Disasters in the form of cravings, triggers, and relapses can strike at any time during addiction recovery. Making plans and being prepared are essential for overcoming such disasters. Making plans ahead of time to reduce adverse outcomes gives you or your loved one the best chance of coming through difficulties with sobriety intact.
In addiction recovery, preparing for post-recovery disasters is essential. Taking action-based steps, you can lessen the impact of the disaster before it occurs. The first step is to understand that relapse can happen to anyone, and it should not be looked upon like a significant mistake or disappointment but rather as a learning opportunity.
Relapse can happen for any number of reasons. A tailored treatment plan to foster resilience for any future disaster that includes ways to get help from friends and family is a critical element to any recovery program.
Those in substance abuse recovery require consistent support and access to treatment services. Some individuals may relapse because they don't have an adequate aftercare or relapse prevention program. A quality recovery plan provides strategies that can be used long after treatment and will continue to help those in recovery power through potential disasters.
Addiction recovery setbacks can be challenging to anticipate, even when one has an awareness of potential setbacks. Planning for the setback is the key ingredient to building resilience and focusing on the disruption to minimize its impact. Though the real work must be on the part of the recovering individual, loved ones can take steps to help along the way.
Friends and family members have to build resilience, recognizing that, even after treatment, their loved one's recovery is not always going to be smooth sailing, and they can be instrumental in keeping up good recovery practices. They can be prepared with resources and support when it looks like a disaster might strike. Addiction recovery facilities can give friends and families resources and strategic planning measures to minimize potential post-recovery disasters or when one is in a vulnerable situation. It's always easier to manage a crisis when you're prepared for it ahead of time instead of scrambling to find resources in the middle of the storm.
Good disaster management plans incorporate hindsight, mitigation, response, and aftercare. Planning for a post-recovery disaster starts with the ability to characterize and directly identify the potential extent of the disaster before the event. Recalling past events that were triggers can help you know what to look for in the future and avoid them when possible, and take preventive measures when it's not.
Learning about restoration and redevelopment can help maintain boundaries and implement a recovery strategy. Addiction recovery facilities can help you consider options for managing a sustainable recovery plan and help implement best practices if a relapse occurs.
A few ways to prepare for post-recovery disasters or relapse events include:
When disaster recovery plans provide a positive outcome, it will become easier to recognize early signs of disaster and signs of a good prevention plan. Friends and family learn to improve their environment by implementing a natural system to reduce the impact of disasters. Good outcomes reinforce good behaviors, making future disasters less likely to happen.
Though friends and family are likely to be the ones on the front lines of implementing these plans, they might not have the experience or knowledge to create a solid plan. Addiction recovery counselors can help identify risks, assess risk reduction, identify mitigation approaches, and teach people in recovery and their loved ones how to create a good prevention plan.
Clinical analysis for prevention is necessary to ensure proper preventative and damage control measures are in place. Trained specialists have seen just about everything before and know what questions to ask and the best ways to help people prepare for potential future disasters.
For post-recovery disasters, preparing can easily be managed with the right aftercare plans and healthy lifestyle choices. Even if you've worked through addiction treatment and graduated, it is naive to assume cravings and triggers won't pop up once you're home. Family and friends can help break the cycle of relapse by upholding the appropriate boundaries and helping you implement a strategic relapse prevention and damage control plan. If you are worried that an unforeseen event will put your sobriety in jeopardy and you're not sure how to prevent it, NorthStar Transitions is here for you. We take aftercare plans and support from loved ones seriously. We will prepare you for any potential post-recovery disaster with the utmost care, professional guidance, clinical analysis, and other appropriate means to create an action-based plan to protect your hard-won sobriety. For more information on getting professional advice, reach out to our team today at (303) 558-6400.
