Managing Triggers That Can Lead to Drug Relapse Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeApril 2, 2018By Christian Castaneda, LCSW, Program Director at Promises Malibu When you’re in addiction recovery, the whole world can become a trigger for drug relapse. If you’re addicted to alcohol and you walk past a bar where you see old friends, it may stimulate your memory of old times. If you are addicted to pornography, you…
What Role Does Family Play in Drug Relapse? Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeOctober 6, 2016When people leave a drug rehab center, they’re prepared to face dozens of well-known relapse triggers — old drug-abusing friends, stress, anger, boredom, and poor nutrition and sleep, to name a few. What they may not be on the lookout for is their relationship with their family. Yet many addiction specialists agree that family dynamics…
A Sobering Look at Addiction Relapse Rates Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeSeptember 7, 2016Recovery from drug or alcohol abuse or a process addiction isn’t always a neat and tidy process. Relapse is common and many addiction professionals believe it to be a natural part of the process. Just like people with chronic conditions like hypertension, asthma and diabetes slip up in their ongoing recovery regime, so do people…
What to Do When Your Loved One Relapses Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeJuly 5, 2016Relapse is often a normal part of the recovery process because of the chronic nature of addiction. About 40% to 60% of people in recovery from substance abuse will relapse at some point. Watching a loved one slip back into destructive behaviors after getting sober is a gut-wrenching experience. Anger, sadness, exasperation, disappointment, resentment, fear…
4 Things It Helps to Understand About Addiction Relapse Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeJune 6, 2016“I relapsed.” If you find yourself saying these words despite spending time, money and effort on your addiction recovery, you are likely feeling demoralized and distressed. How could you have jeopardized all that you worked for? How could you have let down not only yourself, but your family and friends? The tough truth about drug…
What Not to Say to Someone Who Relapses Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeJuly 6, 2015Relapse is a part of recovery for most addicts, but it doesn’t signify weakness or failure. If you love someone in recovery, you need to know how to be sensitive after a relapse. There are things you should and shouldn’t say, and the distinction may not always be obvious. What to say to her after…
How to Help an Addict Develop Frustration Tolerance Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeApril 28, 2015No matter what they’re addicted to, all addicts lack the ability to tolerate frustration. They become easily dysregulated and are unable to self-soothe, which leads them to depend on substances, people, or processes (self-injury, cyber porn, video games, compulsive sex) to stabilize themselves. Because of this dependence, addicts don’t develop internal support and healthy coping…
The Many Triggers That Precede Relapse Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeNovember 15, 2014Staying sober requires constant vigilance and awareness of the many things that could trigger a relapse. Some relapse triggers are obvious, such as hanging around bars or wandering around neighborhoods known for high drug trafficking activity. Even continuing to hang around with friends or acquaintances who habitually use alcohol or drugs can be dangerous and…
Improve Your Willpower to Avoid Relapse Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeAugust 31, 2014As an addict in recovery you know that addiction is far more complicated than a failure of willpower. Drugs and alcohol cause chemical changes in your brain that encourage you to use them repeatedly. With more use come more alterations to the brain. These leave you nearly helpless in your attempts to stop using. However,…
Ways to Help a Loved One Avoid Relapsing Relapse PreventionBy dreamscapeJuly 17, 2014After the hard work of addiction recovery your loved one is ready to come home. You are looking forward to having them back and putting life on a forward trajectory. However, at the same time, there may be a concern in the back of your mind. Fear of potential relapse could be casting a shadow…
