Brochure for Behavioral Health - assignment 102 PDF

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This was an assignment on creating a brochure for a program that would involve mental health and behavioral health....

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Relapse Prevention Are you having a relapse? A relapse is often defined as a return to drug use after a period of abstention. During the recovery process addicts will face stressors from daily life which will compel them to start using again. Most addicts will relapse once, if not more times, in their road to recovery. Relapses commonly occur in moments of stress when the cravings for substances become overwhelming. (Melemis, 2015)

What triggers a relapse? For many patients, common triggers include:

● Encountering people they used to use drugs with ● Going to places where they used to get high ● Watching people on TV or in a movie abuse drugs ● Hearing someone discuss drug use explicitly or in positive terms ● Experiencing a difficult event (breakup, job loss, bereavement, arguments) ● Experiencing extreme emotions (stress, anger, fear, frustration) (Capuzzi, 2016)

Symptoms indicative of relapse: ● Fantasizing about drugs. Touting the so-called positive effects of drugs can be a red flag that the person is not serious about recovery.

● Romanticizing past drug use. Glorifying the times spent in active addiction may indicate that the person is bored in recovery and desires the lifestyle of addiction as much as, if not more so than, the drug abuse itself.

● Spending time around poor influences. Social support can make or break a person’s recovery. Recovering addicts that spend significant time around people that use drugs are nearly guaranteed to fall into temptation and relapse.

● Missing treatment or therapy sessions. Missed treatment sessions may indicate that an addict’s priorities are shifting away from recovery.

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● Justification of moderate drug use. When a person starts to explore whether or not they can use drugs in moderation, or justifies the use of a substance by saying that it wasn’t their “drug of choice,” it’s a big red flag that they’re falling off the wagon.

● Aggressively pushing others to choose sobriety. Conversely, targeting those who use moderately, to convince them they need to live an abstinent life, can also be a sign of potential relapse.

● Engaging in compulsive behavior. Rather than sticking to a balanced schedule of positive activities, a person on the brink of relapse may just focus intensely on one area of their life, to the exclusion of everything else.

● Spending large amounts of time in isolation. Being alone makes it even more difficult for an addict to make positive connections in recovery. It also increases the chances that they’ll justify using drugs again, and decreases the accountability for their choices.

● Increases in mental health symptoms. Exhibiting higher amounts of depression, anger, anxiety, loneliness, lethargy, or general dissatisfaction may indicate that the person’s sobriety is at risk. (Melemis, 2015)

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. - Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Prevention Toolbox Use the HALT acronym to self identify a potential relapse. Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, Tiredness. Checking in with yourself can prepare you to deal with relapse triggers. (Melemis, 2015)

The Stages of Relapse 1. Emotional Relapse: isolation, attending meetings, but no engagement, not attending meetings at all, focusing on others problems, suppressing emotions, sleeping or eating issues. -Checking in with yourself is very important. “Are you starting to feel exhausted again? Do you feel that you’re being good yourself? How are you having fun? Are you

3 putting time aside for yourself or are you getting caught up in life?” (Melemis, 2015)

2. Mental Relapse: craving for drugs or alcohol, thinking about people, places, and things associated with past use, minimizing consequences of past use or glamorizing past use, bargaining, lying, thinking of schemes to better control using, looking for relapse opportunities, and planning a relapse. (Melemis, 2015) -Having a solid support system and good communication and coping skills can be instrumental in helping an addict know they are not alone and these thoughts are normal. Having these cravings can make a person feel like they have failed or embarrassed and they make feel like they can not talk about them. Having good coping skills and a support system can help an addict overcome these thoughts before they progress to action.

3. Physical Relapse: individual suffering from substance use disorder who starts using again. Focusing on how much is used during a lapse can distract an addict from realizing the consequences of the first drug use or drink. Most physical relapses are relapses of opportunity. They occur when the person has a window in which they feel they will not get caught. Part of relapse prevention involves rehearsing these situations and developing healthy exit strategies. (Melemis, 2015)

Treatment Options for Triggers/Warnings Self-Efficacy- degree to which a person feels capable and competent of being suc-cessful in a specific situation Self-efficacy level and rate of relapse are strongly related. If a person uses, their self-efficacy fluctuates and they are at a higher risk of relapse. If they stay sober, their selfefficacy increases. Outcome expectancy- refers to the client’s beliefs or thoughts about what is going to happen after using a substance. A positive outcome expectancy is associated with increased relapse rates because the individual anticipates positive consequences from the drug use. Cravings- refer to physiological responses that prepare the individual for the effect of a substance. When an addict is deprived of the substance and is subject to cue exposure, the individual will experience a craving and this may lead to relapse. high self-efficacy and effective

4 coping strategies can be the “braking mechanism” to prevent relapse Coping- refer to strategies that help individuals to effectively manage their behavior, especially in high-risk situations. Behavioral approaches, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, and cognitive coping strategies, such as mindfulness and self-talk, have proven to be effective in low-ering relapse rates for substance abuse. Motivation- The level of motivation a person has to change a behavior is one of the most important factors in the efficacy of treatment. The transtheoretical model of motivation described five stages of readiness to change: Precon-templation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance. Each stage represents an increase in motivation and readiness to follow through with the change process. Emotional States- Positive and negative emotions can contribute to drug use, however, negative are typically the ones that are the primary motivation. When a person is feeling sadness, depression, anxiety, and other low feelings, they are more likely to abuse. Social Support- Social support can have negative and positive impacts. Families, spouses, and friends can provide a positive, supportive system that can improve the client’s level of selfefficacy and negative mood. Counselors have found that clients are more likely to lapse or relapse immediately following treatment, but over time they can fall into old habits and families or friends can become less compassionate to behaviors they have dealt with multiple times. (Capuzzi, 2016)

Aftercare Plan 9 step plan utilized by Terence Gorski (2003) 1. Stabilization: Following detoxification, at least a few days of sobriety are wise, and it is important not to rush in too quickly with much new material that patients will not be able to retain in the immediate post detoxification period. 2. Assessment: This will be a full assessment of psychological, social, physical, and spiritual issues pertinent to treatment and recovery, according to usual professional practice. How-ever, Gorski especially emphasizes the need for a life history of alcohol/drug use, including the history of past episodes of recovery and relapse. 3. Relapse Education: This is the point at which information about the nature of lapse and relapse is provided. Gorski recommends involving family and friends, as well as 12-step sponsors, at this stage. 4. Identify Warning Signs: Relapse is often preceded by warning signs that can be identified

5 and that can thus allow early intervention and relapse prevention. These signs will be closely related to understanding the nature and identity of HRSs for each client. 5. Identify Problem Solving Strategies: Each identifiable warning sign or HRS should be the focus for identifying a range of coping strategies that will enable coping without alcohol/drug use. 6. Recovery Planning: A plan for recovery can now be identified that will include appropriate support groups, professional help, workplace support, engagement with 12-step programs and all other resources that can reinforce and support relapse prevention. 7. Inventory Training: It can be helpful for the client/patient to have a regular time each morning and/or evening in which to identify and plan for management of HRSs that have emerged, or might emerge, during a 24-hour period. 8. Family Involvement: Family can be involved in relapse prevention in various ways, but this might be a point at which to encourage involvement in Al-Anon, Families Anonymous, or other 12-step fellowships for families. 9. Follow-up: Gorski recommends regular review and updating of the treatment plan: monthly for 3 months, quarterly for 2 years, and annually thereafter. (Capuzzi, 2016)

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Resources: Melemis S. M. (2015). Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery. The Yale journal of biology and medicine, 88(3), 325–332. Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Foundations of addictions counseling. Hoboken, NJ: Pearson....