Alcoholism is a tough situation to deal with though it is not something impossible. However, you need to put in great effort to recover from alcohol abuse. Support from family and friends is also essential and in some cases, you may also require institutional treatment. While recovery is one challenge for alcoholics, relapse is even a bigger one.
But it is still possible to prevent relapse for yourself or a loved one. Here are 8 tips that can help an alcohol addict to prevent relapse:
- Be prepared for a long journey ahead because recovery from alcoholism may take months and sometimes years to get successful results. Recovery is usually a lifelong process and relapse is a looming risk that needs to be addressed. The addict is likely to face several roadblocks and temptations on more than one occasion; so there is a need to stay strong throughout.
- Those having a loved one on the recovery route need to offer a solid support system. Read http://allinadaysworkblog.com/6-things-to-do-if-you-are-living-with-an-alcoholic/ to understand how you can help them on a day to day basis so that they do not fall prey to depression or temptations.
- Get professional help if you think that the alcoholic cannot deal with the addiction on his own or with the support of family and friends. Several times, people go into relapse just because they do not understand the importance of taking help from a professional counselor or a rehab facility.
- Create a roadmap for recovery and set clear timelines for what you want the person to do. Have a plan B in place to let them know how to deal with relapse-like situations as and when they face them during their recovery journey. A clear plan put on paper will motivate the addict and reduce the chances of a relapse.
- Give them financial, moral and physical support throughout the process of recover. Most of the alcoholics are likely to come across financial hardships, which put them at risk of going into relapse. Similarly, social stigma makes them feel lonely and break their confidence. So moral support can do a lot of good to prevent relapse.
- Identify the triggers that may take the alcoholic into relapse and try to keep them away. Make the person aware of the triggers so that he can avoid them whenever he needs to. Having a tangible list of triggers is an effective way to avoid them.
- Depression is a mental issue that is a significant factor leading to relapse in a large number of cases. If you feel that the addict is going through a depressive phase, seek medical help from an expert. A specialist will recommend anti-depressant medicines and therapies to minimize the chances of relapse.
- Seek community support for addict by making him join a support group of former alcoholics. These are the platforms which enables the addicts to share their experiences and problems and also help each other to deal with recovery and relapse in a positive manner.
Love, patience and understanding are the virtues that you would need to help a loved one come out of the abyss of alcoholism. Stand by them through thick and thin and be prepared for relapses. Just learn to get over them and help the addict to deal with them.
Many people think that alcoholism “isn’t so bad” simply because it is one of the most widely abused substances around. Sadly, this isn’t true. Alcohol and alcohol poisoning will cause irreparable damage to your body and mind. If you are suffering from alcohol addiction seek help ASAP. There are reliable rehab centers in Seattle, Washington ready to help you get clean. These alcohol rehab pictures might serve as inspiration for those suffering from addiction.
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