Summary: <p>Relapse Prevention<br> Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC<br> Executive Director AllCEUs<br> Objectives<br> ~ Define relapse in terms of addiction as well as mental health<br> ~ Examine relapse prevention techniques<br> ~ Explore needs of the person: Psychosocial and Maslovian<br> What is Relapse<br> ~ Relapse is the return to addictive behaviors or the recurrence of mood symptoms<br> ~ Relapse often starts long before the person uses again<br> ~ Get caught up in day-in-day-out<br> ~ Start acting “mindlessly”<br> ~ Stop going to meetings/counseling/church/lifeline<br> ~ Begins running out of energy to do new behaviors<br> ~ Frustration, irritability and exhaustion set in<br> ~ Caveat…an extreme stressor can prompt “immediate relapse”<br> Relapse Definition<br> ~ Relapse is the return to something that has been previously stopped<br> ~ Relapse is multidimensional<br> ~ Emotional<br> ~ Mental<br> ~ Physical<br> ~ Social<br> ~ A relapse is when you start returning to any of these people, places, things, behaviors or feeling states.<br> Extreme Stressors<br> ~ Those things that overwhelm an individuals ability to cope<br> ~ Thrust them into the fight or flight<br> ~ New coping skills and support resources may not even be considered, or only half-heartedly<br> ~ Have clients identify or practice dealing with these types of situations in group<br> ~ Divorce<br> ~ Death<br> ~ Job Loss<br> ~ Diagnosis of a terminal or chronic illness (Cancer, ALS, HIV)<br> Beginner Tools for Extreme Stress<br> ~ Get support… You are outnumbered!<br> ~ Self-soothing/De-Escalation<br> ~ Systematic Desensitization<br> ~ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy<br> ~ CPT Note Card<br> ~ I feel… because ……<br> ~ What am I upset about<br> ~ What are the FACTS for and against this belief<br> ~ Am I using all or nothing thinking or jumping to conclusions<br> ~ I need to call _______ to get an objective perspective or what would _____ do</p> <p>The 4 Ds<br> ~ Delay – Most urges, feelings and cravings rise and fall like waves in about 20 minutes if you do not “feed” them<br> ~ Distract – Craving time passes more quickly when engaged in a distracting activity for a few minutes.<br> ~ Use Distress Tolerance Skills to IMPROVE the moment and ACCEPT reality. DBT Video<br> ~ De-Stress – By reducing your stress and distress, you are allowing your body to maintain higher levels of calming and “happy” chemicals.<br> ~ For more tips, listen to the Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery Podcast on preventing vulnerabilities.<br> ~ De-Catasrophize – Challenge your thoughts and when necessary, reframe them into more accurate notions, like, “This is really uncomfortable, but I can manage.“<br> ~ Video on thinking errors<br> Relapse Prevention Card<br> ~ Fold a paper into four squares:<br> ~ On the first square, write: “Delay, Distract, De-Stress, De-Catastrophize<br> ~ On the second square, write out 5 personally relevant distraction ideas<br> ~ On the third square, write out 3 of your most significant reasons for wanting to recover<br> ~ On the fourth square, write out some negative expectations – accurate predictions for what will happen if you slip (over eat, smoke, drink, say “yes” when you need to say “no”)<br> Creating a Relapse Prevention Plan<br> ~ Triggers and Vulnerabilities are multidimensional<br> ~ Emotional<br> ~ Mental<br> ~ Physical<br> ~ Social<br> ~ Environmental<br> ~ Cravings: Compile a list of who you can call, what you can do to distract yourself from a craving and how you could stop a craving altogether. (gambling, smoking, sex, over eating)<br> ~ Healthy tools: Think about what new and old behaviors/tools you can use to keep you on the right track. Some examples include writing a list of consequences should you relapse, attending a support meeting, exercising, journaling, or writing a gratitude list.<br></p>
