Relapse Prevention in Utica, NY

Our programs for relapse prevention in Utica are some of the most advanced ones in this region. If you need help, we invite you to give us a call at (877) 804-1531.

As everyone knows, habits die hard, especially bad ones. It's the reason why so few people manage to work out on a regular basis. Even once they do start, it's often only a matter of time before relapse kicks in — their old lazy habits creep back in, and they feel good to give in to, as well.

Addiction works similarly, except that it is a far more powerful force, one that isn't amenable to willpower. After quitting drugs through detoxification, relapse or re-entry of old bad habits is only a matter of time. It occurs in the vast majority of cases. Psychological skills learned through intensive therapeutic courses are the only way to keep relapses at bay.

Why do Relapses Occur?

While it does help to draw an analog between addiction relapses and relapses that occur with simple habits, it's important to understand how much more powerful addictions are, and why.

Addictions bring permanent malfunction to certain parts of the brain. These brain regions learn an indelible psychological fixation to drug use. Since the fixation cannot be undone, returning cravings are a permanent psychological feature of the addict's life. Drug detox in Utica only helps with physical addiction, and not such psychological addiction.

Relapses take other psychological routes into the addict's mind, as well. They are able to take advantage of psychological disorders and personality disorders that the patient may suffer from. Many people helplessly turn to drug use where others wouldn't in similar circumstances, simply because they lack the cognitive and psychological skills necessary to deal with life's stresses.

Anger management issues, moral shortcomings, self-blame, guilt issues, poor interpersonal skills, a sense of inadequacy, negative self-labeling, pessimism and many other issues can make life unbearable to many, making the escapism of drugs seem the only possible course.

Addiction relapse prevention therapy helps patients by training them through therapeutic approaches. Patients learn psychological workarounds, and gain skills to address psychological shortcomings.

What Approaches Work?

At our center for relapse prevention in Utica, we offer several of the most effective relapse prevention therapies. Here is a quick description of how these treatment programs in Utica work.

Learning about the science of relapses can be a powerful tool in itself in the fight against addiction. Rather than occur quickly and without warning, relapses tend to build up over days and weeks. Knowing how to recognize the signs — the tendency to dishonesty, emotional instability and fantasizing about a return to drug use -- can be useful. When these tendencies begin to build, therapy can help.

The 12-step program: A fundamentally spiritual approach to psychological healing, this group therapy method takes participants through several steps where they address their pride, acknowledge their mistakes, accept the supremacy of a higher power, take steps to address their guilt and make amends for wrongs done. These steps can become a powerful source of psychological strength.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy: A scientific approach to learning new psychological skills, CBT helps addicts in many ways. Trigger management is the most common application. Patients work with their therapists to identify specific environmental cues that powerfully remind them of drugs, and actively avoid placing themselves in situations where they might risk exposure to such cues. CBT also helps patients address personality disorders. Therapists help patients counter guilt, self-blame and pessimism through the use of visualization and self-analysis techniques. Patients train going over the ways in which these ideas form. They understand them, and find evidence that proves that these feelings aren't necessarily meaningful.

Moral reconation therapy: Patients who suffer from an underdeveloped sense of moral responsibility or identity work with their therapists to learn to act in morally virtuous ways.

Depending on the depth of the addiction and the psychological challenges diagnosed, therapy can take months to achieve the effect desired. Maintenance therapy can continue for life. It's important to take these therapeutic approaches seriously, however. They do produce results.

The Importance of Aftercare

In many cases, re-entering life after years of addiction and months of therapy tends to leave patients stressed out in trepidation. Such stress can be dangerous and can lead to relapse. For some patients, it's an important part of addiction relapse prevention to have the option to ease their way back into life.

After a stay in our inpatient rehab in Utica, patients can choose to enter halfway houses and three-quarter houses to this need. These living arrangements come with a certain amount of supervision and restriction, but allow freedom, communal support and therapy.

Most rehabs do not offer drug relapse prevention, seeking, instead, to stick to simpler detoxification services. To addicts and their families looking for quality rehabs, the very presence of a thorough drug relapse prevention program can be a reliable indicator of quality. If you have any questions about the services that we provide or about relapse prevention in Utica in general, do call us at (877) 804-1531.