Relapse Prevention

Relapse Prevention in East Tennessee

At English Mountain Recovery, it’s our goal to guide you on your journey toward lifelong recovery – and this means preparing you for a possible relapse down the road. The chronic nature of addiction, unfortunately, means that relapsing to drug or alcohol abuse is a natural part of the process. Just like people with chronic conditions like hypertension, asthma, and diabetes can slip up on disease management so can people struggling with the chronic disease of addiction.

What is a Relapse Prevention Plan? 

A relapse prevention plan is a personalized strategy designed to help individuals in addiction recovery avoid a return to substance use and maintain their sobriety. It’s an essential tool for staying on track and minimizing the risk of relapse. Here are the key components of a relapse prevention plan:

  • Identify Triggers: Recognize and list the specific people, places, situations, and emotions that can trigger cravings or thoughts of substance use. Common triggers include stress, peer pressure, boredom, and negative emotions.

  • Emergency Contacts: Compile a list of emergency contacts, including friends, family, sponsors, or support group members who you can reach out to in times of crisis or temptation.

  • Coping Strategies: Develop a set of healthy coping strategies to deal with triggers and stress. These strategies can include deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, engaging in hobbies, or seeking support through therapy or support groups.

  • Support Network: Maintain a strong support network by staying connected to supportive individuals who understand your journey and can offer guidance or encouragement.

  • Avoid High-Risk Situations: Whenever possible, avoid situations or people that are associated with your substance use or that you’ve identified as triggers.

  • Positive Activities: Engage in positive and fulfilling activities that help you stay focused on your recovery and bring joy and meaning to your life.

  • Mindfulness and Relapse Awareness: Practice mindfulness to stay aware of your thoughts and emotions. Monitor your cravings and acknowledge them without acting on them.

  • Healthy Routine: Establish a daily routine that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and stress management techniques.

  • Reframe Negative Thinking: Work on changing negative thought patterns or distorted thinking that may lead to substance use. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be particularly effective for this.

  • Take It One Day at a Time: Stay in the present moment and focus on maintaining your sobriety one day at a time, rather than worrying about the long-term.

Warning Signs of Relapse

A relapse is about more than just returning to using – and, in fact, there are warning signs long before the first drink or drug use occurs. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, when people who have had a stable recovery and have done well begin to relapse, they:

  • Have a mistaken belief that causes irrational thoughts
  • Begin to return to addictive thinking patterns that cause painful feelings
  • Engage in compulsive, self-defeating behaviors as a way to avoid the feelings
  • Seek out situations involving people who use alcohol and drugs
  • Find themselves in more pain, thinking less rationally, and behaving less responsibly
  • Find themselves in a situation in which drug or alcohol use seems like a logical escape from their pain, and they use alcohol or drugs.

Preventing Relapse at English Mountain Recovery

Many people experience a relapse or multiple relapses during recovery, and this never means that long-term sobriety is impossible to achieve. At English Mountain Recovery, our relapse prevention program includes:

  • Use of leisure time
  • Anger management
  • Handling social pressures
  • Codependency
  • Communication skills
  • Handling/avoiding high-risk situations
  • Guilt/shame
  • Long-term sobriety plans
  • Managing post-acute withdrawal
  • Phases of recovery

90-Day Drug Addiction Treatment

It took a long time for your drug addiction to take hold, and many people live with dependence and addiction for years before getting treatment. So it makes sense that recovery will take a long time, too. The changes that occur as a result of addiction are intense. Addiction impacts your brain, your body, and your mental and emotional health. Stepping into a 90-day drug addiction treatment program can give you the time you need to work on each of these components of healing. Learn more: Why 90-Day Drug Addiction Treatment Is Effective

Why the 12 Steps?

Rooted in a 12-step curriculum, our gender-specific programs include psycho-education, group and individual therapy, complementary therapies, and relapse prevention planning. 

Each person’s journey in recovery is different. Persons learn the significance of utilizing the 12-step programs in their recovery process. Each client uses the EMR Workbook and immediately begins the Step work process. We believe the foundation of recovery from addictive disorders is based on the 12 Steps originating from Alcoholics Anonymous.

The 12 Step program “has taught us also that recovery is possible and that persons afflicted could resume their normal place in society, becoming again self-supporting, self-respecting, good citizens, good husbands, and good parents”-Ruth Fox, MD Medical Director, The National Council on Alcoholism, Inc. 1966.

English Mountain Recovery is a residential program that looks at innovative strategies that will help the client achieve long-term sobriety. 

Inquire About Our Program

At English Mountain Recovery, we know that a relapse prevention plan is a critical part of maintaining sobriety for any recovering addict. Don’t ever feel that you’ve slipped too far to return to addiction treatment. We’re here to support you every step of the way. To learn more, call: (877) 615-8569.