Techniques for Dealing with Mental Urges that lead to relapse

• Spend time with people who are positive influences in your life, and who have healthy lifestyles
• Stay busy! Make sure you have an exercise routine or an absorbing hobby to keep you distracted.
• Learn relaxation techniques or exercises. These can include breathing exercises, mental imagery or yoga
• Remind yourself about the many positive changes that recovery has brought into your life, for yourself and your family
• Share your fears about relapse with someone you trust
• Keep in mind that most of the time urges only last 15-30 minutes…it may feel like an eternity, but focus on your relapse plan to help you get through it
• Increase the frequency of attendance in 12-step programs

Related articles

• EVOPROJECT: One addiction can lead to other addictions, and one drug can make you relapse on another drug.
• For relapsers only
• What is God of our understanding up to in our life story
• Since brain changes are profound and take many years to normalize, addicts early in recovery often relapse due to decision-making impairments.
• Addiction "is not a moral failing on the part of the individual. It's a chronic disease of the brain that can be treated."
• What is wrong with me?