For an individual who has stopped any addictive behavior, and is resolute and determined to stay sober, you will want to do all in your capacity to ensure that you do not relapse. It might look to you that relapse is the last thing that would happen. However, the fact is, a good number of people who recover usually relapse.
Studies have shown that around 80% of people who achieved long-term sobriety, relapsed at one point or the other. Some people have had quite a number of relapses before they got long lasting recovery. They might have good intentions, but it requires more than willpower to prevent an addiction relapse.
Below are some essential tips to ensure you remain sober after addiction recovery:
- Build healthy relationships: One of the reasons why people get addicted, is the friends they keep. Hence, after breaking free from addiction, there is an important need to know the right kind of friends to keep. It is necessary that you move with friends who will not serve as potential triggers to your addiction problem.
If changing your current set of friends will help you stay clean, then that is the best move.
- Become physically active: Addiction has adverse health effects on the human body, and when you get out of rehab, it is necessary to get your body back in shape. It is advised that you exercise and take part in recreational activities which would assist in stress reduction which is one of the common triggers for relapse.
- Handle past mistakes: While living your addicted lifestyle, there are tendencies that you have made dire mistakes, and you need to correct them. Hence, ensure you make efforts to repair relationships with people who you had fallouts with in the past.
- Remain cool and calm: Addicts are usually known to get angry unnecessary, and you need to work on this after recovery. Ensure you employ tips which will aid you in proper anger management.
- Know more about drug or alcohol relapse: It is important that you are aware of how relapse works, and how you can prevent it. In this case, it would be required that you see a counselor who would assist you to identify these triggers.