Relapsing can be a major blow to self-confidence. Especially after you have put it so much hard work and time to get clean and sober. Relapse, however, is something that comes with the territory of addiction and shouldn’t be seen as a total failure. Don’t let one slip up snowball into a total loss of sobriety. Accept what has happened and make the decision to pick up and move forward.
Let the steps below be a guide to rebuilding your confidence after a relapse.
#1) Forgive Yourself
In order to move forward after a relapse, you have to accept what has happened and take the steps to move forward. The worst thing you could do after a slip up is to beat yourself up over it. You likely are already having feelings of failure and loss of hope, but you cannot wallow in those feelings. Relapse is often a part of recovery, in fact it is estimated that nearly 40-60% of recovering addicts relapse at least once during recovery.
You have to forgive yourself, pick up the pieces and take the next step forward. The quicker you make this decision mentally, the better off you will be.
#2) Damage Control
Sometimes a relapse can last days, sometimes it can last weeks. However much time has passed, there is likely business to tend to, whether is be paying overdue bills or simply doing the laundry and cleaning house. Getting the pieces of your life back in order, no matter how small, is going to help you take things step by step and allow you to focus on the path laid out in front of you.
When you relapse, it is not only hard on you as the addict, but it can be incredibly difficult for your friends and family who have supported you thus far in your recovery. It’s important to reach out to these individuals and speak honestly about the events that have unfolded. Take responsibility and ask for forgiveness. If you are able to forgive yourself, then your loved ones are capable of doing the same.
#3) Make A Plan
In order to move forward, you have to think about what ultimately led you to relapse. Perhaps the stress of your high-paced job combined with an unhealthy relationship became too much to handle. Or maybe you fell back into the same old friend group that is full of bad influencecs. Whatever it may be, you need to sit and analyze what pieces in your life led you down this path and make a plan to change or even remove those things.
Set recovery goals for yourself. These can be as small as going on morning walks to clear your mind every day, or making sure your dishes are done every single night to reduce a small stress. Setting small, achievable goals for yourself is going to be a great way to help build your confidence back up.
Think about a time in your sobriety where you felt confident and focus on that feeling. Think about what helped you feel confident and strive to be back in that place.
#4) Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Help
Recovery is a journey and not every individuals’ journey is the same. For some, you may feel it’s necessary for you to go back to rehab following a relapse. This can be a good way to hit the reset button and allow you to focus on the steps and actions that helped you get sober in the first place. Again, this isn’t necessary for everyone, but many people find it helpful to get them back on track and perhaps learn some new skills to help avoid any future slip ups.
Seeking help also doesn’t have to mean returning to rehab. Perhaps seeking out a therapist or a new support group will help you feel more grounded and help you find more stability.
No matter what, you should never feel ashamed after relapsing. It’s sometimes a part of the journey and hundreds of thousands of people have been in the same boat. The important thing is to accept your choices, forgive yourself, and to make the active decision to move forward and grow from it.
Let us help you find your road to recovery or help you get back on track. Call our admissions team today to see how we can help.
Created specifically for those who have loved ones that struggle with addiction.