Completing a heroin rehab treatment
program is a great accomplishment. It is not, however, the end of your recovery
experience. The choices made following rehab are perhaps just as important, if
not more so, than those made during rehabilitation. Maintaining proper
aftercare and discipline is a crucial aspect in maintaining sobriety throughout
the transition back to the day-to-day routine.
Because addiction is a disease, avoiding relapse and the
triggers associated with it is a major factor is maintaining sobriety once
treatment is complete. Most all drug rehabilitation programs work to provide
patients with relapse prevention tactics as part of their rehabilitation and
aftercare programs.
5 Relapse Prevention Tips
1) Avoid
keeping your feelings in. If you attend addiction support groups as part of
your aftercare treatment, these forums can be a wonderful place to express your
feelings and emotions. In this way,
you’ll be able to alleviate excess tension while obtaining help and support
from peers who have been through similar experiences.
2) Commit
to an activity or hobby to keep yourself occupied. Take up an instrument,
exercise class or volunteer at a retirement facility. Dust off the old brain
and choose a class at your local community college to keep the old chef dream
alive. The busier you are, the less opportunity you’ll have to resort to old
habits.
3) Steer
away from acquaintances and friends who don’t support your decision to remain
sober. Surround yourself instead with friends and family members who support
your recovery and are committed to keeping you on a positive path.
4) Do
your best to avoid situations that may tempt you to use. This includes
emotional circumstances and areas that have pushed you to use in the past. If
you must attend events or places that cause you to dwell on your addiction, be
sure to map out a feasible escape plan.
5) Those
who relapse are not failures. THOSE WHO RELAPSE ARE NOT FAILURES. If you happen
to slip up, it will do you little to dwell your mistake. Pick yourself up, dust
yourself off, and take the next step forward. It can be easy to let one mishap
excuse a return to negative behaviors. Do not let one simple mistake alter the positive
steps you’ve made. Consider contacting your substance abuse
rehabilitation center for support and advice during this difficult time.
Recovery is never an overnight process. With time, drive and determination, you
WILL be able to achieve the happy, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle you’re
striving for.
