Relapse Prevention

Relapse Prevention in Manhattan NY

Relapse is a term used to describe the return of the symptoms of a disease after a lull. When an addict attains sobriety through detox, such a relapse may appear to be the result of simple, inexcusable weakness. In reality, though, relapses are a natural part of any addiction. Only one thing can keep relapses at bay — enrollment to specially developed relapse prevention programs.

Relapse prevention programs are highly effective in keeping patients who are leaving treatment sober. These programs seek to give addicts useful tools in overcoming stress, cravings to use drugs, and other factors that contribute to recurrent drug abuse. Because of their high success rate, more rehab centers are offering relapse prevention programs to follow drug treatment.

Drug Rehab Centers Manhattan NY offers one of the top relapse prevention programs. If you need to help a loved one out of addiction, call (646) 553-2830.

How Prevention Programs Work

While the damage caused by drug abuse occurs in the physical brain, the effects can be countered through psychological strategies. Substance abuse has the effect of creating associative pathways in the brain between environmental cues and the substance used. Each time an environmental cue comes up, these pathways throw up strong cravings.

Trigger avoidance training involves identifying the specific triggers that affect each patient and helping them create strategies to avoid them. Avoiding old druggie friends maybe one possibility; avoiding parties, the sight of drug paraphernalia, or certain parts of town may be other important methods that work.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a popular method of drug treatment, both during and after rehab. Poor behavioral development is often the reason people turn to substance abuse. In terms of preventing future drug use after treatment, CBT gives patients a way to work through their cravings and frustrations without resorting to drug use.

When faced with challenges most would consider normal in life, addicts tend to react with frustration and escapist actions such as substance abuse. Other maladaptive behavioral reactions to challenges can involve loss of interest in things that do not promise instant gratification, and an inability to think actions through. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps with all of these behavioral issues, helping patients learn through guided practice.

Recognizing a Relapse

Lapses in sobriety can occur despite the best efforts to avoid them. When they do begin to build, though, it is possible to recognize them and to double down on them with relapse prevention therapy. It is important to know how to recognize the signs of a building relapse.

• The emotional phase: When a relapse begins to first gather steam, it appears in the form of random emotional disruptions. Recovering addicts may experience irritability, loss of interest in a return to normal life, and a desire to withdraw from friends and family.
• The mental phase: When a recovering addict recognizes the signs of the emotional relapse phase, attending relapse prevention therapy can help stop the relapse process in its tracks. If allowed to progress, though, the relapse can take on clearer form, and enter the mental phase. At this stage, the recovering addict begins to lose interest in recovery and considers returning to drug abuse.
• The physical phase: When a building relapse is allowed to progress unhindered, it develops into a full-fledged relapse. The patient entirely gives up on his recovery and returns to drug abuse. At this stage, he may need to return to medical detox and then rehab.

The friends and family of a recovering addict need to familiarize themselves with the signs of an impending relapse. Catching one in time can spell the difference between a quick recovery and an endless cycle of relapses. In treatment, patients and those close to them can learn a great deal about recognizing these signs and finding success.

To learn more about addressing and treating drug and Alcohol addiction, call Drug Rehab Centers Manhattan NY at (646) 553-2830.