17/04/2024
Let's talk about relapse prevention
Relapse prevention is a cognitive behavioural approach with the goal of identifying and addressing high risk situations for relapse and assist individuals in maintaining desired behavioural changes
A return of alcohol or their drug use or gambling is led by the following determinats.
1. Stress- Most common example of stressers are family issues such as disagreements and financial issues such as unemployment or retrechment
2.People or place connected to addictive behaviour
3. Negative or challenging emotions caused by grief,loss trauma
4.Seeing or sensing the object of addiction such as a club,a container of the drug
5.Time of celebration- Days such as birthday,holiday season
The four D's that beat craving
1.Delay
What are we delaying?. The decision on whether or not we are going to use.
Sometimes we can say I'll hang on for 10 more minutes and while it seems like 10 to 30 mins is stretching out forever remind yourself that it's not. It's a fraction of your day.
2. De-stress
Lower your stress level by remembering to breathe deep ( another D) focusing on the rise and fall of your own deep diaphragm based breathing.
Cravings are painful when we're in pain our breathing becomes shallow based on the upper part of our lungs.
We can't go without oxygen and the body stresses out even more. Taking deep steady breathe
3.Distract
Find something to do other than using,yes i have had a craving before and i know that the craving can become the whole world.
You can fight that and yes you must fight. Resisting an urge or a craving is not passive. "Hope for the best"
4.Decatastrophize
(Do not panic) Think of how much stronger you be when you get through this craving.
Don't start the panic cycle of thinking where your mind starts gibbering that you are going insane.
The most recommended coping skill to avoid relapse is 4Ds
Craving last for about 30 mins or less by use of the 4Ds one is able to beat craving and maintain sobriety.