How to Make an Action Plan for Risky Situations

u003colu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/learning-from-relapse/u0022u003eRelapse as a Learning Opportunityu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/self-forgiveness-after-relapse/u0022u003eLearning Self- Forgiveness After Relapseu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/relapse-warnings-signs/u0022u003eWarnings Signs of a Relapseu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/reducing-relapse-risks/u0022u003eHow to Reduce Relapse Risksu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/addictive-behaviors/u0022u003eUnderstanding Addictive Behaviorsu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/relapse-action-plan/u0022u003eHow to Make an Action Plan for Risky Situationsu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/coping-stress/u0022u003eHow to Identify u0026amp; Cope with Stressorsu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/lifestyle-changes-for-recovery/u0022u003eLifestyle Changes for a Healthy Recoveryu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/balanced-living/u0022u003eHow to Live a More Balanced Lifeu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003e

u003ch5u003eAccompanying Worksheets:u003c/h5u003ernThere are lessons accompanying each video that you can u003ca href=u0022https://recovery.force.com/app/s/login/?ec=302u0026amp;startURL=%2Fapp%2Fs%2Fu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopener external nofollowu0022u003eaccess through our recovery portal, Swellu003c/au003e or you can download, u003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Online-Relapse-Program-Worksheets_compressed.pdfu0022u003ehereu003c/au003e. (Lesson 6)rnu003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eMedically-reviewed articles:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/drug-addiction/relapse/#Common_Relapse_Triggersu0022u003eCommon Relapse Triggersu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/recovery/relapse/help-someone-experiencing-relapse/u0022u003eHow to Help Someone Who is Experiencing a Relapseu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eProfessional webinars:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/professionals/webinars/relapse-prevention-changing-world/u0022u003eRelapse Prevention: “Doing” Recovery in this Changing Worldu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/professionals/webinars/advanced-recovery-systems-recovery-panel/u0022u003eOur Staff’s Stories of Recoveryu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e

u003ch3u003eRelapse Workshop: Action Planu003c/h3u003ernu003cemu003eIn this lesson we’re talking about an action plan. And we’re also going to be working on an escape plan.u003c/emu003ernrnSo think about risky situations where you might need a plan and you want to identify which of these could be risky for you.rnrnCelebrating holidays with family. Having a fight with your significant other. Being at an office party and networking event or some work related gathering. Being with friends on New Year’s Eve. Receiving a promotion. Being criticized at work. Going to a wedding. Watching a movie or TV show with characters who are using or drinking. Hanging out with friends who still use.rnrnAnd you want to think about these or any other situations that you have that you think are risky and which of those situations might need adjusting? And you’ll want to complete this in the exercise following this lesson.rnrnWould it be situations at work or people in your work environment, situations at home or people in your home environment, social situations, friends or acquaintances that are in your social circle, family situations? Do you have issues with certain family members that make you more vulnerable to relapse? And holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, or certain seasons during the year.rnrnKnowing what these risky situations are is the first step that helps you to stay aware and curious about them.rnrnWhat do you need to do about them? Well, you want to avoid risky situations as much as you possibly can. And when you can’t avoid them, you want to create a solid relapse recovery plan around them.rnrnThe first part of an action plan is to assume you’re at risk to relapse. Dismissing the likelihood of a relapse is dangerous. It’s better to assume you need a safe plan, and you make one in case something comes up.rnrnSo you want to role play or practice drug refusal skills with a friend or a therapist. Being able to say “no thank you” when someone offers you drugs and alcohol will help you move along from that portion of the conversation a lot more quickly and easily. You want to decide who will you call if you need assistance and it’s best to plan ahead, so you know who is available for you and who would be able to pick up the phone in case you need them?rnrnWhich strategies or tools have you used in the past to successfully ride out a craving to use? What are your distraction techniques? How do you surf the urge? Thinking about those ahead of time so that when cravings show up, what are the three things you can do to distract yourself while you’re waiting for them to pass? Know those ahead of time. Be prepared for that.rnrnIf you were in a social situation where other people are using, what will you say if someone offers you drugs and alcohol?rnrnImagine you decide to relapse. What are the potential negative consequences you would experience? And list all of the ways that you have benefited from sobriety. How you’ve grown, how your life has become more satisfying since you stopped using.rnrnWe are much more likely to act in ways that support our recovery if we plan for the high risk situations before they happen. So for each of the high risk situations that you identified, list three places you would go to remove yourself from a danger to your recovery.rnrnNow, if you’re in a work related situation, where could you go?rnrnIf you’re at home, where could you go?rnrnIf you’re at a social situation, where could you go? And so on.rnrnIf you think ahead of time before you go somewhere, where are your exit strategies? Where are the places you could go if things get really bad? You’ll be more likely to act on them.rnrnIn the next lesson, we are going to focus on stress.rnrnThank you for choosing The Recovery Village. If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health or substance abuse and would like to find out more about the programs we offer, please reach out to us directly at u003ca href=u0022tel:855-387-3291u0022u003e855-387-3291u003c/au003e.