After finishing an alcohol or drug treatment plan, it is necessary to take steps in relapse prevention to make sure you do not begin drinking or using drugs again. For many people, this involves taking on a new approach to life and drastically changing daily habits and triggers.

Here are some ways to help you with relapse prevention:

1. Identify and Remove Triggers: Triggers are anything that remind you of drinking or make you feel like drinking. Triggers will vary from person to person, but they will include anything from television commercials for alcohol, walking past a store selling alcohol, being around other people who are drinking, feeling depressed, and even seemingly mundane activities such as eating out at a restaurant.

Anytime after your treatment you feel tempted or are reminded of drinking, make a note of what it is you were doing. This will help you identify triggers to help you prevent a relapse. Once you have recognized your triggers, you will be able to list ways to avoid them and how to deal with these triggers.

2. Plan non-alcohol activities: Life after drinking can seem strange, since you can’t really go out to a bar with your friends. You may find you don’t have anything to do anymore. Dig up a past hobby, go to movies, go fishing, exercise, do puzzles, volunteer somewhere, read books - whatever it is that will help you take your mind off drinking.

3. Avoid the “wrong crowd”: For many people, relapsing can be caused by social influences of friends, coworkers, or others. They may pressure you into drinking or make you feel awkward. If need be, stop communicating with them completely. Hanging out with old friends still involved with drinking or drugs is a guaranteed relapse if they themselves do not quit drinking or doing drugs.

4. Have a buddy: During alcohol or drug rehab, it is likely you have met someone else trying to quit drugs or alcohol. You may also have a very supportive friend or family member you can talk to. Having someone you can call and share your feelings with about temptation can help you stay strong with relapse prevention.

5. Continue therapy: While after a period of time it may no longer be needed to see a counselor or therapist regularly, being active in meetings, helping others fight addiction, or periodically attending a therapy session with a trusted counselor can help with relapse prevention.

These tips can help you resist the temptation of continuing alcohol or drug abuse and keep you on the path of recovery. If you have any relapse prevention tips you would like to share, feel free to leave them in the comments below.