Relapse Prevention in Macomb, IL

Now that you've completed your inpatient rehab program and have returned home, it's time to live a life free of drugs and alcohol. You may feel strong in your commitment to sobriety, but there's no guarantee you won't feel tempted to use or drink again. That's why relapse prevention in Macomb is so important.

What Is Relapse Prevention?

Before you can know how to avoid having a relapse, you've got to understand what a relapse is. In a nutshell, relapse is a return to old habits. Although relapse is relatively common, not everybody recognizes a relapse when it's about to occur. Relapse prevention programs help many people resist what could be an irresistible temptation.

Programs for relapse prevention, especially self-help peer group meetings, decrease the sense of isolation that oftentimes precedes a relapse into bad habits. Because drug addiction and alcoholism are chronic conditions, drug relapse prevention is imperative. When family is involved, groups like Al-Anon can offer a lifetime of support

Relapse Statistics Amongst Addicts and Alcoholics

Because addiction is a chronic condition, a person is never entirely "cured" of their craving for drugs or alcohol. Addiction is a lifelong disorder with a relapse rate roughly the same as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and other medical illnesses. Relapse is not only possible; it's quite likely that a recovering addict will relapse at least once. Relapse prevention addiction treatment programs in Macomb may be adjusted after a relapse, or alternate programs may be explored. Because addiction is a personal disease with both behavioral and physiological components, relapse prevention in Macomb can be custom fit for the individual.

Warning Signs of Impending Relapse

When a person is newly sober, they typically stay away from the places, situations, and people that were associated with their pre-sobriety life. If the addict returns to those places or starts hanging out with those people again, it's a red flag that relapse is imminent. Recovering addicts who skip meetings and fail to keep appointments with counselors are showing another major sign of relapse. Addicts who feel ‘bored' with programs for relapse prevention treatment are putting themselves at risk of relapse.

Addicts in relapse may nitpick other people's problems while at the same time denying their own. Crazy sleep patterns, poor diet, and deficient hygiene are common to persons in relapse. This is a perilous time because it can snowball into an irresistible craving to use. It's also the right time to find out about programs for relapse prevention.

Stages of Addiction Relapse

A relapse has several distinct emotional, mental, and physical phases. These phases may occur hours, days, or even weeks before the addict actually returns to drug use or drinking. The addict may exhibit compulsive behavior and shun family activities and rehab group meetings. They may neglect their personal hygiene. An addict on the verge of relapse may experience wild mood swings and stop using the relapse prevention tools learned in drug and alcohol rehab centers in Macomb without their substance of choice. Destructive thoughts are common in addicts who are about to relapse. If any of these signs become apparent, relapse prevention programs can offer immediate support.

A major stage of drug or alcohol relapse happens on a mental level. The National Institutes of Health describes this as a "war going on inside the mind" of addicts about to relapse. As this stage progresses, the addict thinks more and more about the people they used to drink or use drugs with. They may reminisce about good times they had while drinking and drugging. They might even talk themselves into believing a rosy version of the past while minimizing the real damage drugs or drink did to their life. They may bargain, lie, and rationalize to obtain their intoxicant of choice.

A one-time revisiting of a bad habit may be termed "a slip." It's a behavioral mistake and doesn't always mean the addict is going into full-tilt relapse. As they say in some drug relapse prevention programs, "a slip is just a slip" but it's definitely a signal to get oneself back into a relapse prevention in Macomb without delay. Call Macomb Alcohol Rehab Center for help now (877) 804-1531.