5 mistakes addicts make that make them relapse

 Rehabilitation and Relapse

                Relapse poses a significant problem for anyone struggling drug addiction or alcoholism – not just

for the addict or alcoholic, but for family, friends, and anyone connected. The costs – in terms of emotional wreckage, frayed nerves, dashed hopes, money spent, and lost time – can weigh heavily in our lives, and can feel like way too much to handle. But we keep trying, because we want to conquer the specter of drug addiction. We keep trying because we do not wish to let a life waste away under the heavy burden of substance abuse. In short, we want to live and we want our friends and loved ones to live as well. But relapse – and all the pain it brings – is part of the nature of the beast. If it was easy to stop, there wouldn’t be a problem in the first place.

While the consequences can be dire, the first thing to realize is that anxiety on the subject is not really useful. The best approach could be described as analytical. That is not to say that you shouldn’t take it seriously, but by being objective, you can see the problem from various points of view – and thus deal with it from different angles. That applies to the person going through rehab, as well as his or her family and friends. As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20; we can look back at past mistakes – and more importantly, take action to build a future. It is thus vital to know what mistakes can lead to relapse and how to prevent them:

§  Friends, Places, Parties.

For an addict, part of the appeal of drugs or alcohol could have been the “culture” that goes along with it. Call it the “counter-culture,” the “drug culture,” or some other name – it had an attraction that drew someone in. They had friends who’d get high and invite them along for the ride. They could have started with weed, moved to pills, and carried on to opiates. The story is different from person to person, but the general course is often very similar. A social drinker can move on to being a hard drinker, followed by compulsive drinking and alcohol dependency. After rehabilitation, the former drug addict or alcoholic who goes straight back into the same crowd or scene – the same influences that led to their drug abuse – is making a big mistake. A recovering addict must take a good hard look at who his or her friends really are.

§  Honesty and Willingness.

An individual may show up reluctantly to rehab. For example, the cost may not be coming out of their pocket. Their heart might not be in it. So, a person who lands in rehab should examine the reasons why they’re there and what they have to gain. If they are just going through the motions, they will NOT get everything out of it that they should. One pertinent factor could be that it is not the right program for them. Quite a few centers are based around the Twelve Step program. Many people recover through Twelve Step, but not everyone. A holistic rehabilitation program could encompass Twelve Step as just one of many possible modalities. Once the correct program is established, someone should muster all their willingness and really apply themselves to it. Perhaps it is too much to ask of someone right away, but it should be asked. When one’s heart is in it, chances of success are greatly improved.

§  Goals, Interests, Focus.

Addictive behavior can also be described as habitual or compulsive behavior, and evidence exists of traits indicating an addictive personality. An addict who kicks a habit will often have a need to replace that habit with new routines. That is not to say they must be “compulsive” about it, but they must have new ways to focus their energies, set new goals and reach for them. One famous example is Robert Downey Jr. After years of drug abuse, several arrests and some prison time, he finally got clean. In addition to career and family, one path he has used to channel his energies has been the martial arts discipline known as Wing Chung, a branch of Chinese Kung Fu – he is now a black belt. If someone does not have direction in life, they are just drifting with the tide, waiting to be swept back into the jaws of addiction. By formulating new purposes and new interests, the former addict or alcoholic reinforces their pledge to sobriety.

§  Problems, Problems, Problems.

A common trait amongst addicts and alcoholics is that they repeatedly turn to drugs or alcohol as a way of “dealing” with problems. Obviously, it’s a way of escaping or “not dealing” with those problems, but nonetheless, that is the mindset. It’s where they turn when things get rough. Of course, sooner or later, the drugs and booze ARE the problem. An addict must learn how to handle life’s problems without using powders, pills, needles, etc. This can be pretty rough. Often it is some serious trauma they are dealing with, but these things must be confronted. They must face the old ghosts and the new, as yet unseen dilemmas. Effective, holistic rehabilitation should provide practical know-how for the recovering addict or alcoholic to deal with his or her life.

§  Relapse Prevention.

A comprehensive relapse prevention plan would compass all of the above and many other factors. Such a plan is specific to the individual, and is worked out by that individual and members of the facility. It encompasses such things as: review of previous steps; peers whom the person will come into contact with; new goals and interests; how to deal with life problems; coaching on scenarios the person is likely to encounter; help with job placement; and other steps including establishment of a contact and support network. A person emerging from rehab needs some serious back-up. Lack of an effective relapse prevention plan accounts for a large percentage of relapse cases.

Summary

                An individual battling drug abuse has a number of things going on simultaneously. The holistic approach tackles the physical, mental, personal, familial, social, societal and spiritual influences in a person’s life.

A Forever Recovery provides the holistic path of rehabilitation, thus dealing with the full spectrum of factors associated with drug addiction and alcoholism.