Falling Back Into Old Ways
If you are a recovering alcoholic or struggle with substance abuse, you know that relapse is a common occurrence. During this time, it is becoming harder to prevent falling back into old ways. Many things may trigger a possible relapse but at Stepping Stones in Lincoln, Nebraska our drug and alcohol counselors want to offer all the tools and services to help prevent relapse.
Identify Situations
There are many ways to prevent relapse but given the state of our world, we want to offer you tips that are currently applicable to aid you or your loved ones in the best ways possible. It is important to first identify triggers that could turn into high-risk situations. This may be due to a lack of social interaction, whether that be missing physical touch, face-to-face interaction with a senior citizen, or even hanging out with your close friend groups. Without these people there to physically notice changes that you may be reverting back to, it is even more important to be self-aware of your own actions and choices. A way to notice these possible changes is to make a list of trigger situations that you may be experiencing, and then below make bullet points as to how you can combat those situations – whether that be looking at articles from drug and alcohol counselors, or meeting with Stepping Stones drug and alcohol abuse specialist.
Handle as it Happens
Another way to prevent relapse is to handle your problems, feelings, or issues as they occur. Thinking about the possibility of a horrible feeling or issue that could come up will only result in you worrying twice, it is important to understand what aspects of your life you can and can’t control. During this time, all we really can do is take it day by day and deal with those feelings as they come. As hard as it may seem, it is important to try and keep your life in balance.
Ways to Find Balance
We know that finding balance in your day-to-day life during a pandemic is nearly impossible, but adapting is not impossible. For example, writing down what productive tasks you can do, tasks that promote self-care, and things that make you happy while you were in relapse. While abiding by social distancing guidelines, you can:
Walk through the park
Support a local business and order take-out
Watch an old movie that you love
Video chat with loved ones whom you miss
Schedule Telehealth video chats with your drug and alcohol counselor
It is also important to understand and recognize that you can’t always prevent relapse on your own, because it may take friends and family to provide the support and guidance needed to get the help you deserve. Our drug and alcohol counselor can give you the help you may need. She specializes in relapse and relapse prevention, alcohol assessments, offers resources to help and benefit you, and online/Telehealth drug and alcohol counseling.
Take Care of Yourself
One of the best tips to prevent relapse is to take better care of yourself through understanding the needs you may have physically, whether that be common hygiene upkeep or self-relaxation techniques (such as mediation, yoga, exercise). Sometimes it is inevitable that you will experience triggers, and when they do occur tell someone you trust about the current state of your feelings – about the urges of using again. Simply by talking to someone, whether a close family member or friend whom you trust or a drug and alcohol counselor, you could possibly minimize the urges you may be feeling. Sometimes even waiting half an hour helps because urges last between 15-30 minutes. This is when engaging in distractions such as going on a walk, watching TV, or calling a friend could satisfy and put a halt to those urges you are feeling.
Here at Stepping Stones in Lincoln, Nebraska we can offer services to aid you in the prevention of relapse, and our specialists in drug and alcohol counseling are here to support and guide you through troubled times such as these. Stay connected, healthy, and safe.
Contact our drug and alcohol counselor and reduce your stress or anxiety about the possibility of falling back into relapse. Read more on our website, and call (402) 488-6511 to schedule your appointment today.