Balancing your risks takes time and careful evaluation. Taking on the challenge of risk management in life is an open-ended undertaking. Since no one can predict all of the variables and obstacles that could occur throughout their life, one can question the point of risk management.
What Is Risk Management?
When you’re close to completing an addiction treatment program, you discuss the potential challenges to maintaining your recovery with your therapist. Risk management identifies, evaluates, and forms a healthy response to obstacles. Your aftercare plan is effective risk management because it aims to control or manage hazards. The treatment plan you create and the support groups you attend are integral in reducing the risk of relapse.
What Is a Risk Management Structure?
Aftercare treatment plans are forms of risk management structures. Your treatment plan lays out uncertainties and ways to address their influences on your sobriety. For example, if you return to your pre-treatment environment, you will discuss ways to avoid unhealthy influences with your therapist. A healthy discussion will include what risks you’re willing to take or reject. Whether you accept or reject a person, place, or thing depends on the tolerance level you define for yourself.
The continuous monitoring and regulation of your sobriety can influence how you identify and respond to harmful influences. For instance, attending group or individual therapy sessions or support group meetings are ways to maintain your recovery. If there’s a time when you believe your sobriety is at risk, you can use those support systems to determine whether you want to accept or reject the risk.
What Are Responses to Risk?
Everyone responds to situations differently. Your response to a person drinking alcohol in front of you isn’t the same as someone else’s. Overall, there are some common responses to risk. These responses include:
Avoidance
You can reduce your risk of relapse if you eliminate or remove yourself from the danger. One way you can avoid a threat to your recovery is to change how you socialize. For example, instead of meeting at a bar, meet at an alcohol-free venue.
Acceptance
You won’t always have the opportunity or power to control a situation. Therefore, you can either avoid those situations or accept that you can’t control everything.
Mitigation
When you decrease the projected harm something, or someone has on your recovery, you can take steps to reduce the possibility of coming in contact. For example, suppose you know a relative that criticizes you will be at a family function. Find healthy ways to avoid or control the time you must spend with them. One example of controlling your interaction is making sure you have a friend or supportive family member with you.
Risk management in recovery is a lifelong commitment. When you create an aftercare plan with your therapist, you can discuss potential hazards and healthy responses. Then, as you work on your sobriety, you can adjust your strategy and re-evaluate your risk, needs, and reactions. If you need guidance in addressing your substance addiction, The Guest House is a safe place to care for your mental and physical well-being. Our scenic estate, located near Ocala, Florida, invites you to explore how treatment can help you. We encourage you to rediscover your inner peace. For more information, call (855) 483-7800.