Returning to Rehab After a Relapse: What You Should Know

Like with other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, relapsing is a common characteristic of addiction. If you’ve returned to drug or alcohol use after a period of sustained sobriety, it does not mean you’ve failed, or that you won’t be able to learn the skills and habits necessary to manage an addiction over the long term. Instead, it indicates that you didn’t fully address the root causes of your disease in treatment, and that you might need to return for a second stint in rehab.

Should You Re-Enter Treatment?

There is no cure for addiction. However, a treatment program can teach you how to take an active role in managing your illness and avoid pitfalls that could trigger a relapse. If you do fall back into your old patterns of addictive behavior for several days or weeks, you might find it increasingly challenging to get your recovery on the right track. Each day you continue using, the goal of long-term sobriety slips further away from you.

As reluctant as you might be to admit you need to go back to rehab, if you relapse, you must seek help as soon as possible. Returning to a controlled environment that removes triggers and provides you with no access to addictive substances will put you back in the driver’s seat.

Round Two of Rehabilitation

Another reason for relapse is that the rehab center you initially chose did not fully meet your needs. For example, perhaps their treatment philosophy didn’t align with your values, or you felt they did not provide you with an adequate amount of structure. Relapse centers vary widely in the approaches they take to putting their clients on a healing path, and what clicks with one person might not necessarily connect the dots for you. Finding a center that takes a different approach than the last one you went to may produce better results.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, for example, can be extremely effective at treating addictions by changing how you think about and respond to various situations. Over time, these treatment modalities can help you unlearn the habits associated with your addiction as you develop healthy new coping mechanisms.

Combining these evidence-based approaches with holistic therapies such as yoga, massage and meditation will give you a robust foundation for managing any stress and negativity that may enter your life. Knowing that you have a strategy for relaxing and rewarding yourself other than drug and alcohol abuse can be the difference between experiencing a self-destructive relapse and responding with equanimity.

Speak With a Recovery Advisor

If you are exploring your options for addiction rehabilitation, whether for the first time or for follow-up treatment, consider the reasons to add Complete Harmony to your list. Our holistic, non-12-step approach has helped hundreds of men and women from all walks of life break the cycle of addiction and achieve lifelong freedom from drug and alcohol use. If you have not found 12-step treatment successful in the past, or you have struggled with frequent relapse, we invite you to reach out to us today.

The Benefits of Traveling out of State for Addiction Recovery

If you’ve made the life-changing decision to seek help for your drug or alcohol addiction, your next step is to find a facility that can meet your needs and provide you with the most effective treatment options. Because of the abundance of resources from coast to coast, you may decide to seek treatment outside your home city or state. What are the advantages of doing so, and what should you keep in mind as you research your choices?

Advantages of Traveling for Rehab

Being willing to go to rehab in a different state broadens your options considerably. Because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addiction treatment, it’s essential for you to identify the precise combination of amenities and treatment approaches that you believe will be most beneficial for you.

For example, if you have a dual diagnosis of an addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder, it’s crucial to find a program that can address both problems simultaneously. You’ll look forward to the process more when you know you’ll be getting exactly what you need out of it.

Turning Over a New Leaf

Another benefit of seeking treatment away from home is that it gives you the feeling of making a fresh start in brand-new surroundings. You won’t encounter any of the familiar stressors, triggers or negative influences associated with being near your regular stomping grounds. Your former drinking or drug buddies will be hundreds of miles away, instead of right down the road.

Going to rehab in your hometown might also cause you to give into an impulse or temptation to leave treatment early, which can jeopardize your success immensely. Studies have proven a correlation between the length of time spent in treatment and a reduced likelihood of relapse. The longer you stick with the program, the more you will improve your chances of making a full recovery.

Find the Environment That’s Right for You at Complete Harmony

Seeking addiction treatment in a comfortable environment will help increase your chances of long-term success in recovery. As you’re looking for programs that align with your preferences, you might want to consider how your surroundings can affect your treatment plan. For example, a well-appointed, resort-style atmosphere near the beach can provide a tranquil, relaxing backdrop for your recovery.

Depending on the challenges you are facing with your addiction to drugs or alcohol, you can often see remarkable improvement by shaking up your routine and removing yourself from unhealthy situations. Many people find it beneficial to travel for rehab because it allows them to remove themselves from their typical surroundings and gives them the time and space they need to begin healing themselves mentally, physically and spiritually.

If you are struggling with addiction and co-occurring disorders, reach out to us today to get started on the pathway to a happier future. At our California holistic drug rehab center, we welcome adult men and women with comprehensive, non-12-step care in a beautiful setting that is fully conducive to the recovery process.