Addiction recovery is an ongoing process. Leaving rehab and returning to everyday life can bring about new challenges but also new opportunities to create a healthy future. Quarantine has become an added challenge for many people. It’s even put many people at risk simply because of the isolation it brings. Relapse prevention techniques you can learn in our alumni program can help. Simple steps can make a big difference. At Georgia Addiction Treatment Center, we offer the tools to support you through this process.
What Is Relapse Prevention?
During relapse prevention therapy, individuals learn strategies and methods to maintain sobriety long-term. It means learning how to control stress and practice overall healthy lifestyle decisions. The goal is to prevent relapse by staying in front of it – avoiding the cravings and negative thoughts that lead to poor behaviors. Participating in this type of therapy while you’re in treatment can lead to better outcomes, along with ongoing therapy, even after you’ve completed a formal program.
How to Maintain Relapse Prevention Skills
During addiction therapy, most people learn skills and strategies to help them avoid relapse. These strategies help with managing stress, relapse triggers, and other challenges. It’s important to embrace these strategies and to maintain them in the long-term, especially in high-stress situations like quarantine. Consider a few simple steps to routinely to see improvements:
- Eat a healthy diet, sleep on a consistent schedule, and get physical exercise daily
- Create a daily routine that helps you to maintain normalcy
- Stay social by interacting with others outside of your home
- Engage with the community through volunteer work or just by being active
- Focus your attention on positive mental health, which includes managing negative thought patterns as they occur
Relapse prevention teaches you how to do many of these things. Practicing these skills can help to significantly improve your quality of life.
Relapse Prevention During Quarantine Means More Support
Being unable to spend time with family and friends due to COVID-19 is an added stressor for many men and women in recovery. Social interaction is a big part of the process of remaining sober. That does not have to change during quarantine as much as you may think. What’s most important is to remain focused on the skills noted above.
Then, consider a few strategies that may help provide further support. For example, you may need to be creative about seeing people. If you cannot visit people important to you in person, use video conferencing services to help you to remain connected to them.
Try to do something outdoors when the weather improves to get in some Vitamin D. You may also find that this is a good way to spend time around other people without increasing the risk of contracting COVID-19. Just keep your distance.
Know When You Need Help with Relapse Prevention
There are times when sober living gets hard, especially during quarantine. That’s when it may be helpful to seek out help from a trusted professional and therapist. Our team is here to help you with a range of services to fit your expected needs. If you are in recovery and working to maintain your sobriety, know we are here to help you to do just that. If you’re thinking about using again, reach out to us immediately for the help you need. We offer programs such as the following to help:
- Men’s rehab program
- Women’s rehab program
- Partial hospitalization program
- Intensive outpatient program
- Community housing support
Choose to Get Healthy – Call Georgia Addiction Treatment Center
Relapse prevention is an ongoing process and one you simply cannot put off. Having help matters. If you are struggling with your sober living goals, reach out to our team at Georgia Addiction Treatment Center. Let our professionals offer guidance. Call [Direct] or connect with us online today.
