You’ve worked HARD to beat your addiction – you deserve to celebrate your success
Wow. Seriously, WOW. You’ve done it! You’ve managed what so many other people have tried and failed to do. You’ve beaten your addiction, and taken back control of your life.
If you haven’t already done so, stop and take a breath. Now take another. Think about what you’ve done. Really let yourself feel the awe-inspiring extent of your achievement. You’re clean. Sober. And you’ve put a LOT of effort into getting that way.
Congratulations! Do you feel proud of yourself? Good! Because seriously, you should.
Now ask yourself: how strong is your relapse prevention plan?
Once you’re clear on just how amazing everything you’ve already managed is, I want you to turn your attention to the future.
Think of all the days and weeks and months and years still ahead of you. Think of all the situations you’re going to come across where relapsing might be a very real possibility. Think of what you have to lose – your health, your job, your relationship – if you slip up and don’t have a plan in place to recover.
If your pride starts to falter a little – if worry and fear and panic start to creep in – I want you to know it’s totally normal. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that the road ahead is going to be difficult. It doesn’t take anything away from what you’ve already achieved.
In fact, it’s probably the smartest way to hang onto the freedom you’ve worked so hard for.
If you’re nervous about relapsing in the future, I can help
I’m a Licensed Addictions Counselor who’s helped many, many people like you to stay sober after they’ve put so much effort into getting that way.
The clients I’ve worked with in the past have said that before they went through Relapse Prevention Therapy with me, they:
- Obsessively dwelled on issues that had triggered their drinking or drug use in the past
- Started hanging around old friends and places that they associated with their old lives
- Felt overwhelmed at the thought of coping with the problems they’d once escaped into addiction to avoid
- Had no idea how to manage major life changes (e.g. new relationships, loss, or trauma) without the crutch of alcohol or drugs
- Struggled day after day with depression, anxiety and fear
Maybe you recognise yourself in one or more of those descriptions. Maybe you’re not quite at that point, but you recognize the potential to get there. Either way, I can help you.
Here’s what Relapse Prevention Therapy could mean for you
As you and I work together to create a practical, flexible Relapse Prevention Plan, you’ll learn how to:
- Become more aware of your choices and behaviors – not just in the moment you choose, but in all the moments leading up to that choice
- Understand where your particular “danger spots” and “high risk areas” lie, and develop skills and strategies to manage them ahead of time
- Genuinely heal the old wounds that played a part in developing your addiction originally
- Find healthy ways to cope with life’s inevitable ups and downs that don’t revolve around alcohol or drugs
- Make day-to-day lifestyle changes that help you reconnect with all of the pleasures and support structures you used to enjoy before the addiction
And the result of all that? This sense of overwhelm, panic, and fear of mis-stepping you feel now will subside. In its place you’ll feel a newfound sense of security, optimism, and confidence in your own ability to cope.
You’ll know that single a bad choice at some point in your future doesn’t mean your entire recovery is a failure. You’ll understand on a gut level that in addiction recovery, as with any chronic illness, symptom flare-ups can sometimes happen. You’ll realize that “one day at a time” (and sometimes “one minute at a time”!) can be very powerful mindsets. Mindsets that will help to you stay focused as you move forward in recovery.
In short, you’ll truly feel as though the healing you long for has taken place. Sound good? Let’s get started!