Mark Houston Recovery

Relapse Trigger #5: Skipping Your Doctor's Appointments, Stopping Your Therapy And Generally Failing To Follow Your Overall Relapse Prevention Treatment Plan

We put our overall relapse plan into action for a good reason. Not following it because of laziness or because we think that we don't need it anymore is a recipe for relapse. Once we've created a relapse prevention plan, we must stick to it or systematically modify it ahead of time. Sometimes what we must do isn't what we want to do, but this is not an excuse for not following through with our appointments and failing to execute our action plan.

Relapse Prevention Action Plan:

• Treat yourself to something special after each appointment or therapy session – that way you'll look forward to them.
• Be sure others around you know your schedule so that you are held accountable. It is harder to skip a session when your co-workers or family members are going to ask you about it!
• Schedule these things during the time of day that works best for you. Not a morning person? Then grab the first appointment after lunch.

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