The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone, not just for people in recovery. And with stress being one of the main factors that increases the risk of relapse, it’s easy to see why relapse might be more common during the holidays.
Many addiction recovery programs require complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol in recovery while others recommend moderation management instead. But what’s the difference between the two? Which one is better? And what are the benefits of complete abstinence from addictive substances?
The final step of the 12-Step Program requires you to carry the message to others and put the principles of the program into practice every day of your life. To help you learn how to do this, we’ll review this step in more detail below.
The holidays can be a tricky time to be in recovery, especially if you’re newly sober. With more travel, pressure-filled social engagements with family and friends, and increased financial strain, all the stress can quickly build up and make you more susceptible to relapse.
It’s not all that uncommon to have hyper-realistic dreams about relapsing that leave you sweaty and anxious upon waking. Relapse dreams can be scary and unsettling because they feel very real. Although they can have a lasting impact, they don’t necessarily mean you’re going to relapse.
Research studies have shown that LGBTQ+ men face distinct recovery challenges. The LGBTQ+ community endures unique psychological and social issues that can fuel addiction and give rise to isolation. Despite these challenges, it’s crucial that no one feels alone in their recovery journey.
Learning how to deal with drug and alcohol cravings is one of the biggest challenges you’ll likely face in the early stages of recovery. Although cravings can be powerful motivators for relapse, you don’t have to let them control your behavior, and there are effective ways to cope.
Are you working Step 11 of the 12-Step Program? This step focuses on deepening your connection with your Higher Power as you cultivate your spirituality through the practice of prayer, meditation, or some other type of spiritual practice.
Watching a loved one relapse is extremely painful. Unfortunately, relapse happens sometimes. It’s normal to feel a wide range of emotions, such as anger, confusion, sadness, and hopelessness. Despite it being a challenging situation, there is still hope for your loved one. A relapse doesn’t mean they can’t fully recover from addiction.
Do you have a friend or loved one that is celebrating their sobriety anniversary? Getting them a card, sending them a quick text, or taking them out to dinner are all great ways to congratulate them on their sobriety. However, sometimes it can be challenging to know what to say to express what you’re feeling.
People who are recovering from addiction have to be intentional about protecting their sobriety. Often, this means they must cut ties with old drug-using buddies. Otherwise, continuing to spend time with friends who use drugs or alcohol could put them in dangerous situations that may trigger a relapse.
If you feel that your pet helps you emotionally, spiritually, physically, and psychologically, you may not be willing to part with it to move into a sober home. Fortunately, some pet-friendly sober homes allow residents to bring their well-mannered animals to live with them. If you’ve never considered it before, here are six good reasons to live in a pet-friendly sober home.
Relapse is a real risk after rehab, so people in recovery should do everything they can to safeguard their sobriety. Sober living homes offer many great benefits that can help newly sober individuals sustain their recovery and establish healthy habits and relationships. If you’re considering enrolling yourself or a loved one in a sober living program, here are some of the most important ways they can help prevent relapse.
Not everyone will experience relapse in the same way, or at all! However, there are many harmful myths and ideas about relapse that are frequently spread and shared. Viewing these misconceptions as truth can be very damaging and may increase the likelihood that you’ll revert to a lifestyle of active addiction.
Maybe you’ve found yourself in a bad place; feeling uncertain about your future sober, struggling to deal with cravings, or hiding drug use from your friends and family again. If this is you, you’re not alone. It’s important to get back into treatment right away. Going back to rehab can help you address underlying issues that are causing your addiction to resurface and will give you the best chance at achieving lasting recovery.