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By PursueGOD
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The podcast currently has 15 episodes available.
This is the last lesson in our Relapse Prevention series. Some of the content is taken from our last two lessons so we can put into action the things we have learned. So let’s jump right into our third lesson.
Benjamin Franklin says “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
#1 Put God First!Proverbs 3:6 ESV In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
The biggest and most important relapse prevention plan is Jesus Christ! How do we put God first? By making a habit of talking to God daily, reading His word, and learning to live a life that honors Him. Choose a time in the day that you can commit to spending time with Him and stick to it.
Get rid of any items associated with your addiction. If it’s a temptation or trigger to be around, get rid of it! Don’t think you can go to a bar and just have a soda or hang out with friends you once used with. Find a way to make new friends that support your recovery and relationship with God. Find new healthy interests and activities. Join a local Christian church and ask how you can start serving.
If you don’t already have a sponsor or Godly mentor then get one! Start processing your steps using this link to a 12 Steps Workbook. This tool will help you learn, grow, and stay abstinent from your addiction. After you finish a step, you should review it with your mentor or sponsor. If you feel that your problems are more serious, then consider seeing a counselor in addition to having a mentor. All of this will prepare you to help someone else! Helping others will get your mind off of yourself and give you a sense of purpose.
Matthew 6:34 NIV “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Focus on God today and one day at a time after that. He will give you the strength you need to stay abstinent from your addiction when you seek him first. So don’t worry about tomorrow, focus on staying clean today.
Write down and talk to someone about your personal external and internal triggers. You have to be aware of your temptations in order to plan how to cope with them or avoid them. When you write them down, put an action plan in place. If (blank) happens, then I will do what?
You may try to convince yourself you have your addiction under control. But think of your addiction as a big green monster in the closet. He might be put away but he’s in there doing push-ups ready to take you right where you left off if you’re not careful to keep the door shut.
Genesis 4:7 NIV says “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Finally, if you do relapse or you already have, don’t give up. God’s mercies are new every morning. If you have put your faith in Jesus, then you are completely forgiven no matter how bad you feel you’ve blown it! Listen to this amazing promise God has made for us.
Isaiah 41:10 HCSB “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”
The recovery road will still be hard at times. But each day you turn your life over to God, when you use His wisdom to keep your mind, body, and soul healthy you take one step further away from addiction and one step closer to God.
Relapse Prevention 02
Title: Knowing and Avoiding Triggers
Focus Keyphrase: Addiction Triggers
Excerpt: People in recovery need to be careful about handling triggers.
Talking Points:
Discussion:
See Also:
People in recovery need to be careful about handling triggers.
Hook/Intro
A trigger can be anything that brings back thoughts, feelings, or memories that have to do with our addiction.
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisers.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Warning Signs
A common saying is that relapse is a part of the recovery process. There may be some truth to this, but full physical relapse is always preventative. However, physical relapse is very common for people early on in recovery because new people to recovery are unaware of the warning signs. It is generally apparent to those with experience when someone is getting close to relapsing.
Warning signs:
The most destructive outcome of relapse is the shame and discouragement experienced. It prevents someone from being honest and reaching out for help. And it may cause someone to want to give up on recovery
It’s A Process
It’s important to understand that relapse is a process, not an event. There are typically three stages to a relapse.
Emotional Stage
Emotions are powerful. And as addicts, we’ve spent a lot of time letting our emotions rule us.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is how well you know your emotions and how they affect you and those around you.
It takes a great level of humility to admit emotions we are struggling with.
Some feelings and emotions may seem irrelevant, but they can have a greater impact on us than we realize: (H.A.L.T – Hungry, Angry Lonely, and Tired)
Mental Stage
When our emotions are in charge, we struggle to think logically.
We forget how destructive our past behavior was and begin to fantasize about using again.
2 Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (ESV)
Physical Relapse
By the time a physical relapse occurs, it’s shocking and confusing to see the path that led to it.
Self-Awareness
Be aware of these stages and stop yourself before you get to the physical stage where you’re actually using.
Be open about emotional struggles with mentor/sponsor and in recovery groups, even when they seem insignificant.
Be honest with yourself by taking a daily inventory.
Take note of areas of where spiritual disciplines are waning, like prayer, Bible study, and fellowship.
At the end of the day, it’s only our relationship with God and operating in His strength that will give us the discernment we need to stay sober.
Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
Work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a biblical worldview in mind. Find series resources at https://www.pursuegod.org/steps-to-recovery-series.
Work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a biblical worldview in mind. Find series resources at https://www.pursuegod.org/steps-to-recovery-series.
Work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a biblical worldview in mind. Find series resources at https://www.pursuegod.org/steps-to-recovery-series.
Work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a biblical worldview in mind. Find series resources at https://www.pursuegod.org/steps-to-recovery-series.
Work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a biblical worldview in mind. Find series resources at https://www.pursuegod.org/steps-to-recovery-series.
Work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a biblical worldview in mind. Find series resources at https://www.pursuegod.org/steps-to-recovery-series.
Work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a biblical worldview in mind. Find series resources at https://www.pursuegod.org/steps-to-recovery-series.
The podcast currently has 15 episodes available.
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