By Well, it is not an easy job to let go of your addiction and unhealthy habits. Whether it is substance abuse, mental health struggles, or any other kind of harmful behavior or habit, letting it go is a big struggle for people.
That is why people often face the challenge of relapse while recovering. It is like taking a step backward into their recovery phase. Thus, it must be avoided in any case.
So, in this blog. I will tell you about everything that relapse is. And how you can avoid it. Thus, if you are one of those people fighting with their addictions, then this blog is just right for you.
Thus, hop in and embark on this insightful journey with me.
What is a Relapse?
Before we move forward, let us first get clear about what relapse is.
Well, in simple words, relapse is about getting back to your old condition after a long period of recovery.
For instance, a drug user just stopped taking drugs for a short period and set a goal for recovery. But it is an addiction, and it is not that easy to just let it go.
So, at some weak moment, he might choose to halt his recovery phase for a bit. And start taking drugs again. He feels that he cannot live without it.
Thus, this going back to the previous condition is what relapse is all about. And the best way to deal with it is ASSESSMENT.
Three Key Stages of Relapse
Well, relapses do not just happen like that in a wink. But it goes through three stages.
Stage 1: Emotional Relapse
In this stage, a person is not thinking about their addiction in the first place. But their emotions are trying to make them do it. This is kind of a denial phase for them as well.
So, their emotions keep bottling up. And they are on the verge of bursting out at any time.
Stage 2: Mental Relapse
It is really important to start our assessment right from the emotional stage. Otherwise, we will move down to the mental relapse stage.
In this stage, the person starts fantasizing about going back to their addiction. It is like a 50-50 approach. Part of them wants to stay away from it. And the other half compels them to use it.
Thus, if not managed, there is a high chance of moving to the next stage.
Stage 3: Physical Relapse
This is the final stage. This is the point where your emotions just burst out, and you finally get back to your addiction.
So, it is a spoiler for all of your recovery and will take you back to your addiction if you do not treat it well.
Role of Assessment in Preventing Relapse
So, the most powerful tool for you against relapse is assessment.
This is your chance to assess the different aspects of your recovery and identify any risks of relapse beforehand.
Well, it can be a self-assessment or you can even consult a professional like a therapist or a counselor or maybe CIPD Assessment Help to help you out.
This is really important. And you must not avoid it. Here is how it is helping people by preventing them from relapse.
Identifies Triggers
Well, the relapse just does not happen out of thin air. But it is always a result of a trigger.
We all have some triggers that can make things worse for us. And for an addict, this trigger can lead to a relapse. This trigger could be anything from stress, emotion, people or something else.
Thus, assessment helps us identify those triggers so we can stay away from them.
Everyone has triggers—things that make them more likely to relapse. These could be stress, certain people, places, or emotions. An assessment helps you recognize these triggers so you can avoid or manage them better.
Tracks Your Progress
An assessment not only helps you in identifying your triggers. But it helps you keep a track of your progress as well.
They journey of recovery is not a smooth road. But it got lots of ups and downs. Thus assessment helps you keep track of it over time and shows you how far you have come.
Creates a Personalized Recovery Plan
The journey of recovery is not the same for everyone. But it is all unique and different.
Thus, assessment allows us create a personalized plan for everyone based on your needs, strengths and weaknesses. Thus, it is give you tailor made solutions to deal with your problems. And will keep you on track always.
Develops Self-Awareness
You know, the key to preventing relapse is to know yourself better. Assessment helps you in reflecting on your true needs and challenges. Thus, it helps you become more aware of your feelings, emotions and behaviours.
Provides Early Warning Signs
As I just told you, relapses just do not happen overnight. But it will first show your symptoms and warning signs. And if you fail to identify those signs at the right time, you will lead to a relapse.
But if you effectively identify those signs at the early stages of relapse. Then, you can easily prevent it from happening. An assessment is the only way to identify those signs.
Remember, assessment is just an essential tool to help you identify those early warning signs or triggers that can potentially lead you to relapse.
But how you will deal with it is your cup of tea. Whether you will do it yourself or take professional consultancy or advise. You need to follow and devise a smart plan to prevent relapse from happening to you.
Final Words
In a nutshell, preventing a person from a relapse is a continuous process as it can happen on any time of their recovery process. Thus, assessment plays a crucial role for people to keep them on the right track.
So, by evaluating your progress on daily basis and identifying triggers to adjust your plan of recovery. You can easily strengthen your commitment to leading a healthy life without any bad addictions. Best of Luck!
