Handling the Urge to Relapse: Chemical Dependency Treatment in San Diego

Recovery from chemical dependency is no different than recovery from any other kind of illness. Until you have fully recovered, you remain with an illness. One of the realities of addiction recovery is that you will still have urges to relapse. You are not wrong for having urges, and you have not failed your recovery if you experience them. You will help your recovery immensely if you develop a coping strategy for handling these urges. In this article, we’ll consider some options for chemical dependency treatment in San Diego, California.

You Are in Control

The urge to relapse is natural and is linked to things like brain chemistry and physical responses. You will experience it whether you want to or not. That part of your recovery is beyond your control. What is in your control, however, is what you do with those urges. San Diego Christian Counseling can offer guidance and support to help manage these challenges during your recovery journey.

This doesn’t make things easier, and if anything, dealing with the urge to relapse is one of the hardest aspects of recovery. There will be times when you truly don’t feel in control, almost as if the illness has taken over. In these times, you will need to contact a sponsor, a confidant, or an addiction helpline.

Developing a Coping Strategy

Accepting that urges to relapse are a part of recovery and that you are in control of how you handle them is just a prelude to coping and conquering. Keep in mind that everyone’s experience with chemical dependency and recovery is unique, so what works for one person might not be as effective for you.

Here are four broadly helpful steps to follow as you learn to navigate addiction urges.

Wait it out

The urge to relapse might come out of nowhere, or it might follow a pattern or time, like late at night or when you are stressed. You might not be in control of when the urge comes or how intense it is, but you do get to decide what you do with it.

Addiction and chemical dependency are often fed by spontaneous indulgence, meaning that people tend to feed their urges as soon as they feel them. Try to wait it out for an hour, or twelve hours, a day, or a week. The intensity of the urge will likely become less intense over time, and you will have affected the trigger in your brain that demands instant gratification by simply delaying.

Distract yourself

Addictive urges tend to consume your thoughts if you sit thinking about them, even if you are trying to summon the strength to resist them. It’s kind of like arm wrestling with a professional who never loses.

Find an activity that requires your full attention and all the better if it is something that you find enjoyable. Not only will this redirect your focus and help dissipate the intensity of the urge, but it will remind you of what life is like without an addiction illness.

Talk to yourself

Some people find it helpful to intellectualize their urge to relapse, and it can be helpful to do that. Break down the urge, and ask yourself how you would benefit from giving in. Ask yourself how it would serve you to relapse.

Consider what the pros and cons are of giving in to the urge. Try to consider what it is that you are truly looking for. What would you say to a loved one if they were to ask you for help with the same urges? Follow your own advice.

Talk to someone

Every urge to relapse happens in the safe confines of a person’s thoughts. If it were to remain hidden in there, it would likely take root and begin to bear unwanted fruit. When you vocalize the urge to someone who wants the best for you, you give yourself the chance to rationalize things and gain some perspective on recovery.

Remember, too, that there is an emotional root to all chemical dependency. Recovery and healing often require you to uncover that root and begin to heal your mind and emotions.

Chemical Dependency Treatment in San Diego

The urge to relapse is real, and it can be intense to deal with. Temptation is not the same as failure. You need to be gracious with yourself because making the right choice can feel like a battle. Wait things out, distract yourself, and talk to a loved one about the urges.

It’s important to be part of a support group for chemical dependency recovery in San Diego, but it’s also important to meet with a counselor one-on-one. If you would like to find a counselor in San Diego or an addiction support group in California, please contact our office today at San Diego Christian Counseling. We can connect you with an addiction therapist in San Diego and you can find the long-term help you need.