It’s no secret that life is stressful. There are work and family obligations that must always be fulfilled. Now add fighting addiction to daily stress, and that’s a lot to unpack. If focus is making you consider relapsing, it’s time to seek help. If you feel high-stress levels and fight addiction, Rise Above Treatment can help you through our sober living program. Contact us at (877) 641-0717 to begin learning the skills necessary to manage your emotions and addiction.
How Can Self-Medication Cause Greater Stress?
Three types of stress are present in our lives:
- Stress-related to everyday events such as getting our kids ready for school or being stuck in traffic
- Pressure that is related to unfavorable changes in our lives, such as getting laid off from a job
- Pressure caused by a traumatic event such as the death of a loved one
These types of stress can make your mind and body shift. After all, you are feeling vulnerable. Anxiety and addiction go hand in hand. When we are stressed, it is not common to reach for something that will help us cope. Whether we get for a glass of wine or decide to misuse prescription drugs, we are self-medicating. Yet self-medication can cause even greater stress to people who are trying to remain sober.
When you’ve finished the wine or the high has worn off from the pills we’ve taken, the stressors are still present in our lives, making us want to reach for more instead of finding realistic ways of solving our problems.
How Can You Fight Stress and Addiction Through Relapse Prevention?
Although self-medication provides you with immediate ease from your stress, it is not the best strategy to deal with stress long-term. Relapse prevention, however, is one of the most remarkable ways to learn techniques that will help you deal with your stress while not abusing drugs or alcohol.
After completing a rehab program, participants follow up with a relapse prevention program. The purpose is to help people transition from the facility to everyday life while receiving supportive therapy and a sober living community. Here’s how a relapse prevention program can help you:
Develop a Relapse Prevention Plan
A relapse prevention plan is a document outlining strategies, tools, and resources that can be used to prevent a relapse from occurring. The plan will be developed by a participant’s mental health support team and sponsor.
Learn Relapse Prevention Exercises
How do participants protect their recovery after leaving an inpatient program? Therapists will recommend ways that participants can remain in full recovery after leaving our inpatient services.
Live With Gratitude for the Ability to Remain Sober
How do you navigate daily stressors, struggles, and temptations that often make you want to reach for the bottle? Answer: be thankful for every second of sobriety. Learning to live with gratitude takes time and energy, but it will help you remain sober and move forward in your life.
Understand the Importance of Remaining Sober
When entering a sober living community, it can be a bit overwhelming–everyone is excited about remaining sober and supporting others along the way. Plus, you have to deal with the new realities of your life–you have to manage your stress and addiction. Therapists and others will support you in accepting the challenge of stress and struggles.
Learn the Power of Relapse Prevention at Rise Above Treatment
If you suffer from stress and addiction, professional help is available to you. At Rise Above Treatment, we can support you through your recovery. Whether you choose an inpatient, partial hospitalization, or outpatient program, our relapse prevention program will provide you with enough guidance to not self-medicate but use tools to navigate your stress. Contact us at (877) 641-0717 today.
