It can seem daunting, even nerve-wracking to think of drug or alcohol addiction as a lifelong condition. Some recovering addicts choose to think of these as conditions you can eventually outgrow and leave behind. But with the ever-present threat of a relapse, that could seem like an impossible dream.
There’s hope yet, though. By teaching yourself how to manage situations better, you can eventually learn how to control your addiction, if not your reaction towards certain triggers and temptations, better. And that can be instrumental in preventing a relapse from happening:
- Staying positive is key, says the Huffington Post. Training yourself to be positive, to see the good in every situation, has a major effect on your treatment. If you’re positive and positive it’ll work, then you’re opening yourself up to the many ways that could happen. Because everything in you is ready for it.
- Take advantage of aftercare support. Ongoing support and therapy can help you deal with issues better, making relapse less likely. So go ahead and find a rehabilitation center in Malibu that provides the sort of aftercare assistance you need.
- Exercise. There’s nothing like good old sweaty exercise to get your body back in shape—sans the drugs or alcohol. Since addictions, especially long term ones, have a negative effect on your health, then, exercise is one way to boost system recovery. It also has the added perk of making you look and feel good. That takes you a few steps closer to living the drug or alcohol-free life like you’ve always wanted.
- Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep can cause you to do a lot of things you normally wouldn’t. And that loss of control can have devastating consequences for you. If you don’t want everything you’ve worked hard for to go down in one fell swoop, get enough rest. Dire situations tend to look better after a good night’s sleep. It also means you’re more relaxed and positive, instead of grumpy and irritated when you wake up.
- Avoid temptation, says Psych Central. Yes, you’re better at managing those triggers and temptations. But why tempt fate? If you don’t want relapse to happen, then taking proactive steps to ensure it doesn’t means not putting yourself in situations where you have to say yes or no to temptation in the first place. It’s better to simply avoid testing your mettle like that.
Remember these tips to help you keep relapse at bay.
Serenity Malibu offers recovery and aftercare assistance. For more details, contact us today!
