Getting Back on Track After Relapse

by Amalia Rosa

The possibility of a relapse is frightening for everyone struggling with addiction. Triggers and temptations can be everywhere, and unexpected events sometimes cause weaknesses. Relapses are very common in recovery, but they are not the end of the road. They are terrifying and can make you feel ashamed and angry. But this does not mean that all your hard work was in vain. There are ways to get back on track after a relapse and steps you can take to get back into a life of sobriety. Focus on forgiveness and setting goals on your way to recovery.

Dust yourself off and try again

It is all about forgiving yourself and refocusing on the outcome you want instead of dwelling on the fall. You are human, and you found yourself in a difficult situation. The important part is that you get back up and get back into the world. Here are some steps you can follow that can help you thrive after your relapse.

Go to a meeting 

The presence of people who have similar struggles and experiences will give you strength. We always feel better knowing that we are not alone in whatever we are going through. This has happened to many others before you, even though you might think that no one else shares your issues. Hearing from others how they got through it can give you valuable insight and guidance on how to get back on track and manage stress. After a relapse,

try to go to as many meetings as possible for support. One time only might not be enough if you are feeling low and lack the mental strength to face the world.

Surround yourself with support

Share your struggle with someone you trust and who supports you emotionally. It can be a family member or a friend, as long as you trust them completely and are not afraid to be vulnerable with them. Don’t close off from the world and end up alone. Being alone can lead you to sink even deeper into self-loathing and depression. Spend time with a loved one, and this will give you the strength to move on and switch your focus onto the positive future.

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Discover what caused you to relapse

Getting back on track after a relapse may be uncomfortable, but try to figure out what it was that pushed you over the edge. It may be that your job makes you vulnerable and that the workload is causing you too much stress. Consider making some changes in that area if possible. Perhaps you were in a social gathering where you felt pressure to participate. Think about the emotions you felt under either of the circumstances. Was it fear, anger,

anxiety, or maybe frustration? Consider writing down how you felt and what led you to relapse. This way, you can come up with a strategy for future similar situations that can help you cope.

Go back to when you first started your recovery 

What state of mind were you in when you first decided to enter recovery? What was the emotional state that led you to make this decision? Think about this and remember the mechanisms you learned that time around. If they helped you then, consider going back to them. They are tried and tested, and you know they worked before, so you will have trust and confidence in them working again. A great idea is to create some new or get back to some old routines. Create a healthy, sober living environment to help get back on track. Working out is helpful, whatever physical and emotional state you are in. Also, consider introducing a healthy diet that will help eliminate all

the toxins and junk from your body and make you feel more energetic.

Make a plan for future prevention

Once you put together what caused you to relapse and how you dealt with your recovery the first time around, come up with a plan for the future. As much as you want to think positively and even decide not to let a relapse happen again, they are a normal part of recovery. This is a journey that might take a while, and that's okay.

What you want to prepare for is coping with any possible triggers that might come up in life. Everyday life is unpredictable, and you cannot control it. What you can control is how you react to it. And you can accomplish this best by being prepared ahead of time—just in case. Talk to your sponsor or therapist about some mechanisms that you can focus on if trying situations arise. This will give you confidence that you have what it takes to get through any future hurdle.

One of the causes of a relapse can be an overwhelming change

If you are going through a life-changing experience—such as moving—you might feel anxious and that you cannot stay on the wagon. Being nervous is normal; everyone suffers from anxiety in these circumstances. Follow your steps to handling these types of stressful situations. Make sure that you devise a plan before you go on this significant journey. Find support in friends and, to avoid adding to your plate, hire professional movers to do all the hard work for you. This will be an immense relief in the long run, even if you have issues with relinquishing that control. These experts know exactly what they are doing and will make the process much more positive for you.

Set goals for the future

Let go of beating yourself up and focus on getting back on track after a relapse. Setting some new goals can help you do that. This will give you purpose and something to look forward to and work towards. Make plans on how to achieve your goals and work on them daily. Whether they are long-term or short-term goals, they will keep you moving forward with new optimism.

by Amalia Rosa