from others in the same boat. It can also make it easier to avoid temptation when socializing.
- Creating an alcohol relapse prevention plan – You can create this plan with the help of a therapist or another peer in recovery. The idea is to identify your triggers and decide how to eliminate or avoid them. Your plan should also include at least one sober buddy you can reach out to when you struggle with the temptation to use.
In addition to the above tips for alcohol relapse prevention, you will also need to get in the habit of thinking ahead before social outings. Holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations often include alcohol. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you have a strategy for dealing with them in your relapse prevention plan.
Get Help Creating an Alcohol Relapse Prevention Plan at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida
With the help of Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida, you will never be left on your own to navigate alcohol relapse prevention. Our team of caring professionals is here to guide you through creating a relapse prevention plan that will work with your lifestyle. Reach out to us today at 866.294.5306 to get the support you need to maintain your hard-earned sobriety.
