5 Key Techniques to Prevent Alcohol Relapse

For some people, relapse may be part of recovering from alcohol misuse and addiction. But it doesn’t mean relapse is inevitable for everyone, or that you have to experience it more than once if it is a part of your recovery history. Learning some key strategies about how to prevent alcohol relapse can not only help you stay in recovery, but it can also help save your life. Let’s look at five techniques to understand and use regularly as you work on your sober goals.

The first thing to realize about lapses and relapses is that they are not uncommon occurrences. Giving yourself some grace and understanding can go a long way. Learning how to prevent alcohol relapse when you’re in recovery can help you avoid feelings of disappointment and failure. Some important strategies you can use for alcohol relapse prevention include learning to manage your stress in healthy ways, developing a strong social support network, getting help for any co-occurring mental health disorders, and starting an alcohol treatment program aligned with your specific needs.

5 Key Techniques to Prevent Alcohol Relapse

Relapses can occur after any length of sobriety, and relapses often indicate that an individual still has unresolved issues, such as trauma, or that they have returned to a previous pattern of unhealthy thinking or behavior. Some people may also refer to relapse as a “slip” if the person quickly self-corrects and returns to their recovery plan. If you’ve been experiencing relapses without treatment, here are five approaches to alcohol relapse prevention.

1. Start treatment for alcohol misuse or addiction.

Entering a structured alcohol detox in Dallas can help lower your risk of relapse and increase your rate of returning to your recovery efforts. An outpatient setting can be a pivotal way to overcome alcohol use with the support of specialists and peers. Treatment can help you safely withdraw from alcohol after a medical detox, learn strategies to use when cravings appear and feel overwhelming, and create a support system among peers in treatment.

2. Get help for any co-occurring mental health disorders.

The use of alcohol and mental health disorders are a dangerous combination. Many people who suffer from alcoholism also have a co-occurring psychological disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or trauma. Attempts to treat a substance use disorder while neglecting mental health needs usually fail as they ultimately become unsustainable. Every individual must be considered as a whole for recovery plans to be successful. This includes addressing any co-occurring mental health conditions that have been diagnosed or identified by a professional.

3. Develop a strong social support group.

Individuals in recovery can help avoid relapse by staying engaged in productive and balanced activities. Building a group of supportive, healthy people who can help you stay active and accountable is one approach. Social support can come from a variety of sources, including family, friends, peers in recovery, faith communities, 12-Step fellowships, peer support groups, and volunteer groups. Interacting with family and close friends who are devoted to your recovery can be an influential factor in how you respond to a relapse.

4. Learn to manage stress in healthy ways.

Another method of alcohol relapse prevention is tied to practicing self-care habits daily. One of those self-care habits is learning how to manage stress. Dealing with stress can be an ongoing issue for those in recovery. Treatment can teach you a variety of stress management techniques, including diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation. Solo and group athletic activities can be a recurring way to keep stress levels low, too. You may want to explore jogging, cycling, kickboxing, or some other activity to help support the body-mind-spirit connection.

5. Know what circumstances lead to cravings.

Understanding the nature of alcohol use disorders, how cravings (or obsessions) appear, and how to cope with them is really beneficial. In particular, cravings should not be viewed as failures or relapses, but as normal experiences that occur as part of behavioral change during the early stages of emotional, mental, spiritual, and psychological recovery. Growth will come from the beginning to understand that cravings are common for many people with an alcohol use disorder, especially in the first months of sobriety.

Restored Path Detox for Alcohol Relapse Prevention

Restored Path Detox is a North Texas resource for individuals who want to safely detox from alcohol and addiction to other substances. We help you get on the road to recovery by offering brief detox stays. Our multidisciplinary team, with more than 35 years of experience, detoxifies men and women of all ages, from young adults to senior citizens.

Restored Path Detox is DFW’s premier location for medically supervised alcohol and drug detox. Conveniently located in Frisco, we provide a safe sanctuary for healing that is also a state-of-the-art detoxification facility for a wide range of substances. Our compassionate physicians and therapists want you to get well and are committed to removing any existing barriers to your care. Restored Path’s board-certified medical professionals and highly qualified nursing team have extensive critical care experience and are available to monitor your detox program 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you or a loved one are struggling with drug or alcohol use, contact us today and take your first step towards recovery: 469-827-0000.