How to Avoid an Alcohol Relapse: Aftercare Treatment

Located in the serenity of Canggu, Sivana Bali is a world-class addiction treatment centre that seeks to help patients discover the path toward lifelong recovery. We provide the highest level of care at cost-effective rates. We also limit ourselves to 9 patients at a time so that our team of certified addiction experts can give each and every patient the care and attention they deserve.

Alcohol Use and Abuse

Alcoholism is when someone is physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol. They crave it incessantly, and stopping isn’t simply a matter of self-control or just saying no. An alcoholic will want to get a drink regardless of the consequences to themselves or to others. 

What Is an Alcohol Relapse?

A relapse is what happens when, after a period of abstinence, an addict goes back to alcohol or drug use. This is a common part of the recovery process for many addicts, and many treatment plans and addiction experts expect that some of the people they treat will experience a relapse. This can happen at any point in the recovery. It can happen as soon as someone leaves rehab or years down the road after treatment.

If you’re suffering from addiction, you need to understand that relapse doesn’t mean that you’ve reached the end of your recovery journey. It is simply a bump in the road – one that you can pass over. 

There are a few ways in which relapse can manifest:

Full Relapse

A full relapse is when an addict completely goes back to using drugs or alcohol. They’ll go back to using it with the same frequency and in the same quantities as they did before they sought treatment. In some cases, they may even go deeper into their addiction and use it more frequently.

Partial Relapse

A partial relapse is when someone slips up but not to the same extent as a full relapse. For example, an alcoholic who stays sober for several years has one drink, but that’s all. They don’t have another drink – they have one, and that’s it.

Emotional Relapse

An emotional relapse is usually the precursor to either of the first two. In an emotional relapse, an addict hasn’t gone back to using alcohol or drugs yet, but they’re in a state of mind that lends itself to substance use. They’re anxious, they’re depressed, or they’re stressed out. In this state of mind, they may not have it in them to deny themselves their craving for their drug of choice.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment and Lasting Recovery

Alcohol addiction is not a sign of personal weakness, nor is it a moral failure of any kind. At Sivana Bali, we recognise how easy it can be to become addicted to alcohol, and we tailor personalised treatment programs to not only help a person get sober but help them remain there after they leave our facility. These treatment options include:

Individual Therapy

Therapy is an important component of a person’s recovery journey. All too often, a substance abuse disorder can be rooted in either a mental health disorder or trauma. Therapy will allow a person to address the root cause of their addiction.

Therapy is also important for self-discovery and growth. With therapy, a person can develop strategies to help them cope with the temptation to prevent them from relapsing.

Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions can serve two functions. The first is that it allows an addict to see that they are not struggling alone. The second is that being in a group setting can foster a sense of camaraderie and accountability when outside of a rehab facility. Group therapy sessions can also be an invaluable source of support in the outside world. The people in a support group can keep each other from relapsing.

Holistic Treatments

Holistic self-care is important for total well-being. The holistic treatment options at Sivana Bali strive to create a harmonious balance between a person’s physical, mental, and emotional parts. Holistic therapies like yoga and meditation can be great for managing stress, which can make them particularly important for avoiding an alcohol relapse, as stress is often a trigger for drinking. By being able to manage stress more healthily, a recovering alcoholic will be able to cope without having to turn to drinking.

Familial Support

The family support program at Sivana Bali works to give loved ones the skills they need to cope with an addict’s substance use disorder, as well as educate them on how to best support their recovery. This can be particularly important in addiction recovery as one of the biggest factors in preventing a person from relapsing is their support system. A support system can give someone the emotional resilience they need to stay sober. 

Monitored Aftercare and Relapse Prevention

At Sivana Bali, recovery does not end with our inpatient treatment. We are all too aware of the possibility of relapsing and how strongly the outside world can test your recovery. This is why we provide extensive aftercare services to identify and provide management tools to help prevent relapse.

Why Relapsing is Common

It’s understandable that alcohol addiction is a prevalent problem, as it can be quite easy to develop an addiction compared to other substance abuse disorders. Unlike illicit substances like cocaine or prescription medication, alcohol is easily accessible, as it is available in most shops. Moreover, it’s not always easy to avoid triggers that may lead to relapse, as shopkeepers or bartenders are often unaware of someone’s struggle with alcoholism and may not recognize the signs of addiction. It can be frustrating and disheartening to see alcohol readily available, but it’s important to remember that recovery is possible, and seeking help is the first step towards a healthier lifestyle.

Warning Signs for a Relapse

There are several factors, both external and internal, that can trigger a relapse, and whether or not they actually trigger a relapse will vary from one person to the next. Common factors that can contribute to a relapse include:

Stress

As mentioned before, many people drink to manage stress. As such, being stressed out can cause a person to have a lapse in their sobriety and go back to drinking. This is why alcoholics or other drug dependencies need to develop healthy ways of coping with stressful situations, which is exactly what Sivana Bali’s holistic treatment options strive to do.

This stress can manifest itself in a myriad of ways. It can be from work, school, interpersonal relationships, or life.

Social Situations

It can be tough for someone who is recovering from alcohol addiction to socialise in the outside world. Alcohol is often present at social events, whether it’s a wedding, a party, or even just going out to eat. This can make it challenging for those in recovery to resist the temptation to drink and give in to their cravings. Additionally, some people in recovery may feel pressure from their peers, especially during holidays, to drink with everyone else. It’s important to acknowledge the struggle and support those in recovery as they navigate these difficult situations.

Mental Health Disorders

Mental illness is a major trigger for substance abuse disorders, and as such, it can also be a trigger for relapse. This is why it’s so important to address underlying or co-occurring mental health issues when treating addiction because not doing so leaves a major gap in a person’s treatment program and makes them more vulnerable to relapsing.

Complacency

We understand that staying sober can be a challenging journey that requires a lot of effort and commitment. It’s not always easy to stay vigilant and maintain focus, especially after completing a treatment program. We want you to know that sometimes, it’s natural to feel complacent and forget the seriousness of your addiction. However, we encourage you to stay strong and keep up the good work. Remember that relapses can happen, but they don’t define your journey to recovery. Keep pushing forward, and always remember that you’re not alone.

Overconfidence

For some individuals, going through rehab may seem like a cure-all solution for their addiction. It’s important to realise, though, that recovery is a continuous journey and that attending a program is just one step towards a better life. For those who have completed the program, it’s important to acknowledge that the journey ahead may be challenging and that there will still be moments of temptation and struggle. We highly encourage those who have taken this step to continue seeking support and guidance, as they navigate their way towards achieving their goals and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Environmental Triggers

Some people can associate their substance abuse with certain sounds, smells, and places. Being exposed to these environmental triggers can create a resurgence in their cravings and leave them open to an addiction relapse.

Your Lasting Sobriety, Our Goal

There are a lot of things that can cause a person to turn to drug or alcohol use, and there are a lot of things that can lead a person to relapse after they’ve gotten started on the path to sobriety. It can be hard to maintain sobriety for a lot of recovering addicts.

Sivana Bali understands this. That’s why our addiction treatment programs don’t just address the addiction, but we also give our patients the skills they need to lay a foundation for long-term sobriety. Contact us now, and we’ll help get you on, and stay on, the road to recovery.