It stands to reason that there will be a percentage of people who suffer a relapse after going through rehab, as an addiction is always going to prove hard to finally conquer, so understanding that it might take several attempts to quit for good, will help you to drop the guilt.
The odds of needing the assistance of a criminal defense attorney like Powers McCartan to deal with a charge, tend to increase when you are under the influence of a drug or alcohol addiction. Drawing a line under past misdemeanors and coming out of rehab is ultimately a great opportunity to get your life back on track, so here is a look at how to get back to living your life right, for good.
Getting over the guilt and shame
The fundamental point to take on board is that there is definitely life after a relapse and you need to stay positive and see that you can bounce back from such a setback and start over.
The best way of approaching that new start after a relapse is to not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by any feelings of guilt or shame that you might be experiencing, and instead, categorize your deviation from the path to recovery as a setback that is in no way insurmountable.
While it is important to accept a certain degree of responsibility after a relapse, indulging in self-criticism or simply feeling sorry for yourself, is not going to be constructive or helpful in any way, so try to banish any feelings of guilt and shame.
Don’t delay after a relapse
If you do suffer a relapse, time is of the essence, which means that you have to take action immediately to try and put matters right as quickly as possible.
The longer you wait to take remedial action after a relapse, the harder it is to put yourself right again. Delays will potentially increase your anxiety levels and also raise the prospect of extending your relapse period.
Take positive action immediately. This involves contacting your sponsor to update them on what has happened. You should not be unduly concerned about making contact with them, as they are trained and understanding of this scenario and will give you the help and support you need, without being judgmental.
Family and friends make a big difference
Recovering from an addiction is often going to be a long and painful process, where you have to be fully committed to completing the road to recovery.
Taking this journey on your own is not impossible of course but any relapses are always going to be easier to deal with when you have the support of family and friends to help you negotiate any bumps in the road.
It can be very difficult to face up to your loved ones and closest friends, after you have suffered a relapse. It is almost inevitable that you are going to feel like you have let them down as a result of your relapse, but these are the critical moments where you need their help and support more than ever.
Don’t shy away from that hand of friendship and by reaching out to them, you are demonstrating your willingness to tackle the problem and get your recovery back on track.
Moments of weakness will ultimately make you stronger
The positive slant to adopt after a relapse is that you are going to come back stronger, if you learn from the transgression.
It is not the least bit unusual to feel like your recovery process has been reset to zero and you are going to have to start out on the road to recovery all over again. Although this may be the thought that is pervading your mind, you should aim to consider your relapse as an integral part of your overall recovery process.
If you are able to turn these moments of weakness into situations that will ultimately make you stronger and more committed to a permanent recovery, this will put a positive slant on your relapse.
One of the main things that you should aim to take on board is that you need to ensure that you let go of any negative feelings that you might be experiencing as a result of your relapse. Post-relapse guilt can trigger another relapse if you don’t process your emotions and draw a line under the incident, so do whatever is necessary to let go of those negative thoughts.
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Guest Author Bio
Toby Chamberlain
Toby Chamberlain was addicted to drugs for 10 years. Now 15 years on he’s drug free but it hasn’t been an easy journey at all. He is sharing his support, his breakthroughs and part of his story, online to help others.
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