Because of the varying degrees of substance use disorders (SUDs), many individuals suffer from addiction and alcoholism, which are the most severe manifestations of SUDs. Even after treatment, ONLY 40 to 60% of people who try to stop drinking or using drugs succeed. For many people, it is practically inevitable. This reality can discourage some, but relapse prevention like what you'll receive at residential rehab can help you develop coping skills to avoid or deal with triggers to use more flexibly and productively. This adaptability makes the chances of preventing a relapse more significant, and you'll be less likely to return to previous behaviors and substance use once you leave inpatient treatment.
Here are four ways your stay at a residential rehab can help you cope with or avoid relapse along your recovery journey:
You'll Build a Strong Support System
Your family and friends are a resource—a network of people you care about and who care about you. They can be invaluable to your recovery. In rehab, you may take part in family therapy, in which select family members or friends can sit with you and your therapist to brainstorm ways they can support you. Support is one of the most crucial parts of recovery. By having at least one person in your life who you are close to that will listen and support you, you will be better able to fight back against the temptation to relapse.
With addiction, healing is never simple. Individuals may experience problems with family relationships, mental health and life skills. Couples or family therapy can help address these issues. Your loved ones will be better able to support you during your recovery journey if they have a safe place to discuss the impact of your substance use on your relationships.
You'll Create a Personal Relapse Prevention Plan
You may have gained illogical coping mechanisms over time that continually encourage your drug use or drinking. Working with a therapist in treatment, you'll develop a customized strategy to help you avoid a relapse when you're in daily life. Your first step will be to write everything that makes you drink or take drugs.
You might discover that you drink or use drugs when confronted with specific withdrawal symptoms, difficult social situations, financial pressure and other life stressors.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), many people use alcohol or other drugs to cope with difficult circumstances or trauma. NIDA also found that people often use substances to feel more relaxed, confident and less likely to experience sadness or worry.
Even places and activities such as driving or seeing inanimate objects can lead to negative thoughts and behaviors that may make you want to get intoxicated. Your counselor in rehab can help you come up with methods to keep away from these triggers after you've completed treatment and back in the real world. Or, if you can't avoid them altogether, you'll develop ways to deal with them healthily.
You'll Connect with Others Who Understand
During your stay in a luxury inpatient rehab, you'll likely take part in group therapy. Peers who are in recovery may help you by providing both practical and emotional support, besides a variety of ideas for dealing with life's challenges and stories about successfully preventing relapse.
Rehabilitation is restoring someone to sound mental and physical wellness. A vital component of this process is group therapy. Trained professionals lead group therapy sessions, but peer support is also available.
You'll Learn How to Practice Self-Care
To live a productive and healthy life, we all know that finding balance in everything is essential. For finding a sense of balance, you can't do it without taking good care of yourself, practicing self-soothing and taking time to rest and de-stress.
Finding a sense of balance in every aspect of your life can be difficult. To effectively find this balance, you need to make sure that you are taking the time for yourself. You could spend this time on leisure or on your health and well-being.
While you're in rehab, you're disconnected from the things of your ordinary life. However, to get back on track with your life following a rehabilitation stay, allow yourself the time and room you need to recover fully.