Summary: <p>Relapse Prevention for Co-Occurring Disorders<br> Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC<br> Executive Director, AllCEUs</p> <p>Counseling CEU Course link https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/18/c/</p> <p>Objectives<br> ~ Define Relapse<br> ~ Identify triggers and warning signs of relapse<br> ~ Review Relapse Syndrome and possible interventions<br> ~ Explore the acronym DREAM<br> ~ Define and identify vulnerabilities<br> ~ Define and identify exceptions<br> ~ Develop a relapse prevention plan<br> Why I Care/How It Impacts Recovery<br> ~ Relapse indicates that the old behaviors have returned either because<br> ~ New skills were ineffective<br> ~ Old behaviors were more rewarding<br> ~ Recovery involves understanding what triggers each individual person’s relapse<br> Relapse Syndrome<br> ~ Relapse generally follows a predictable and readily identifiable pattern<br> ~ Return of denial “I’ve got this.” “I’m fine.”<br> ~ Teach support people about recovery and relapse. Encourage them to probe about problems.<br> ~ Write down problems on a daily basis and share this list with someone.<br> ~ Avoidance of defensive behavior…Focusing more energy on fixing others than on working on self and failing to do relapse prevention exercises.<br> ~ Surround themselves with support people who will encourage them to continue working on their relapse prevention program.<br> ~ Maintain a “negative image” reminder of what it is like when they are symptomatic<br> ~ Develop and review a cost/benefit analysis of their coping behavior.</p> <p>Relapse Syndrome<br> ~ Crisis Building…problems begin to pile up and it becomes more and more difficult to see options. The person develops tunnel vision and loses the ability to perform constructive planning<br> ~ Remind them to take one day at a time.<br> ~ Review coping behavior.<br> ~ Encourage acceptance of personal limits.<br> ~ Remind them that it is the thoughts about an event and not the event that is “bad” or “good”).</p> <p>Relapse Syndrome<br> ~ Immobilization When a crisis builds up, the person becomes crushed and trapped by the problems and incapable of initiating action A sense that nothing can be solved may develop.<br> ~ Use the Serenity Prayer.<br> ~ Use the support people that they have developed.<br> ~ Review the concept of lapse as opposed to relapse (accept the reality that they may make some small mistakes but this does not mean that they have failed).<br> ~ Confusion and overreaction While the problems continue to grow and the person feels stuck, he often becomes confused and angry leading to irritability, a general sense of tension, and sense that others are out to get him.<br> ~ Identify the source of the feelings.<br> ~ Accept responsibility for problems.<br> ~ Possible professional intervention.<br> Relapse Syndrome<br> ~ Depression. As the anger begins to build, so does a sense of hopelessness and begins to turn the anger inward in the form of depression.<br> ~ Focus on those things that the person can control<br> ~ Identify strengths<br> ~ Set SMART goals to develop self-efficacy<br> ~ Seek social support<br> ~ Behavioral loss of control The person becomes unable to control or regulate personal behavior and a daily schedule.<br> ~ Develop a routine<br> ~ Regroup and redifine those people, things and activities that are truly important to a meaningful life<br> ~ Make a task basket (or list)<br> ~ Set more SMART goals to start taking steps forward<br> 10 Most Common Triggers of Relapse<br> ~ Withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, nausea, physical weakness)<br> ~ Post-acute withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, irritability, mood swings, poor sleep)<br> ~ Poor self-care (stress management, eating, sleeping)<br> ~ People (old using friends)<br> ~ Places (where you used or where you used to buy drugs)<br> ~ Things (that were part of your using,</p>
