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Did you know . . .
Studies indicate that approximately:
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1/3 of alcoholics/addicts achieve permanent
abstinence from the first serious attempt at recovery |
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1/3 have periods of brief relapse episodes,
but eventually achieve long term abstinence |
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1/3 have chronic relapses that result in
eventual death from chemical addiction |
Relapse is preventable
− the choice is yours!
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Talking about relapse can prevent relapse!
Talking about a relapse is to learn how to avoid having a relapse. By
discussing your recovery difficulties with your addiction counsellor or recovery
coach you will be given intervention strategies, effective communication skills
and assertive technique that will reduce the risk of relapse.
If you were to think about having a relapse it is very important that you
discuss your thoughts, emotions, and feelings with your addiction counsellor or
recovery coach, before you relapse.
By talking about how recovery is difficult for you, or how a particular train
of thinking is creating a lot of unnecessary confusion, anxiety and fear allows
a professional to help you to put things into perspective, long enough for you
to think through the consequences of your actions.
The benefit of talking things through with your addiction counsellor or
recovery coach is that you receive professional assistance to help you realise
that a relapse will not solve personal problems, legal problems, relationship
breakdowns or financial troubles.
To talk about a relapse will assist you to understand:
- What a relapse is
- How a relapse can happen
- And the consequences of a relapse.
What Is A Relapse?
Relapse means ‘slipping back’ or the ‘deterioration’ of a condition to its old
or previous state.
How Does a Relapse Happen?
The first indicator that a relapse is possible usually starts with making
excuses as to why you can’t attend the counselling/coaching/sponsor
appointments, or you stop being honest, your not up front with what’s happening
in your life, you say your coping when in fact you are not coping as well as you
though you would. You say you are ‘fine’ and that every thing in your life is
also ‘fine’, when in fact you are struggling and finding recovery very difficult
and a relapse becomes attractive because remaining clean and sober is difficult.
A relapse usually happens when you are not aware of what you are feeling or
thinking, or how your behaviour is setting you up to relapse.
A relapse usually happens when you are not aware of how others are
manipulating you to serve their interest, rather than protecting your recovery,
you are manipulated, become resentful and use. For instance, most alcoholics
and addicts of other addictions like company when drinking or using; keeping
company with your old drinking or using buddies increase the risk of you being
manipulated or talked into joining them for a drink, or to use, or to act out
old behavioural patterns.
We will assist you to accurately assess people, places and things; thus
reducing the possibilities of falling into emotional vulnerabilities, invisible
triggers, recognise risky places and things, and identify the games certain
people will play in order for you to fail in your recovery.
Setting yourself up to relapse, often happens when you convince yourself that
a sober way of life doesn't work for you, and that a drink, drug or behaviour
appears as a better and more attractive alternative than to remain clean and
sober.
Relapse usually happens when you are unable or unwilling to understand,
adjust to and flow with the major physical, psychological, emotional and
spiritual changes that happen simultaneously in early recovery.
RELAPSE IS NOT
NECESSARY!
And yes we understand how you are feeling, withdrawing from your drug of
choice.
Yes we understand the difficulty of remaining clean and sober without the
comfort of your drug of choice to act as a buffer against reality.
And yes we understand early stages of recovery can be filled with mood
swings, insecurities, heart ache, remorse, fear, anxiety, grief and loss issues
and much more.
We also are aware that when you WANT RECOVERY MORE THAN YOUR ADDICTION you
are very committed to protecting your recovery and you are prepared to change
old ways in favour of being clean and sober.
We are aware when you are committed to your recovery, you will:
When you are serious about wanting recovery, you will take the time to work
out with your addiction counsellor or recovery coach a plan of recovery with
workable intervention strategies, coping techniques, and effective communication
skills that will strengthen your strengths, prepare you for when the relapse
wave comes, and increase your confidence in your own ability to ride the relapse
wave out, without using.
Recovery does not just happen. It takes planning, effort, and follow-through.
Let us help you identify what you need to do to keep you safe from a relapse.
Let us by working together build your strengths, ignite your passion for
life, and maintain your commitment to your recovery. We will prepare a recovery
action plan. Support you when times are tough, assist you to take control over
what is happening in your life, thus prevent you from having a relapse, you
didn’t need to have.
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