After undergoing an intensive outpatient program or IOP to overcome addiction, the next step is maintaining sobriety. It’s common for those who recently achieved sobriety to have intense cravings for substances or alcohol during periods of stress and boredom. However, it’s essential to avoid a relapse for long-term recovery. Here, we discuss relapse prevention techniques that may help:
- Commit to ongoing treatment.
In addition to your recovery plan, commit to receiving ongoing treatment. This may entail seeking individual therapy or family therapy in New Mexico. It can be helpful to maintain regular contact with a therapist or counselor who understands the challenges of living a life in recovery. Regular sessions will give you a safe place to work through challenges to prevent relapse.
- Immerse yourself in hobbies.
Discover new hobbies or reconnect with old ones. Maintaining a life of active addiction is time-consuming, and many who recover are often surprised by how much free time they have. To avoid relapse from boredom, use your newfound free time to find new activities you enjoy or rediscover those that addiction took away from you. Staying busy is a productive and effective way to prevent relapse.
- Start a journal.
Journaling, along with counseling services in Albuquerque, New Mexico, can be highly beneficial. Use a journal to keep track of your moods and habits, as well as your goals. Journaling promotes mental clarity and is a great way to reflect on your progress and continue pursuing your dreams in recovery.
We at Coffee On The Couch Counseling LLC offer mental health treatment in New Mexico to help you address the root cause of addiction and how to achieve recovery. Contact us today to get started.
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