WHAT TO DO IF YOU RELAPSE IN ADDICTION RECOVERY

Relapse is the ever-feared return to using your drug of choice and again experiencing the devastating consequences as addiction takes over and your life spirals out of control. While no one wants to return to using after entering addiction recovery, the fact is – slip-ups happen and relapse is often viewed as a characteristic of addiction recovery.

But does a night of drinking or drugging mean you are doomed to months of use and despair? One-time slips are definitely serious and can lead a person back to full-blown drug addiction, but you do not have to end up that way if you handle it properly.

What happens if I Relapse? Using after months or even years of sobriety leads to overwhelming feelings of failure, shame, and guilt -- feelings that can cause you to give up on recovery completely and continue using. Often when a person relapses they feel weak - they feel that they have let themselves, family and friends down, and may think they do not deserve a life in recovery. But if you think that one lapse will inevitably lead to continued use, and means that you have lost all that you have gained in recovery, it is simply not true. You have a choice. There are steps you can take after a slip-up to prevent the downward spiral of addiction and get yourself back on the road to recovery.

Steps to take after a Relapse: It is important to act immediately in response to a relapse. Thinking that a slip-up means the end of your recovery, and using feelings of failure as an excuse to continue using is detrimental. Instead, take the following steps:

Step 1: Take responsibility: Admit to yourself that you slipped up. It is difficult, but you cannot help yourself if you do not admit to your mistake. Say to yourself “I slipped up, I used again, and I now have a choice.” No one is in control of your behaviour but you. Just like when you entered recovery treatment the first time, you have to admit and accept that you are powerless over your addiction. Be honest with yourself and take responsibility for your actions.

Step 2: Make a 24 hour commitment: Make a commitment to not use again for the next 24 hours. After an initial slip-up, you are going to feel bad about yourself, and the easy choice is to give in and use again. Instead, make an immediate commitment not to use again for the next 24 hours. Remember that your recovery is a day-to-day process. Go back to taking it one day at a time, and in the first 24 hours – take it hour-by-hour.  

Step 3: Admit your lapse to someone else: Once you have admitted to yourself that you slipped up, and made a 24-hour commitment to yourself, it's important to admit your lapse to someone else. Do not put this off! Immediately call a sponsor, friend, or family member who has been supportive thus far in your recovery. It will be tempting to sulk in isolation, or pretend your lapse never happened, but those are two sure-fire ways to enter a full-blown relapse, rather than getting back on track. If you simply cannot muster up the courage to make a phone call, send an email and ask someone to meet with you face to face.  

Step 4: Attend a meeting, counselling session, or seek out other support: After admitting your slip to someone, they will probably also recommend you surround yourself with support. If you are a part of AA or another recovery group, go to a meeting - preferably within 24 hours of your slip. Call an addiction counsellor and ask for an emergency session.Surrounding yourself with supportive people is essential to avoid falling further into relapse.

Step 5: Acknowledge and deal with difficult emotions: There is no doubt that after a relapse you will experience a wide array of difficult emotions. It is possible that stress and overwhelming emotions are what led you to use drugs or alcohol again in the first place.

You likely feel shame and guilt for letting yourself and others down, sadness and depression, and maybe resentment towards others you believe should have supported you more. Take a few deep breaths as you consciously acknowledge the weight of these feelings. Remind yourself that feelings are temporary, and you do not have to act on them by using more drugs or alcohol. If you remember that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing, you can more easily acknowledge and let go of shame, guilt, and resentment. You are not a bad person or a failure, rather you suffer from a chronic disease.

Acknowledging and then letting go of your shame and guilt is easier said than done. You may need some help from a therapist or support group to accomplish this, and it won't happen overnight. But dwelling on those feelings is self-deprecating and not at all helpful in getting back on track in your recovery.

Step 6: Learn from your experience: You relapsed for a reason, whether or not you were aware of the warning signs. But a slip up doesn't have to turn into a full-blown disaster. You can learn from the experience and become aware of the areas of your recovery that need improvement.

Look at the situation leading up to your lapse. Did recovery take the back burner, instead of being most important in your life? Was there a shift back to old patterns of thinking and feeling? Did you overconfidently put yourself in a high-risk situation?

Identify what coping mechanisms were working well before the slip and start using them again right away. Make a detailed relapse prevention plan listing what you will do when faced with similar circumstances in the future.

Relapse and Recovery :  If you experience a slip in your sobriety, or even full-blown relapses, where you return to using your drug of choice regularly, remember that recovery is still possible and you are not beyond help.  Nor are you a failure. After a slip-up you have not unlearned all that you gained from previous treatment and recovery. You can take action to get back on track and learn even more about what you need to do to be successful.

Drug or alcohol relapse is serious, and if using your support and healthy coping skills is not enough to get you back on track after a slip; you may consider re-entering an addiction treatment centre. Even if you have been through alcohol or drug rehab before, there is always more to learn about addiction and recovery. 

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)

Shafa’s ‘Free-wheel Burning’ Road Trip to Rajasthan:Part 1- The Ranthambore Safari

On March 21^st a dozen bikers embarked on a 3 day road trip to Rajasthan.  Shafa has already set a precedent of being a pioneer of innovative treatment modalities. After the success of “survival in the wild-camping trips”, the next level of social reintegration was obviously a road trip. So we clubbed together some of best minds from our senior residents to chart up a trip on the national highways of India.  The month’s long planning’s and logistics for the event bore fruit in the form of a three day bike tour from New Delhi to Ranthambore and jaipur.

As the sun rays kissed the Delhi sky, the Harley ridden by our CEO, Mr. Ranjan Dhar, thundered thru the streets of Delhi towards NH8, followed by Rakesh ji, Piyush ji, Nitesh, Neelabh, Anuj, Prashant, Deepak, Dhanur,Chetan, Gaurav and Sangeeta ji.  The reason we chose motor bikes was simple. One of the most distinct things about riding is that nothing feels quite like a motorcycle; the thrill of being at one with a two-wheeled machine that weighs only a few hundred pounds is one of the purest ways to get from point A to B, and the risks involve sometimes even heighten that enjoyment. Perhaps Robert Pirsig said it best in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: "You’re completely in contact with it all. You’re in the scene, not just watching it any more, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.” If you're a rider you know all about "the wave," the pointed finger or wave of the hand that acknowledges another rider as he or she passes. Motorcyclists often feel like they belong to a big community, and that sensation gives them something in common. What better way to escape than on a motorcycle? The sense of freedom feels more complete on two wheels, and riding doesn't transport you to a destination; it is the destination.

Covering a distance of around 1000 km over 3 days, our first stoppage was the rugged Ranthambore. We reached Sawai Madhopur in 10 hours straight. To our surprise, every one’s face had a shining smile instead of tired or worn out looks. Well, the next day’s Safari trip to the wild forest reserve of Ranthambore sure had us on the edge of excitement. For the night we stayed at hotel Green Valley, and after taking a shower and a quick rest, we hit the streets of Sawai Madhopur. Ah, the smell and the air of rugged town were infectious. We fell in love with ways of locals. After dining out at one of the famous eateries at Madhopur we hit the beds for well deserved rest.

Next day, we woke up early for the safari. Our canter took us on wild, national geographic style open safari thru the forest of Ranthambore. It was our lucky day, as we were able to spot a tiger, that too with our eyes. It was a spectacular sight!!! The royal tiger was enjoying some quality time in the sun- and we were privy to it. It was a special moment for us all. The ride thru the tiger reserve was an experience of the life time for some of us, as we had only seen such a scene on Nat Geo or Discovery Channels.

The innovative social reintegration trip of the day two came to a close with all of us saying farewell to all at Ranthambore and gearing up for our next stop at Jaipur. Our trip to Jaipur and all the excitements that unfolded is coming up in next post. In it we disclose our tryst with the Royal Rajasthan in Jaipur, our night out at Choki Dhani and the visit ot Hawamahal and the Lake Palace.

(To be continued) 

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An Evening of Solace and Tranquility with Art of Living in Delhi

Living is an art. To live well a man must have an ideal or a mission in life. Life must be well disciplined and planned otherwise there will be chaos and discontentment. For living well zest, energy, health and a noble mission are essential. A life without a purpose is a life lost.  It is an empty dream and ends without any charm. Life always has both sides, light and serious. It has tragedies and comedies. It has pleasure and sorrow. It has work and leisure. A person should keep up the courage to face the hardships and work for achieving the mission in a planned way. Every man that is born in this world has a desire to live well. The life has various aims for various people. Unfortunately for most of our residents, life was an empty dream without a motive. They had only a single motive…to sustain their addiction and continue, to exist for the sake of living. They had no ideals, no mission for which to struggle and fight.

But all that is changing with Shafa in their life. Shafa rarely misses a chance to improve on the overall aspect of treating our residents, be it socially, physically, psychologically or spiritually. To awaken the sleeping jeeva and the lust for life, we organized a bhajan sandhya with Mr. Dushyant, renowned practitioner of Art of Living.

We had also invited the families of the residents to be a part of the event. It was an evening full of pure joy and vivacity. As Dushyant ji with his wife started the bhajans, the residents soon joined in to sing the praise of God Almighty. Spirituality is the knowledge that allows human beings to reach their perfection, meaning the state in which their primordial nature is realized. It can be considered as a complete experimental science that can guide us toward true knowledge of our rights and duties, which exist in any authentic spirituality. From this perspective, spirituality should be approached with a scientific mindset. Our residents have to learn step by step, understand, practice, experience, absorb, assimilate, and advance until they reach total knowledge of the “self” and the laws that shape its development. Of course, this process does not end with the death of the physical body, which is a temporary albeit necessary tool for laying the foundations of our future development.

According to Mr. Dushyant, spirituality in daily life means that we should feel the Creator’s presence in all of the moments of our lives; that we should remember we are not alone, and a compassionate yet exacting Source is watching after us; and that we should strive to act in accordance with His satisfaction in everything that we do. This state of constant attention to the Source creates a positive motivation and mobilizing energy within us to have greater focus on the acquisition of self-knowledge and greater trust in our relationship with the Source. Likewise, constant attention strengthens our confidence and our sense of inner peace. Practising natural spirituality expands and deepens our field of perception little by little, to the point that we can find answers to our own questions. From a different perspective, the other meaning of spirituality is to respect the rights of others in our interactions with them—that is, to want for others what we want for ourselves. This does not mean, however, that we should neglect to defend our own rights when it is necessary to do so. Spirituality also teaches us that “evil” has no substantive existence, but rather results from the dysfunction of responsible beings such as humans. Therefore, we have a duty to fight against evil, but this does not imply that we should perceive others as being evil or to wish ill upon them. It is in this context that forgiveness and forbearance find true meaning, and tolerance and empathy become important.

These spiritual experiences are both enriching and enlightening our residents. They are now learning how to say no, how to choose wisely and lead a healthy and a productive life. Our thanks go to Mr. Dushyant and Art of Living Foundation for the spiritual uplifting of our residents.

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THE 10 MOST COMMON ADDICTION RELAPSE TRIGGERS

Some people believe that addiction relapse is inevitable – but that is absolutely not true. Being aware of these relapse triggers is your first step towards long-term addiction recovery.

One of most effective techniques for preventing relapse is to identify your personal relapse triggers and make a detailed plan on how you will manage them.

And while some common relapse triggers are obvious -- like being around other people who are using -- others are less straightforward.

Addiction is a sneaky disease, and will try to sneak up on you when you are least expecting it. We have compiled this list of the most common addiction relapse triggers to get you thinking more deeply about how you can avoid triggers and stay solid in your addiction recovery.

Common Relapse Triggers and How to Manage Them

Relapse triggers can be broken into a few groups: emotional, mental, environmental, and those that are easily overlooked. Here we have listed the 10 most common relapse triggers and what to do to avoid them.

1. HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. The acronym HALT is used to describe high-risk situations for those in recovery. When you are aware of this you can be vigilant in preventing yourself from entering those states.

If recovery is your priority, then making sure you avoid becoming too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired will also need to become priorities. This may mean planning meals, sticking to a strict sleep schedule, and attending support groups.

2. Emotions. Perceived negative emotions often lead people to use drugs or alcohol in the first place and can easily lead a person back to their drug of choice.

It is, however, impossible to avoid feeling sad, angry, guilty, or lonely all the time. Experiencing these emotions is normal and an important aspect of recovery (and life) - but they are uncomfortable! Learning how to cope with your emotions as they arise without the use of drugs and alcohol will be essential in early recovery.

3. Stress. Stress could possibly be the number-one addiction relapse trigger because of its broad range of effects on the mind and body. HALT can lead to stress, as can a thousand other circumstances that will differ for each individual. Losing a job or loved one, increased responsibility at home or work, and health problems can all create increased stress. The key here is being proactive about stress prevention and being mindful (and honest) about what causes stress for you.

4. Over-confidence. Becoming over-confident in recovery puts you at risk for relapse. Having self-confidence is necessary, but becoming over-confident to the point of complacency crosses a line from healthy confidence to over-confidence and relapse risk.

After some time in recovery, as life starts to even out, you may begin to feel like you no longer need to follow your relapse prevention plan. You might think you are strong in your recovery and put yourself in increasingly risky situations - while also no longer working a recovery programme. This is a definite recipe for disaster.

Stay humble by giving back to others if you can, and always remind yourself that addiction is a chronic disease; no matter how strong you feel you will never be able to have “just one.”

5. Mental or physical illness. Depression, anxiety, and other underlying mental illnesses can trigger drug or alcohol relapse. Physical illness and pain can also put you at risk for relapsing, as your body is stressed.

Prescription drugs for mental and physical illnesses can be mind-altering and trigger addiction and addiction relapse. Sharing that you are in recovery with your doctor and being insistent about providing non-addictive prescription drug alternatives is important.

Get treatment for any underlying mental illness and monitor your thinking and feeling with a journal to help notice when you are slipping into old patterns.

6. Social isolation. Reluctance to reach out to others, or form a sober support system through AA or another recovery group, can lead to social isolation and loneliness. The more you become socially isolated, the easier it is to rationalise drug or alcohol use to yourself.

Social anxiety can also be a struggle for many recovering addicts, which is why having a counsellor or sponsor can help you avoid social isolation. Make forming a sober support network a priority in your recovery.

7. Sex and relationships. A common, but often ignored suggestion is to avoid dating in recovery for the first year. There are many reasons for this, one being that new romantic relationships can put you at risk for relapse. A break up with your new partner could lead you back to using due to emotional stress. A potential cross over from your initial addiction to a sex or love addiction; or using relationships to fill the void left by sobriety also create increased risk for relapse.  

Remind yourself why it is important to avoid relationships in early recovery, and if you have more than a year of sobriety under your belt follow these tips for dating in recovery  to help make sure your transition to the dating world does not sabotage your sobriety.

8. Getting a promotion or new job. Positive life events are often overlooked as relapse triggers. Getting a promotion or new job can lead to an urge to celebrate. You may fall into the false idea that is celebrating with a drink or drug ‘just this once' will be ok. Increased income can also trigger thoughts of being able to afford your drug of choice.

While a promotion or other positive event is exciting and can boost your confidence, it may also come with added responsibility, pressure, and stress. That's why it is important to make a plan for how you will celebrate without drugs or alcohol in advance of actually being in this situation.

9. Reminiscing about or glamorising past drug use. Relapse is a process. If you find yourself reminiscing about times when you used to drink or use in a way that overlooks the pain and suffering your addiction caused, this is a major red flag.

Reminiscing can lead to your addictive brain taking over once again. Talking about past use can lead to thinking about future use, and quickly turn into action.

If you find yourself in this pattern of reminiscing, do not ignore it! Talk to a sponsor, counsellor, or supportive friend about it — they will help remind you why you chose a life in recovery.

10. Social situations or places where drugs are available. Another one of the most common relapse triggers is putting yourself in situations where drugs and alcohol are available. It is not always so straightforward though — simply driving through an old neighbourhood or catching the smell of a pub as you walk by can be enough to trigger intense urges to use.

One of the first relapse prevention plans you make should be a list of people, places, and things that are strong triggers for you personally. When doing this, think outside the obvious and ask your sponsor or counsellor for help so you're not later caught off guard by an emotion, sight or smell.

What Happens if I Relapse?

Even with the best-laid plans to avoid relapse triggers and prevent relapse, the risk is always there. If you do get caught off guard and slip-up, it does not mean that you are a failure and doomed to drug addiction forever.

Recovery is still possible, but the sooner you act after a relapse the better. Get some insight on what to do if you relapse, and remember that after a relapse you may need to attend additional drug or alcohol rehab to get back on your road to recovery.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)

WHAT TO DO IF YOU RELAPSE IN ADDICTION RECOVERY

Relapse is the ever-feared return to using your drug of choice and again experiencing the devastating consequences as addiction takes over and your life spirals out of control. While no one wants to return to using after entering addiction recovery, the fact is – slip-ups happen and relapse is often viewed as a characteristic of addiction recovery.

But does a night of drinking or drugging mean you are doomed to months of use and despair? One-time slips are definitely serious and can lead a person back to full-blown drug addiction, but you do not have to end up that way if you handle it properly.

What happens if I Relapse? Using after months or even years of sobriety leads to overwhelming feelings of failure, shame, and guilt -- feelings that can cause you to give up on recovery completely and continue using. Often when a person relapses they feel weak - they feel that they have let themselves, family and friends down, and may think they do not deserve a life in recovery.

But if you think that one lapse will inevitably lead to continued use, and means that you have lost all that you have gained in recovery, it is simply not true. You have a choice. There are steps you can take after a slip-up to prevent the downward spiral of addiction and get yourself back on the road to recovery.

Steps to take after a Relapse

It is important to act immediately in response to a relapse. Thinking that a slip-up means the end of your recovery, and using feelings of failure as an excuse to continue using is detrimental. Instead, take the following steps:

Step 1: Take responsibility. Admit to yourself that you slipped up. It is difficult, but you cannot help yourself if you do not admit to your mistake. Say to yourself “I slipped up, I used again, and I now have a choice.” No one is in control of your behaviour but you. Just like when you entered recovery treatment the first time, you have to admit and accept that you are powerless over your addiction. Be honest with yourself and take responsibility for your actions.

Step 2: Make a 24 hour commitment. Make a commitment to not use again for the next 24 hours. After an initial slip-up, you are going to feel bad about yourself, and the easy choice is to give in and use again. Instead, make an immediate commitment not to use again for the next 24 hours. Remember that your recovery is a day-to-day process. Go back to taking it one day at a time, and in the first 24 hours – take it hour-by-hour.

Step 3: Admit your lapse to someone else.Once you have admitted to yourself that you slipped up, and made a 24-hour commitment to yourself, it's important to admit your lapse to someone else. Do not put this off! Immediately call a sponsor, friend, or family member who has been supportive thus far in your recovery.

It will be tempting to sulk in isolation, or pretend your lapse never happened, but those are two sure-fire ways to enter a full-blown relapse, rather than getting back on track. If you simply cannot muster up the courage to make a phone call, send an email and ask someone to meet with you face to face.  

Step 4: Attend a meeting, counselling session, or seek out other support. After admitting your slip to someone, they will probably also recommend you surround yourself with support. If you are a part of AA or another recovery group, go to a meeting - preferably within 24 hours of your slip. Call an addiction counsellor and ask for an emergency session.

Surrounding yourself with supportive people is essential to avoid falling further into relapse.

Step 5: Acknowledge and deal with difficult emotions. There is no doubt that after a relapse you will experience a wide array of difficult emotions. It is possible that stress and overwhelming emotions are what led you to use drugs or alcohol again in the first place.

You likely feel shame and guilt for letting yourself and others down, sadness and depression, and maybe resentment towards others you believe should have supported you more. Take a few deep breaths as you consciously acknowledge the weight of these feelings. Remind yourself that feelings are temporary, and you do not have to act on them by using more drugs or alcohol.

If you remember that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing, you can more easily acknowledge and let go of shame, guilt, and resentment. You are not a bad person or a failure, rather you suffer from a chronic disease. Acknowledging and then letting go of your shame and guilt is easier said than done. You may need some help from a therapist or support group to accomplish this, and it won't happen overnight. But dwelling on those feelings is self-deprecating and not at all helpful in getting back on track in your recovery.

Step 6: Learn from your experience. You relapsed for a reason, whether or not you were aware of the warning signs. But a slip up doesn't have to turn into a full-blown disaster. You can learn from the experience and become aware of the areas of your recovery that need improvement.

Look at the situation leading up to your lapse. Did recovery take the back burner, instead of being most important in your life? Was there a shift back to old patterns of thinking and feeling? Did you overconfidently put yourself in a high-risk situation? Identify what coping mechanisms were working well before the slip and start using them again right away. Make a detailed relapse prevention plan listing what you will do when faced with similar circumstances in the future.

Relapse and Recovery If you experience a slip in your sobriety, or even a full-blown relapse, where you return to using your drug of choice regularly, remember that recovery is still possible and you are not beyond help.  Nor are you a failure.

After a slip-up you have not unlearned all that you gained from previous treatment and recovery. You can take action to get back on track and learn even more about what you need to do to be successful.

Drug or alcohol relapse is serious, and if using your support and healthy coping skills is not enough to get you back on track after a slip, you may consider re-entering an addiction treatment centre. Even if you have been through alcohol or drug rehab before, there is always more to learn about addiction and recovery. 

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)