Addiction Recovery and Relapse Prevention

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Addiction Recovery and Relapse Prevention

January 24, 2019

Relapse prevention is vitally important to bringing about long-term addiction recovery. Those who seek assistance for diseases of the mind, mental illnesses which include use disorders, aim to transform their lives. As such, substance use disorder recovery centers equip young and old alike with the tools to sustain a program.

In order to avoid finding one’s self in the grips of despair ever again, people must adopt a whole new way of living. They require a mode of being that does not depend on the use of drugs and alcohol to cope with the trials and tribulations of life. It is no simple task, to be sure, but it is entirely possible with the right kind of guidance.

Most people seeking help to overcome destructive behaviors are not fully aware of what life will look like down the road. Such persons know that their current mode of living is no longer tenable, so they start the process of healing by reaching out to a treatment center. Once there, the first step is detoxification, followed then by either residential or outpatient treatment. After substances leave the mind and body, the real work commences. Free from most of the triggers of the outside world, individuals undergo evidence-based therapies to heal the whole person.

At NorthStar Transitions Denver, we provide clients programs that both break the cycle of addiction and teach individuals how to lead a productive life in recovery. We understand that the real test to sobriety comes after discharge, which means it is vital that clients leave treatment equipped with a strong foundation.

A Common Pitfall in Early Recovery

Our team of addiction professionals assists clients in discovering the root cause of their addiction. In time, men and women learn the processes that brought them to the point of powerlessness over drugs and alcohol. It is critical that people in early recovery lean how to recognize old patterns or addictive behaviors that can precipitate relapse; long-term sobriety hinges on establishing healthy methods of coping with the symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, and trauma.

Alcohol and substance use disorder is often accompanied by co-occurring mental illness; this fact can compound the obstacles to recovery. With that in mind, the importance of staying away from all mind-altering substances is significant. A paradox of addiction is that the drugs and alcohol people use to cope with emotions, only serve to exacerbate the symptoms of mental illness. Which means total abstinence is of inestimable value in the pursuit of long-term recovery.

People seek treatment for any one of many use disorders and co-occurring illnesses. As such, there exists a common misconception among many individuals when they arrive at rehab. That is, they think that the substance is their problem; remove it from the equation, and all will be well. Men and women with alcohol use disorders often believe that recreational drug use is not a big deal, this is particularly true regarding marijuana.

The same is real for those whose primary concern involves substance use; many think that alcohol will not jeopardize their mission. These lines of thought are a common pitfall in early recovery, and in many cases, they lead to relapse. What starts as seemingly harmless marijuana use often results in a full-blown relapse involving one’s substance of choice.

Relapse Prevention and Long-Term Addiction Recovery

Achieving long-term sobriety is not dependent on abstinence alone. Individuals must come to terms with the fact that substance use is but a symptom of more significant problems. Drug and alcohol misuse and abuse is a response to the issue of Self. Mind-altering substances act as a buffer between the individual and the internal and external realities of existence.

Those who are determined to overcome the grips of active addiction and heal from their mental illness are invited to contact NorthStar Transitions. We can help you begin the life-changing journey of recovery.


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