The high-risk situations include people, places, feelings, or anything which can threaten your recovery and lead to a relapse.
Those who are in the process of addiction recovery know how it is challenging to control themselves even in sobriety. Some reasons for the challenges may include thinking patterns, unstable lifestyles, failure to plan, and triggers to addiction after recovery.
Additionally, people who quit drug and alcohol abuse need commitment, hard work, and discipline to learn how to live in recovery and sobriety to avoid high-risk situations.
If you are still undergoing addiction recovery, one of the most crucial factors to focus on is learning how to cope with high-risk situations. Everyday experiences encountered by people in recovery which makes them vulnerable include:
- Experiencing boredom
- Being given drugs or alcohol by friends, family, and colleagues
- Developing feelings of fear, depression, anxiety, or apathy that create relapse episodes
- Failure to maintain a healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep
There is no way for you to avoid high-risk situations for the rest of your life. However, there are crucial ways on how to cope with and manage it.
Factors to Consider to Help you Cope With High-risk Situations
Position yourself with a proactive mindset for a successful recovery journey is crucial to avoid relapse.
Develop plans to help you deal with high-risk situations when they take place, including preventing them from taking place initially. This action can function as a way of protecting yourself against relapse and its consequences.
Prepare ahead for coping plans when you experience a high-risk situation. For instance, consider bringing your transportation means when attending events or social gatherings. Doing so will enable you to depart or find an escape route if you experience potential triggers.
Consider having a sponsor, mentor, or someone in recovery who is willing to help you manage your situation. When you feel distressed or overwhelmed, or in the middle of something that jeopardizes your sobriety, contact your sponsor immediately. Besides, two are better than one, and your sponsor can provide the necessary support to deal with any imminent situation without relapsing.
Always avoid visiting places and people that have a high potential of leading your recovery journey astray. Do not spend time with people who are still connected with previous drug addiction or use.
When you practice preventive measures above to avoid high-risk situations, you have already dealt with your risks by half. The other half is to consider what actions to take whenever you experience a high-risk situation. If you learn to cover all these root causes, you can handle any high-risk situations in a healthy manner.
Final Thoughts from the Recover for Finding Help
If you occasionally encounter high-risk situations, you don’t have to hesitate or feel ashamed to ask for help. For those who are still in addiction recovery and struggling to maintain sobriety, they should not wait for relapses to occur to seek support.
Besides, many rehab centers near your residence can provide professional care and support necessary for your addictive needs. Ensure you search a nearby rehab and inquire for full advice on whether they can cope with your drug addiction issues.