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June 1, 2023

Preventing Relapse With Our Intensive Outpatient Program in Atlanta

Addiction recovery is a gradual process that each person experiences differently. It takes time, effort, patience, consistency, and oftentimes a lot of motivation to see it through to success. Granted, this undertaking might not always be easy, especially for someone who has been using for a long time. Once someone decides to seek treatment for their addiction, the road to recovery, unfortunately, does not end there. It is crucial that individuals have access to a solid relapse prevention plan that can continue to support them long after completing rehab. Find out what puts you at risk for relapsing after recovery, as well as what relapse prevention with an intensive outpatient program in Atlanta can look like for you.

What Is a Relapse?

In alcohol or substance addiction treatment, a relapse happens when an individual falls out of the habit of maintaining their sobriety or no longer recognizes the need to attain their goal of recovery. While it is unfortunate, relapse can actually happen to a lot of people after treatment. The main issue individuals experience with relapse is the perceived stigma attached to it as a sign that they have “failed” the recovery process. This is far from the truth; however, it can be enough for someone to not seek help again and, sadly, continue down the path of destruction from drugs or alcohol.

What Can Trigger a Relapse?

Triggers are anything from a person’s current physical, emotional, or social environment that can bring up old memories of using drugs or alcohol or even unexplained cravings for it. While experiencing triggers is normal and does not necessarily mean you are relapsing, they can make you more susceptible to relapse if you don’t have the right prevention tools and resources. For most people, triggers can include the following:

  • Isolation or loneliness
  • Not being present during meetings
  • Poor eating or sleeping habits
  • Difficult emotions
  • Toxic relationships
  • Boredom
  • Stress
  • Mental health conditions
  • Exposure to places where drugs or alcohol are present

As mentioned previously, it’s important to have a relapse prevention plan after treatment to ensure you can adequately manage any cravings or triggers, should they arise. With Inner Voyage Recovery Center’s intensive outpatient program in Atlanta, you can receive a relapse prevention plan that considers all your needs and puts you in a better place to continue your recovery journey.

What Can Put Someone at Risk for Relapse?

Unfortunately, there are certain societal factors or circumstances that can make someone more susceptible to relapse than others. However, knowing what puts you at risk for relapse is key to overcoming addiction and following through with your recovery. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, risk factors for addiction relapse include:

  • Lack of emotional or social support
  • Lacking confidence in one’s own abilities to manage recovery
  • Continued perceived benefits from drug or alcohol use (thinking that substance use results in beneficial outcomes, such as increased sociability and less anxiety)
  • Unwillingness or reluctance to make constructive changes
  • Poor emotional regulation
  • Lack of effective coping strategies, particularly in high-stakes circumstances
  • Negative affectivity

How Do I Know If I’m Relapsing?

If you find yourself fantasizing about drugs or alcohol more often than usual, you may be at risk for relapse. If you or others have noticed sudden negative changes in your behavior, such as decreasing attendance at your group meetings, please don’t be afraid to reach out for some support. Our intensive outpatient program in Atlanta can be an effective way to manage and overcome relapse cravings without the rigid structure of an inpatient rehabilitation program.

About Our Intensive Outpatient Program in Atlanta

Our intensive outpatient program in Atlanta is an immersive treatment program that aims to provide each person with the focused care they need. Our daily treatment sessions educate patients on how to avoid relapse and encourage them to improve their physical and emotional health through evidence-based therapies and a variety of fun, interactive, and grounding experiences, such as:

Individual Therapy

At our intensive outpatient program in Atlanta, patients get to have one-on-one sessions with an experienced, licensed mental health therapist and explore techniques, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to understand the root cause of their relapse issues and develop practical strategies to overcome them every day.

Adventure Therapy

We are one of the nation’s few providers of adventure therapy for addiction treatment. Adventure therapy provides an alternative approach to connecting with others and one’s environment in engaging outdoor settings. We offer adventure camps, nature walks, wilderness survival courses, team challenges, bird-watching activities, and more to help our patients refuel their desire for life and the natural beauty that the world brings.

Medically Assisted Care

In some instances, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be necessary for severe substance use or alcohol use disorders. At our intensive outpatient program in Atlanta, patients get access to the prescription medications they need to help taper off the effects of alcohol or drugs as well as manage withdrawals. We closely monitor our patient’s health and symptoms while providing them the opportunity to participate in individual or group counseling sessions and our other holistic therapies as well.

Health and Wellness Therapy

Health and wellness therapy aims to help patients find or restore their mind-body connection. Our health and wellness programs are comprehensive because they include exercise, healthy eating, and meditation to treat the person as a whole. Together, we address the psychological and physiological hurdles standing in the way of our patients’ full and rapid recoveries.

Family Therapy

Our family recovery program is designed to assist people and their loved ones in overcoming the obstacles they face while attempting to address alcohol or substance abuse. With the support of our intensive outpatient program in Atlanta, you and your family can work to regain trust in each other and start healing from addiction as a family.

Trauma Therapy

Trauma and addiction are connected in more ways than some may realize. People who have been through traumatic experiences are more inclined to use alcohol and/or drugs as a means of self-medication from trauma and the emotional suffering connected with it. At our intensive outpatient program in Atlanta, we can explore how to heal your trauma in a safe and confidential environment that allows you to express what you may have been going through on your own.

Beat Relapse With Our Intensive Outpatient Program in Atlanta, GA

Inner Voyage Recovery Center offers an intensive outpatient program in Atlanta, GA that provides individuals with the opportunity to get back on their feet after relapse. If you’ve previously received treatment, whether from us or at another facility, know that there is no shame in seeking help at any point in time. Our team is here to remind and assure you of your worth and provide the tools you need to reach your goals. Contact us today for a confidential consultation with one of our caring staff members.

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Author

  • Emily Rowe, LMSW

    Emily Rowe is the Clinical Director at Inner Voyage Recovery Center. She is a Licensed Master of Social Work with 8 years of experience in clinical settings covering one on one sessions, family sessions, group sessions, crisis interventions and suicidal prevention. Recognized by leadership and colleagues as forward thinking, creative, empathetic, active listener and effective.