A person becomes a drug addict after regular use of drugs for a long time. Hence, getting out of that addiction requires more than a few days. Relapsing is the biggest issue during an ongoing recovery procedure. Many drug users successfully complete their treatment program, but end up relapsing to the drug use again.
According to the experts of port st lucie rehab, monitoring your triggers and making daily efforts are important to prevent drug relapse.
Here are a few valuable tips to help you prevent drug relapse:
1. Don’t indulge in drug inducing situations
You have been indulging in social and cultural situations that introduced you to the drugs. Those situations are called the trigger situations. It can include bars, clubs, parties, certain friends, family members, college mates and others. Any situation or person that reminds you of the drug use should be avoided. You have to stay away from the temptations as far away as possible.
2. Create a support system around you
Navigating your path to sobriety becomes easier when you are not alone. People are out there ready to help you. All you need to do is let them help you by staying around. Find support groups, professionals and other networks that create positivity and motivation around you. Engage in activities such as talking about the negativities of drug use. Have conversations with past users and the improved lives. All these activities will create a positive anti-drug atmosphere in your life.
3. Find better friends
If your old friends push you towards drug or alcohol, the chances of relapse increase. Friends are friends only if they help you improve your life, not ruin it. Any drug user friend is not a friend at all if he or she pushes you to use it. These friends are always ready to buy drugs for you and call it a party or a treat. But you need to find new friends who are positive and who understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. And you can only do that when these toxic friends are not in your life.
4. Keep having therapy longer than you think
There are many psychological anchors attached to drugs in your mind. Every addict looks at drugs as a solution to emotional or physical problems of life. Those psychological anchors stay intact even after you complete your initial recovery and attain sobriety. Hence, therapy becomes a reliable solution to talk to a professional and get rid of those anchors.
Even if you find yourself completely fine and away from the thoughts of using drugs, stay with the therapy. You can gradually decrease the therapy sessions from daily to twice a week, and then, once a week.
5. Follow the prescribed medication
In many addictions, certain medications are prescribed by the doctors. Avoiding the use of those medications can lead to relapse. The problem of depression, anxiety, and others can trigger the addiction again in your life. Hence, seek prescribed medication to save yourself.
If you still relapse, don’t worry. Just find the right professional support. You can get sober again and stick to it this time!