Relapse Prevention in Odessa, TX
Learning a range of strategies for relapse prevention in Odessa is the key to maintaining motivation to stay clean and sober after leaving drug rehab. Most programs for relapse prevention are created and developed by the recovering person based on their own individual needs.
A lapse is a single occurrence where the person is able to stop use again immediately. Relapse is the act of returning to a pattern of self-destructive, compulsive behaviors associated with addictive drug or alcohol use.
When most people enter our drug and alcohol rehab in Odessa, they anticipate that the detox process will be the most difficult aspect of the recovery process. While many recovering people may experience unpleasant or potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, staff within drug rehab centers can provide prescription medications to help ease the worst of any symptoms that emerge. What those people may not recognize is that the detox process is only the first step in recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.
Drug and alcohol rehab programs focus on helping each person identify their own unique addiction triggers. Relapse prevention programs can then begin helping each person develop healthy, productive ways to reduce the risk of returning to self-destructive behaviors associated with substance abuse and addiction.
What Is Relapse Prevention?
Relapse prevention in Odessa is a strategy for reducing the likelihood of a recovering person returning back to a pattern of dysfunctional behavior associated with substance abuse.
Just as the reasons behind each person's addictive behaviors are different, the strategies needed to avoid relapse will also need to be tailored to every person's individual needs.
Relapse Statistics among Addicts and Alcoholics
Most people assume that relapse means that rehab treatments have failed. However, studies show that addiction is similar to other chronic relapsing health conditions like asthma, type 2 diabetes, or hypertension (high blood pressure). People with other types of chronic health conditions are taught to seek medical assistance to amend their current treatment as soon as symptoms recur.
Statistics released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicate that the relapse rate for recovering drug or alcohol addicts after a period of recovery ranges from 50% to 90%.
The statistics also show that people graduating from comprehensive rehab treatments that incorporate programs for relapse prevention are more likely to stay clean and sober after leaving rehab. Those people have a lower rate of relapse overall.
By comparison, those people who attempt to quit drugs or alcohol cold turkey at home without the benefit of learning strong recovery skills in relapse prevention programs are significantly more likely to relapse after a period of recovery.
Stages of Relapse
Most people assume that relapse is an isolated event. However, there are several stages a person moves through before giving in to triggers behind addictive substance abuse. These include:
Emotional Relapse
The earliest stage of relapse is emotional relapse. At this point the person is not actively thinking about using again and may still be motivated to stay sober. However, their thoughts and actions could be setting them up for a potential relapse in future. Warning signs of emotional relapse include:
- Uncontrolled stress levels
- Isolation from others
- Anxiety, anger or defensiveness
- Mood swings
- Changes in eating patterns
- Poor sleeping habits
- Lack of self-care
- Not attending meetings
- Not asking for help
Programs for relapse prevention teach recovering people to identify and recognize the signs of early relapse. Relapse prevention in Odessa also provides a variety of strategies and tactics a recovering person can use to regain control over thoughts and emotions to help them stay motivated to remain sober.
Mental Relapse
During the mental stage of relapse, the person's mind is at war. A part of the mind is determined to remain sober, but the other part begins to think about using again. The person may begin remembering that using drugs or alcohol provided a temporary release or relief from stress or pain. Others may begin thinking that returning to former habits might be easier than the challenge of staying sober. Early warning signs of mental relapse include:
- Thinking about using again
- Fantasizing about using making things better or easier
- Believing the addiction is now under control and ‘just one' use won't hurt
- Glamorizing past use and thinking about how ‘good' it used to be
- Associating with past using friends
- Thinking about how to relapse without others knowing
- Planning a relapse around other people's schedules to avoid getting caught
As the pull of addiction grows stronger, it becomes harder to avoid the temptation. Programs for relapse prevention are designed to provide various strategies that can help make it easier for a recovering person to regain control and motivation to stay clean and sober.
Physical Relapse
Physical relapse is the act of returning to a pattern of addictive substance abuse. Once a recovering addict starts thinking about using, it's very difficult to stop the process. Programs for relapse prevention are designed to provide a range of options to help the person stop the process during the early stages.
However, without the benefit of relapse prevention programs, a person trying to quit drugs or alcohol ‘cold turkey' is more likely to end up in physical relapse.
The objective of relapse prevention in Odessa is to help recovering people learn to identify early warning signs of relapse. Relapse prevention programs then encourage patients to develop their own strategies for avoiding addiction triggers and remaining clean and sober over the long term. Call us now for help and to learn more about our programs for addiction treatment in Odessa at (877) 804-1531.