The summer months are a great time to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with family and friends and do the things you love. So, it’s not surprising that, during the warmer months, our social calendars can become incredibly busy.
For those who are recovering from addiction, the temptation to relapse becomes increasingly challenging, especially with many social events, festivals, holidays, and other special occasions often centred around alcohol and other potentially harmful substances.
So how can you avoid a relapse this summer?
Recovery is a lifelong journey, and it’s important that you understand your relapse triggers, whether it’s a place, person, or situation that leads you to crave drugs or alcohol.
Many triggers can be incredibly overwhelming but the first step to avoiding and overcoming them is to identify them.
Finding a routine that works for you, and sticking to it, is a great way to remain on track to recovery. It will keep your mind focused and gives you a reason to take on your day with a positive mind-set.
Structure can also help you avoid coming in contact with your relapse triggers. Sticking to a routine can also provide a sense of accomplishment that will keep you on the right track.
So, whether you’re planning a busy summer of social events or you’re slowly trying to integrate back into society, make sure you establish a realistic routine and stick to it.
One of the keys to a successful recovery is to keep your mind as busy as possible. This is because boredom and lack of purpose in your day to day life can lead to a relapse. With this in mind, if you want to avoid a relapse this summer, you should keep your mind as occupied as possible by exploring new hobbies, getting back to work, or even volunteering with a local charity.
When it comes to recovering from any form of addiction, it’s important that you surround yourself with the right people. People that will support, encourage, and champion your road to recovery, helping you to avoid relapse.
Many parties, occasions and events take place during the summer months. However, if you are recovering from addiction, this can have a significant impact on your recovery. With this in mind, you should avoid those events and occasions where temptation might be too difficult to resist.
Learn to say no and don’t feel bad for doing so. This is your journey and you need to do what is best for you, so don’t be afraid to avoid those situations where you could be exposed to drink and alcohol.
