Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery

The belief is that recovery requires some special strength or willpower that the individual does not possess. Past relapses are taken as proof that the individual does not have what it takes to recover 9. Cognitive therapy helps clients see that recovery is based on coping skills and not willpower. The negative thinking that underlies addictive thinking is usually all-or-nothing thinking, disqualifying the positives, catastrophizing, and negatively self-labeling 9.

Rule 1: Embrace Life Changes

The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. Avoiding temptation is easier if you get rid of all the substance-related items in your home. Shot glasses, beer steins, rolling papers, needles and other items have no place in the home of someone who’s trying to avoid relapse.

Parenting a Child with an Eating Disorder

If you do not remove yourself from these tempting settings and situations, then recovery can be five rules of recovery challenging to maintain. All of the factors that led to the addiction to drugs and/or alcohol are still present and therefore continue to challenge your recovery. Ending friendships, moving to a different location, and even cutting off family members who are actively using may be actions necessary to maintain your sobriety. However, substance use is not a legitimate coping or self-care strategy.

• This is the final stage of relapse where you either use the drug, or you take action to get the drug.
• Clinical experience has shown that common causes of relapse in this stage are poor self-care and not going to self-help groups.
• Mind-body relaxation is a form of self-care because it creates part of a new life in recovery by finding time to decompress and relax.
• It has been shown that the way to get the most out of 12-step groups is to attend meetings regularly, have a sponsor, read 12-step materials, and have a goal of abstinence 24,25.
• They want to prove that they have control over their addiction, and that they are not as unhealthy as people think.
• Although recovery will look different for everyone, there are some rules that are recommended across the board to ensure that you don’t relapse at any stage during your recovery.

Rule 2: Coping with Cravings

• Understanding that recovery is a lifelong process and following these simple rules can help protect against relapse.
• After all who has time to escape, relax, and reward themselves.
• The tasks of this stage can be summarized as improved physical and emotional self-care.
• They are a relapse prevention principle coined by Dr Steven Melemis who specializes in addictions and mood disorders and wrote the book I Want To Change My Life.
• A missing piece of the puzzle for many clients is understanding the difference between selfishness and self-care.
• You must mindfully practice telling the truth hundreds of times before the truth becomes your new habit.

Some examples of setbacks are not setting healthy boundaries, not asking for help, not avoiding high-risk situations, and not practicing self-care. A setback does not have to end in relapse to be worthy of discussion in therapy. One of the important tasks of therapy is to help individuals redefine fun.

How to Build a Strong Support System After Addiction Treatment

Here are some common things that people need to change in recovery. You don’t recover from an addiction by simply stopping using. You recover by creating a new life where it is easier to not use. If you don’t create a new life, then all the factors that brought you to your addiction will eventually catch up with you again. A common question about honesty is how honest should a person be when dealing with past lies. The general answer is that honesty is always preferable, except where it may harm others 14,21.

Practice Self-Care

Our caring and understanding treatment specialists are eager to help you. Recovery is a unique journey for everyone, and you need qualified professionals to create a recovery plan that aligns with your circumstances, needs, and goals. Trying to resist or modify the way you approach your recovery is sabotage. Professionals say that trying to bend the other four recovery rules is a warning sign for relapse. In recovery, you are encouraged to identify what type of user you are.

Evidence-Based Substance Abuse Treatment

They are sometimes reluctant to even mention thoughts of using because they are so embarrassed by them. Recovery allows for mistakes and learning from them as much as it allows for growth and improvement. With time, practice, and guidance from the five rules for recovery, it is possible to live a fun and meaningful life without drugs and alcohol. Trying to bend the rules or negotiate our recovery is a dangerous game, and an indication of the first stage of relapse – emotional relapse.

There are also self-help groups that are not based on the twelve steps, including Women for Sobriety, Secular Organizations for Sobriety, and Smart Recovery. Your strongest cravings usually occur at the end of the day. You’re probably angry because you’ve had a tough day at work or a tough commute. That’s why your strongest cravings usually occur at the end of the day.