If you’ve relapsed, it can be scary, but it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
In fact, I encourage you to think about relapse as an opportunity to get back on track with your program and continue moving toward your goal.
If you’re ready to take the next step in overcoming your addiction, here are some tips that will help you stay on track and prevent relapse:
1. Stay connected to your support network.
It can be difficult to stay connected with your support network when you are going through a tough time.
You may feel like you don’t have the energy or motivation to contact them, but this is important because it will help you get through the relapse.
It’s important that you have people who care about you and want what is best for your recovery.
2. Remember that relapse is not failure.
Relapse is not failure. It’s a common part of recovery, and it can be a sign that you need to change your approach or seek more support.
The best way to avoid relapse is by recognizing when it might happen, planning for those moments ahead of time, and making sure that when they do occur (because they will), there are people around who understand what’s happening and can help put things back together again quickly
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
If you find yourself struggling with a relapse, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It can be hard to admit that you’re not doing well and need help–especially if you’re used to being independent or self-reliant.
But your friends and family will probably be glad they could do something to help you, even if they don’t know the best course of action in this situation.
If asking someone close by isn’t possible (or doesn’t feel right), consider seeking a professional therapist or counselor specializing in addiction treatment.
They can provide guidance and emotional support during this difficult time. Sometimes just talking about what’s going on can make all the difference when it comes down to beating addiction once and for all!
You can get even more help from an addiction treatment center, such as this facility in Los Angeles.
4. Stay focused on your goal.
It is easy to get distracted by other people’s problems. You may find yourself thinking about how you can help them or how you would handle the situation if it were your own.
It can be tempting to let other people’s goals distract you from yours as well.
When someone else is working on something that interests or excites them, it’s natural for us to wonder what our passion is and whether we should pursue it too.
But if this leads you down the path of comparing yourself unfavorably with others, it will only make things worse for you!
5. Don’t be ashamed
The first step to overcoming relapse is not to be ashamed of your addiction or relapse. You’re human, and you need help–that’s okay! It doesn’t make you any less of a person.
Overcoming relapse isn’t something that happens overnight. It can take months or even years before someone finally gets clean and stays clean for good.
So don’t beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon once in a while; just get back on track as soon as possible!
6. Talk to someone you trust
Talking to someone you trust is one of the best ways to overcome relapse.
You can talk to a professional, such as a therapist or counselor, who will help you sort out your feelings and thoughts.
Or it’s a family member or friend who knows about your situation and has been through similar experiences. They can offer useful advice or insight into what’s going on in your life.
It’s also important that whoever you choose as an outlet knows how difficult it can be for people with addictions when they feel alone in their struggle.
Having another person involved helps keep us accountable so we don’t slip back into old habits without realizing it until it’s too late.
7. Keep a journal or diary of your feelings, thoughts, and actions
Keeping a journal is an important step in overcoming relapse because it helps you to understand what triggers your addiction and how to avoid those triggers.
You can use this journal to monitor how well you are doing concerning recovery from your addiction.
You can keep track of your addiction in smaller ways, such as how often you were tempted or how many times you successfully overcame a temptation.
Also, use this journal to write down positive things such as: “I haven’t used drugs today,”; “I went out with my friends last night without taking any drugs,” or even positive affirmations that help you overcome negative feelings.
Conclusion
Recovery is a lifelong journey. It’s not something you do once and then forget about it.
You need to be vigilant about your recovery, including being aware of the risk of relapse. If you find yourself relapsing, don’t panic!
Remember that this is normal and expected, even if it feels like a failure at first glance. The important thing is getting back on track as soon as possible so that you can continue moving forward toward living a life free from addiction.
