Relapse Prevention in San Antonio (877) 804-1531

Relapse is a return to substance abuse after the completion of a rehabilitation program, and relapse prevention in San Antonio is an absolutely essential part of a successful drug or alcohol treatment program. Without it, the risk of a relapse increases exponentially.

According to statistics, between 50 and 90 percent of those who go through a drug or alcohol treatment program will relapse at some point during their recovery. Relapse prevention in San Antonio can help reduce the risk of relapse through a variety of relapse prevention programs and strategies. Before treatment is complete, a relapse prevention plan will be put into place to help ensure the patient has a strong support system and sufficient resources to stay sober.

Alcohol Treatment Centers San Antonio can help you find the right treatment facility for your case. Call today at (877) 804-1531.

Why People Relapse

There are a number of reasons why some recovering addicts relapse:

A lack of preparation for the transition from rehab to the real world.
A lack of appropriate aftercare.
Ambivalence toward recovery.
An unwillingness to work to stay sober.
Unrealistic expectations of the recovery process.
A lack of individualized care during treatment, which neglected to address underlying issues surrounding the addiction.
Visiting old friends who use, or going places that trigger the desire to use.
A feeling of being overwhelmed with others' expectations of one's recovery.
The inability to cope with stress and anxiety.

Relapse Prevention Strategies

Because the risk of relapse is so high, a number of strategies are in place to help prevent it

Ongoing aftercare therapy for those who complete rehab includes a number of different relapse therapies, including:

Behavioral therapy, which helps recovering addicts learn to change self-destructive behaviors by replacing bad habits with good habits.
Cognitive therapy, which helps recovering addicts understand that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected, and which helps them identify and change unhelpful or inaccurate ideas and harmful behaviors by modifying their beliefs.
Group therapy, which involves several people who are in different stages of recovery learning together and helping one another.
Family therapy, which addresses dysfunction within the family to help the whole family communicate better and help their loved one remain sober in a helpful, productive way.

In addition to therapy, biofeedback can help prevent relapse by teaching patients how to influence their body's autonomic systems, which control heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension to help them relax and cope with cravings, stress, and other triggers that commonly lead to relapse.

For some, the transition from treatment back to "real life" can be very difficult. Sober living facilities can help with that transition by allowing the recovering addict to live in a less restrictive environment than a treatment facility, but more restrictive than going home.

Recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, can also help prevent relapse by providing the recovering addict with a non-using peer support system and an official sponsor who can help monitor for signs of relapse or potential relapse.

Signs of Impending Relapse

There are several warning signs that may indicate that you or your loved one is on the verge of relapsing. Relapse warning signs include:

Romanticizing about the "old" days.
Reconnecting with friends from the past who are still using.
The sudden onset of depression.
The appearance of withdrawal symptoms.
A sudden change in behavior, marked by defensiveness, resentment, or a change in attitude.
Falling back into old patterns of denial.
Beginning to believe that using just once won't lead to addiction again.

An Intervention Can Help

Whether you have a loved one who has relapsed or hasn't yet sought treatment for an addiction, staging an intervention can be a successful way to help the addict or recovering addict enter treatment. Call Alcohol Treatment Centers in San Antonio today to learn about available treatment centers that can help. Call (877) 804-1531.

With the help of an intervention counselor, also known as an interventionist, a successful, structured intervention can be designed and executed to help convince the addict to get help. During a formal intervention, select family members or friends will speak directly to the individual and share how the addictive behaviors are affecting them

Various intervention models include:

ARISE, which stands for "A Relational Intervention Sequence of Engagement," involves family meetings with an interventionist, who educates the family about the addiction and helps them learn how to cope, and communicate with their loved one to encourage treatment.
Motivational interviewing is a conversation style that involves open-ended questions followed by listening to and summarizing the answers in order to lead the addict to accept consequences and enter treatment.
CRAFT, which stands for "Community Reinforcement And Family Training," focuses on positive communication and rewards for sobriety. It increases healthy interactions between family members and helps motivate the addict to seek treatment.