Building Clarity for a Strong Foundation in Long-Term Recovery
Relapse is the main challenge in the lifestyle of recovery. Relapse (any harmful behaviors towards self/others, including substance use) can happen, but it doesn’t have to be a cycle- I once heard “a slip doesn’t have to turn into a slide.” Relapse can be incredibly discouraging, so you’ll learn lifestyle adjustments and pivots that can help you stay on a long-term path of health and well-being- One day at a time! From intentional living to managing triggers and maintaining healthy relationships, you will learn and apply some key relapse prevention tips that can strengthen your confidence, improve quality of life, increase resilience, and build a better life.
Foundational Truths of Relapse Prevention
Commitment: Some of us are overcommitted, scared of commitment, or have people that want to have us committed. I want to say this very clearly about developing purposeful living: Living on purpose is not supposed to be easy. I can’t tell you how many times I have worked with people, and as I begin to show them the possibilities of improving their lives, or they even start to acknowledge their own positive progress, they close off and say “Yeah, but it’s not easy.” I wish I could shout from the roof tops “It’s not supposed to be easy, and it’s possible!” Your life of recovery is possible! Your dreams are possible! Your hopes and dreams, though you are afraid to hope because of disappointment, are what is connecting you to a new life in recovery. Live in the realm of possibility, not in how easy or difficult something is. Every time that IG account (Instant Gratification) in your brain kicks in, it yells at you to avoid what’s difficult and diminish the possibilities of attaining the lifestyle you dream of. The IG account is not your friend. It talks you out of commitment. Here’s a few other things that can talk you out of your commitment to recovery:
- Not providing proper care, support, and grace for mental health symptoms can talk you out of your commitment.
- Hopelessness talks you out of your commitment.
- “Shoulding” on yourself catastrophizes into fear, hopelessness, being overwhelmed, and talking yourself out of your commitment.
- Seeing other people relapse talks you out of your commitment.
- Comparing yourself to others talks you out of your commitment.
- Not putting yourself and your recovery first talks you out of your commitment.
Your third foundational truth of relapse prevention is that your commitment today, just today, just moment by moment, gives you immense power in your daily lifestyle of recovery. Commitment doesn’t mean you don’t get tired. It doesn’t mean you invalidate the struggle. It doesn’t mean you shut down or be rough with yourself. Honest, deep commitment to your choice of recovery is something to be valued, nurtured, cared for, and loved. A lifestyle of commitment gives you an opportunity to slow down, take a deep breath, and remember that when you have recovery, you have a treasure beyond compare. A lifestyle of commitment is like a daily wedding vow to your recovery:
“I take my recovery, to have and to hold on this day, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish.”
Remember: Commitment vows are really action steps to show love, grace, and consistency, one moment at a time.
