Relapse prevention information for those in recovery from addiction.
When you are in recovery, it can be challenging to hold and manage a job. If you are lucky enough to have full-time employment, you must watch for signs of work-related stress that can lead to relapse. Therefore, employers and employees need to recognize work-related stress as a significant health and safety issue. When Work … Read more
You probably know that relapse rates for individuals who enter recovery are quite high. However, you might still struggle to understand the why. If the treatment methods are science-based and effective, why do most people relapse after rehab? Addiction recovery is similar to recovery from other chronic diseases, where people can achieve healing and remission, … Read more
Recovery from addiction requires improvement in physical, emotional, and mental health. Emotional health is often ignored, even in those aware that most relapses start in an emotional space. Emotions play a strong role in well-being and an even bigger role in relapse prevention. A common misconception is that emotional health means that you are always … Read more
It’s a known fact that quality sleep is important for our overall well-being. People in recovery especially must reinforce healthy sleep patterns because quality sleep helps the brain detox and heal. Since substance addiction is a brain disease, quality sleep like one component of the antidote that brings recovery. Unfortunately, because substance addiction may undermine … Read more
Winter months can be challenging for recovering individuals who struggle with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression that usually occurs during colder months due to shortened daylight hours and lack of exposure to the sun. Though it is not chronic depression, it is a legitimate mental health concern, and if left … Read more
Young people are highly susceptible to shame and sensitivity. Body shaming, in particular, can lead to various mental health and behavioral issues. Some people resort to substance use to cope with different forms of shaming. To prevent substance use disorder (SUD) and relapses, we must better understand the relationship between body shaming and substance use. … Read more
Do you expect life after sobriety to be uneventful? Unfortunately, getting sober doesn’t mean life will always be perfect. As if addiction recovery wasn’t challenging enough, significant life events might come along that affect your health and well-being. Loss and grief can be particularly trying when you are in recovery. If not managed well, these … Read more
Every recovering individual has a unique path to walk toward healing. Some have to deal with past trauma, while others struggle with mental health problems. However, even those who are lucky enough not to be in these two categories still have one common enemy of recovery to watch out for boredom. Boredom is considered one … Read more
Recovering professionals must balance ongoing recovery and work. This makes workplace-related stress management paramount. Sometimes you can achieve this balance by completing simple tasks, such as packing a lunch, getting to work on time, and using breaks during the workday to relax. These tasks all involve the same skill—time management. Good time management is a … Read more
You may think relapse is only a real risk for people who have recently achieved sobriety. Indeed, the relapse rate for this population is high. However, even for people sober for many years, the risk of relapse is never zero. In fact, there are instances of relapse in those with years or even decades of … Read more
