Relapse prevention is one of the most important topics to cover and learn about when it comes to sustainable, long-term addiction recovery. Without a prevention plan, relapse is more common, even after lots of treatment and hard work.
Comprehensive substance use treatment includes relapse prevention planning. This is an ongoing part of treatment regardless of whether an individual is in residential, partial hospitalization, or outpatient treatment to ensure they are working to be mindful of what could trigger a relapse in all phases of recovery.
What Is Relapse?
Relapse is an experience in addiction recovery where individuals find themselves slipping back into old destructive patterns with alcohol and/or substances. This is a gradual process where individuals may notice certain triggers that activate cravings along with unhealthy thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors.
What Is Relapse Prevention?
Understanding what triggers an individual might have that could lead to a relapse, and what to do when triggers come up, is part of relapse prevention. Recovering individuals must develop an awareness of what could lead to relapse to put together a relapse prevention plan. This plan consists of coping tools, supportive individuals to reach out to, and more to prevent them from slipping down the dangerous slope of addiction.
Relapse prevention also consists of education around the nature of substance use, mental illness, and relapse itself to empower individuals to build self-awareness of their patterns, and what they need to continue making progress in their recovery.
When to Make a Relapse Prevention Plan
Talking about relapse prevention should be part of conversations with an individual’s treatment team. Most substance use treatment facilities have relapse prevention built into all treatment plans to ensure prevention is started as soon as treatment begins and continues through all phases of healing.
Lasting recovery is only truly possible through this whole person, comprehensive, and holistic approach. Education on relapse, self-awareness of what could lead to a relapse, and tools to help individuals cope in vulnerable moments can give them the empowerment to continue choosing recovery.
Relapse prevention is an integral part of recovery from addiction and mental illness. Without it, relapse is more common. At Avalon Malibu, we recognize how important relapse prevention is to treatment and are here to empower you to continue choosing recovery through education on relapse, building self-awareness, and developing new coping tools to use that support your healing. If you are ready to begin treatment for addiction and mental illness with holistic support, call Avalon Malibu today at (844) 857-5992.Â
