Addiction is a chronic disease, which means that it’s a lifelong struggle to maintain sobriety. Your teen will be in recovery management after undergoing addiction treatment for the rest of their life. In fact, up to 60% of people relapse after doing so, making aftercare plans and relapse prevention services essential.
Relapsing does not erase the progress your teen has made in addiction treatment. It’s not a mark of failure, but it is a sign that they need further help and more support. If you’re looking for relapse prevention services for teen boys in North Carolina, contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery today. Call 866.300.5275 or reach out to our team online.
How to Prevent Your Teen from Relapsing
Being the parent or guardian of a teen struggling with addiction can be difficult. You may not know what to do when your teen relapses. After all, you’ve probably supported them as much as you could while they were in addiction treatment.
Here are some ways to support them further after they’ve relapsed:
- Use words of encouragement: Blaming your teen for relapsing will only increase their feelings of guilt and shame. Instead, let your teen know you are here for them. Ask questions like, “What’s the best way I can help you now?” This will demonstrate your support during their recovery.
- Believe in your teen: Showing confidence in your teen’s ability to get healthy again works wonders. Saying, “I believe you can get better,” and “I believe in you,” are good ways to show your support. Keep in mind that it’s important to mean what you say.
- Offer to put your teen back into therapy or addiction treatment: When you observe the first signs of recovery in your teen, you may think that professional help isn’t necessary. But your teen needs to get formal assistance to continue managing their sobriety, especially if they’re already relapsed. Establishing healthy coping strategies through therapy is essential.
- Help your teen avoid their triggers: Keep your home free from drugs, alcohol, and other addictive substances. Please work with your teen to help them stay away from friends and situations that may encourage relapse.
- Help your teen establish a healthy sleeping routine: Addiction can alter brain chemicals and make it difficult for the body to restore itself naturally. It’s crucial to introduce a structured sleeping plan into your teen’s daily habits. Getting enough restful sleep is one of the most effective ways to recover after overcoming addiction or relapsing.
What To Do After a Relapse
A teen relapse should always be taken seriously. In fact, most teen addiction treatment programs plan for the possibility by introducing relapse prevention services to their participants along with aftercare plans.
You may look into relapse prevention therapy (RPT) before or after your teen relapses. This approach helps people in recovery anticipate the factors that may cause them to engage in their addictive behavior again and be ready to deal with these situations.
There are three primary areas of focus in RPT:
- Behavioral techniques and lifestyle changes: This involves establishing habits, such as a regular sleeping routine, an exercise schedule, and daily relaxation or meditation. These strategies enhance recovery and prevent further attempts to relapse.
- Learning and practicing coping skills: This helps people cope with cravings and urges during high-risk situations and heavy emotions.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions: This helps people reframe how they think about relapse. With CBT, they can view it as an opportunity to learn rather than a sign of a deep personal flaw.
It is essential to remain focused on recovery immediately after a relapse, even when learning how to avoid relapsing in the future. Examining what led to the relapse is an important step. Sometimes, stressful events can trigger a relapse. However, happy events can also trigger a relapse, especially if others nearby are celebrating with alcohol.
Teens can move on from relapsing with a change in perspective and a stronger commitment to avoiding future relapses. In RPT, they can learn to prevent or manage triggers.
Recovery Management Resources
You need to find recovery management resources now that you know what to do after your teen relapses. These tools help you get your teen into RPT or other programs and services that may help them recover.
Some addiction treatment programs provide recovery management resources to their participants. If your teen’s treatment program didn’t do so, contact the treatment facility, explain what’s happened, and ask what they can do to help your teen. They may direct you to their recovery management services or other nearby resources, which provide formal support for clients starting to rebuild their lives after addiction. Your teen may not need everything that recovery management services offer, but they will provide resources that will help.
At the very least, recovery support services often offer case management and coaching. These provide client-specific interventions to help your teen achieve stability, overcome obstacles, and manage barriers to recovery.
Learn More About Foothills at Red Oak Recovery’s Relapse Prevention Services
Are you searching for relapse prevention services for your teen boy in North Carolina? Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery by calling 866.300.5275 or reaching out to our team online.
