4 Relapse Prevention Group Activities
Addiction recovery doesn’t happen overnight. Drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs are designed to help addicts through long-term recovery. Because people respond to treatment differently, there are several different types of recovery options available for anyone struggling with addiction.
From intensive outpatient programs to extended care, finding a treatment solution that works for you or someone you love is the key to a full recovery and sober living.
Support is extremely important to the recovery process. That’s why a relapse prevention group can make a big difference in the long-term success of a sober lifestyle. Relapse support groups offer a judgment-free environment when former addicts can talk about their experiences and explore their feelings.
Relapse prevention group activities are designed to encourage the continuation of the recovery process by keeping group members active and engaged. Let’s take a look at some popular relapse prevention group topics that can make a difference on your road to sober living.
1. Cutting the Tension with Funny Introductions
While many recovery group activities can be heavy and lead to a lot of emotional discovery, there are plenty of fun relapse prevention group activities, too. People attending these groups can often be nervous or even embarrassed to share some of their stories.
One great way to cut that tension and allow yourself and others to open up is by implementing funny or “strange” introductions. Instead of simply going around in a circle to learn everyone by name, have everyone share three weird or funny things about themselves that others might find interesting. This little “game” is bound to get some laughs and allow people to feel more comfortable within the group.
2. Open Up About Fears and Stress
Many times, people relapse because life becomes too stressful or overwhelming. Others have a hard time coping with fear. Relapse prevention group topics will often cover the things that are typical triggers for recovering addicts.
A great activity for discussing fear and keeping your own worries anonymous is to have everyone write down one or two of their biggest fears and place them in a hat or bag. Then, pass the hat around and have each person pull out one of the fears to open it up for discussion. You can talk about what causes that fear, how it might have developed, and what you can do to fight it.
The same can be done with stresses in life. Identify certain things that cause stress and positive ways you can manage your stressors without turning to drugs or alcohol.
3. Talk to Your Childhood Self
Many relapse prevention group therapy topics will focus on taking a look at your innermost self. One effective way to do that is to go back in time and think about yourself as a child. Think about what you would say if you could have a conversation with your childhood self.
If everyone in your group could give their younger selves some advice, what would it be? How would you re-direct your own life if you could have been given that advice when you were a child? This is an effective way to look back on where your addictive behaviors may have started.
4. Mindfulness in the Moment
Simply attending a recovery group can help to keep your mind in the present but working on mindfulness together is also a great group activity.
The practice of mindfulness consists of staying in the present moment without letting the guilt of the past or the worries of the future affect you. Getting caught up in the things you’ve done can make you feel like you’re too far gone to make a full recovery. Getting too worried about the “what ifs” of the future can be a trigger for you.
Working on mindfulness with others who are going through similar situations can make it easier to do on your own, too. In your group, you can practice things like deep breathing to focus your mind and stay centered on the present and the success you’ve achieved so far.
The Support You Need for Addiction Recovery
Relapse prevention groups provide the support a recovering addict often needs to keep from relapsing or falling back into old habits. The activities done in these groups are meant to encourage the people there and give them hope for the future. After you’ve gone through any kind of initial treatment for addiction, a support group can be a long-term solution.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or is a recovering addict, a recovery group can make a big difference. Contact Yellowstone Recovery for more information about relapse prevention groups and how they can help you on your journey to a fully sober life.
