Mesa Relapse Prevention Programs

by Admin on Tuesday September 29, 2015

Relapse Prevention Programs Mesa, AZ

Mesa relapse prevention programs are designed to help people addicted to drugs or alcohol avoid continued use after a period of abstinence. Relapse prevention strategies are key in keeping someone off substances for the long term.

At Mesa drug rehab centers, they are dedicated to providing quality aftercare programs that will lead you to abstain from drugs and alcohol and lead a happy, sober life. Call (877) 804-1531 for more information.

Stages of Relapse

Mesa drug treatment know that relapse is not an isolated event where a person simply decides to start using again. Instead, it is a series of stages leading up to the eventual decline back to self-destructive behaviors.

Emotional Relapse: The recovering person may still be motivated to stay clean. However, underlying emotions may be setting the scene for a decline into relapse. Common early warning signs of emotional relapse include:

Anxiety
Defensiveness
Irritability
Decline in personal hygiene
Poor eating habits
Poor sleeping patterns
Unhealthy buildup of stress
Mood swings

One of the key triggers for many addicts is low self-esteem. When basic self-care needs are neglected, the psychological response can be a reduction in self-image. It's important to maintain self-care routines and focus on effective relaxation techniques taught during rehab to keep stress at manageable levels.

Mental Relapse: A part of the mind starts to believe recovery is too hard. The addicted side of the mind starts thinking that everything would be easier again with drugs or alcohol. Symptoms include:

Thinking about using again
Glamorizing past substance abuse
Fantasizing about using
Thinking about people or places associated with using
Planning a relapse around other people so they won't find out

In reality, mental relapse is a type of denial, as the person hasn't recognized the signs of emotional stress or implemented any relapse prevention strategies.

Physical Relapse: The actual act of using drugs or drinking alcohol again is called physical relapse. It is extremely difficult to stop the process at this point, which is why it's so crucial that a recovering person learns to identify the early warning signs and take steps to manage them accordingly.

Getting Help

Alcoholics Anonymous (http://aamesaaz.org/meetings/) and Narcotics Anonymous (http://www.arizona-na.org/meetings/valley.php) are groups that are effective in help addicts recover by letting them share stories with fellow users. Contact Mesa drug treatment centers to start your recovery plan.