Staying Clean and Sober

A Relapse Prevention Guide and Workbook

By: Ed Haych

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Your Relapse Prevention Plan

Making permanent life changes takes more than a promise to yourself. Even though it is difficult, many alcoholics and addicts have quit using for good.

One of the major problems in recovery from drinking and using is relapse, which is a return to active addiction after an amount of time of not using.

Relapse could happen to you. Recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is an ongoing process. To be successful, you must completely stop using drugs and alcohol. You must develop new and positive thinking patterns, attitudes and behaviors.

Topics That Will Be Covered

* Understanding the relapse process

* What to do if you relapse

* Identifying situations that put you at high risk for relapse

* Taking steps to avoid high risk situations to prevent relapse

* Making a relapse prevention plan that will greatly reduce your chances of relapsing

* How to build a support network that will help you stay clean and sober

The Consequences of Your Choices

Before you start working on your relapse prevention plan, remind yourself just why you are wanting to stop using drugs and alcohol.

Chapter topics include:

• Understanding the Relapse Process

• Lapse vs. Relapse

• Relapse Warning Signs

• What Triggers Us to Relapse

• Effects of Using on Your Life

• Self-Talk

• High Risk Checkpoint

• Triggers, Cravings, and High-Risk Situations

• Your Most Recent Drinking or Using Episode

• Relapse Prevention Plan

• Thoughts, Feelings, Attitudes, or Behaviors

• Triggers Related to Negative Emotional States

• Triggers Related to Positive Emotional States

• Social Pressure to Use

• Problems Related to Your Sobriety or Treatment Plan

• Problems in Relationship with Other People

• Relationship High Risk Situations

• Urges – Cravings – Temptations

• Positive and Effective Ways to Handle Urges and Cravings

• How Relapse Happens

• Relapse Personality Traits

• Triggers Related to Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health

• Miscellaneous Triggers

• Daily Disciplines

• How to Find a Person You Can Trust That Will Help You

• Sponsor Check List

• Choosing Your Sponsor

• Choosing Your Support Group

• Other Sources of Support

• Adding to Your Written Relapse Prevention Plan

• Recovery Skills

• What To Do When It Happens

• Creating Balance

• Why Spirituality is Important

• Preparing to Write Your Recovery Plan

• Making a 72-Hour Plan

• Your Written 72-Hour Plan

• Your One-Week Plan

• Your Crisis Plan

• Making Your Written Crisis Plan

Ed Haych or "Ed H." as he is anonymously known, is the Director of Treatment and Recovery at a prison for high-risk offenders.

Ed began his own personal journey in recovery from alcohol and chemical dependency over 16 years ago.

His journey began while he was locked up in the same correctional facility where he now works.

Ed also is a curriculum consultant to treatment centers around the United States and Canada.

Ed is the author of the books Dry Drunk Syndrome, Fourth Step Inventory, Get Sober Live Sober, Staying Clean and Sober, and the 12 Step Workbook.