Relapse prevention refers to a cognitive-behavioral technique which aims to combat and prevent risk situations like drug abuse, sexual offending, depression, obsessive behavior or depression.
In short the potential risk of relapse exists in all sorts of addictions and various mental diseases. So the moment relapse happens, relapse prevention should start almost immediately, as it is very important to manage and develop a particular plan suited to stop the addiction or behavior from getting out of control.
Relapse is a very real possibility amongst addicted people and must be taken seriously. Because of the stressful lifestyle that is maintained by addicted people it becomes difficult to get out of the lifestyle and addiction which have been carried forward for such a long time.
It’s very important for people who are recovering from addiction problems to have relapse education and have proper and regular assessment of their progress. There are many centre which give medical as well as mental support for the people who struggle during the process of rehabilitation and relapse and there should be no shame in taking this help because the well trained and systematic planning for recovery can do a great deal in relapse prevention.
One example can be given to understand this process better; A guy who has been in the habit of drinking from the time of college and has around 5 to 6 beers every night with friends to be a part of the group and enjoy the teenage. After several years he starts working in a firm where there is loads of pressure of work and he suddenly finds that he finds peace and solace only when he drinks and continues the habit of drinking beer. No matter how much he tries, he is never able to get out of this trap because whenever he does, he finds himself lonely and stressed to death.
This happens because he has established a pattern for years that drinking beer relaxes him and creates a recreational environment around him and before he realizes he has gulped the sixth beer and the day passes again and the story continues.
Relapse prevention can be defined as a strategy which is tertiary in nature and helps in maintaining abstinence and create an environment and ambience for the patient that he prevents an initial lapse.
There are few techniques used for relapse prevention and the eventual goal is to stop complete relapse and make sure that relapse never occurs no matter what be the circumstances and consequences. There has to be a complete revival from the addiction and old lifestyle. Until which the relapse prevention becomes a bit difficult and a complex process, ususaly unsuccessful.
Thus, it can be said that with an honest commitment to stop using drugs or engage in addictive behaviors, relapse prevention can and will be successful. This commitment must come from within and must be sinsere. As a result you will belong to a growing group of individuals who have invested the time and energy needed to manage triggers and manage high risk situations, and as a result live free from the grips of addiction.
