How to Avoid Relapse After Ibogaine
Originally posted October 15, 2016
If you’ve recently completed Ibogaine treatment, you’re aware of the feeling of elation it can leave you with. No other drug or alcohol treatment works quite the same, and many have reported feeling a complete shift in perception after treatment is completed.
The thing is, no addiction treatment (no matter how good it makes you feel afterwards) is a guarantee of permanent sobriety. Relapse can become reality if the proper steps aren’t taken after treatment is over.
Addiction treatment with Ibogaine is no different. And, though its success rate is one of the highest when it comes to successfully treating addiction, there isn’t a former addict known who hasn’t faced the temptation to use once treatment is over.
Getting Real About Relapse
The percentage of people who will relapse after addiction treatment may come as a big surprise. Many think that initially overcoming addiction is the hard part…and that after treatment life just gets easier. This, however, is unfortunately far from the reality at hand. Some 50-90% of people who seek addiction treatment will relapse. Statistics like these don’t offer much hope to those looking to get clean and sober for good.
What these statistics don’t tell you is the reasons behind these relapses. Relapse can absolutely be avoided, but it’s up to the addict themselves to take the steps necessary to increase the rate of lasting sobriety.
Aftercare is something many people who relapse don’t even consider, but is something vital for sustained sobriety. Support is also something that can help someone avoid relapse. Those without support from friends or family after addiction treatment is completed have shown to relapse more than those who were sufficiently supported.
Why Do People Relapse?
Getting off drugs or alcohol is only the first step in a lifetime of freedom from addiction. Once treatment is over, it’s up to the individual to continue to take the steps that will help them realize their desire to stay sober. There’s countless reasons people relapse, but some of the most common include:
They don’t prepare for the transition from rehab to going back home. It’s easy to get comfortable at a treatment facility, but leaving and immersing yourself back into regular life can be difficult and extremely challenging.
They have unrealistic expectations about what getting clean entails. It isn’t an easy road, and many that leave treatment assume that everything will be perfect on the other side.
They don’t deal with the issues underlying their addiction. While Ibogaine helps one to uncover these reasons, they still must be addressed and worked through before the desire to use goes away completely.
They hang out with the same people they did before they went to treatment. Addicts tend to hang out with other addicts. Doing so after treatment can prove to be extremely detrimental to lasting sobriety. It’s easy to use when you’re hanging out with the people you formerly used with.
It’s easy to feel alone after addiction treatment. Overcoming addiction usually entails leaving your past behind, including the people you used to hang out with. It can become really lonely trying to navigate in a new world without the “support” of your former friends.
How to Avoid Addiction Relapse After Ibogaine Treatment
Ibogaine does an excellent job of opening the door to what has the potential to be a lifetime of success in sobriety. It’s up to the patient, however, to walk through the door and take the steps necessary after Ibogaine treatment to avoid addiction relapse. Many people who take Ibogaine as an addiction treatment go on to live lives that don’t involve drugs or alcohol. There are countless people who’ve beaten the odds and now live great lives. Looking to avoid relapse after Ibogaine treatment? Of course you are. Incorporate the following as part of your recovery plan, and you’ll undoubtedly find a lifetime of success after treatment is over.
5 Ways to Help Avoid Relapse After Ibogaine
Prepare for the Transition Home
Life is going to be a lot different after you return home from treatment. Preparing for these changes ahead of time can save you from relapse. It’s up to you to use the recourses and insight you gained from treatment after you return home. Make a plan for your new life beforehand and you’ll be well prepared to handle the changes that will undoubtedly come your way.
Take Aftercare Seriously
There’s a lot more to overcoming addiction than treatment itself. Getting the appropriate aftercare is vital, and it should be taken very seriously. Support is always a big part of the recovery process and a big part of aftercare. Get the support you need take all aspects of aftercare in earnest.
Stay Motivated to Stay Sober
You’re only going to stay clean as long as you’re motivated to do so. Keeping yourself involved in other activities will decrease boredom and make you less apt to want to use. Make staying sober be your priority…and do whatever it takes to keep this priority in line.
Know Your Triggers
Triggers are going to sneak up on you throughout the recovery process, and avoiding them is key to lasting success. Don’t hang out with the people you formerly used with, stay away from the places you used to hang out, and do your best to stay away from stressful situations that could otherwise be avoided.
Keep an Open Mind
Recovery isn’t easy…which is why relapse statistics are so high. You don’t have to become one of them. Ibogaine is something that will open your mind to the reasons behind your addiction, and it’s up to you to keep your mind open after treatment is over. It’s not going to be easy, but you’ll make it through when you keep your mind open to the many changes you’ll undoubtedly experience along the way.