As you start thinking about your relapse prevention plan, be sure to be detailed. It's not enough to write down vague information. You may not be able to remember the details when you need them the most.

Details are so important when creating your relapse prevention plan. Actually, they are critical. You may not have time to look up a phone number when you need to call someone.

Even if you think you might be including too much information, do it anyway. You may be thankful that you did later on.

It's OK if you don't know exactly how to create a relapse prevention plan. This might be something you've never done before. You will want to get some help to be sure you do it right.

This is why you should ask your counselor for help.

Your counselor has undoubtedly created many of these plans in the past. He or she will know exactly what you should include in yours. In fact, he or she might encourage you to make a plan before you think about it yourself.

Working closely with your counselor as you create your plan will give you confidence in it. That is something you desperate need. It will help you to have professional assistance because then you'll trust fully in your plan.

As you begin, you want to think about the steps you're going to take to prevent a relapse.

These steps should be very specific. You should take some time with this because you're basically outlining what your future life plan is.

As you think about the steps, think about your life as a whole. What can you put into place right away to keep yourself safe from a relapse?

Try to make a list of at least five actionable steps for this section. You will want to include attending all of your follow-up appointments. This is going to be the key to ensuring you stay on track with your recovery.

Today, everyone has a cell phone. Everyone also has their contacts' information stored in their cell phones. This has caused Americans in general to get a bit lazy about remembering certain important information.

The people you trust to contact in the event of a pending relapse are so important to you. They are vital for your life because they'll be a great source of support. The worst thing that could happen would be to lose their contact information.

Unfortunately, these things happen when we least expect them to.

You could lose your phone, your phone could get damaged, or it could stop functioning properly.

This is why it's important to write down their names and contact information.

Include this data in your relapse prevention plan. Make sure to include the phone number for quick reference.

It may seem strange to you to think about writing down the pros and cons of drinking or using drugs. After all, aren't you supposed to not be focusing on the good parts of substance abuse?

While it might seem odd, this is a very important activity.

When you write down the pros, these are things you may be thinking of when you're tempted to use. You will look at this list and these feelings and sensations will be reinforced.

Once you read the pros, you'll read the cons.

The cons will expose the truth behind the pros on your list. The cons will detail all of the negative aspects of substance abuse.

Again, be specific. Just as in the example above, maybe using drugs has caused you to lose your job. Perhaps your alcoholism has led to you going through a divorce.

Your brain knows the pros of drinking or using drugs. Acknowledging them is only going to give you more power over your substance of choice. Once you incorporate the cons of using, you're showing yourself that those pros really aren't all that impressive.

Addicts always have a list of triggers that result in using drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, sometimes they keep that list in their minds, and not on paper.

You're going to keep your trigger list on paper.

What is it that makes you want to use drugs or drink alcohol? Some common substance abuse triggers include:

• Having problems managing your feelings
• Difficulties dealing with stress
• Believing that they will never drink or use drugs again
• Becoming anger or easily irritated
• Not remaining committed to recovery
• Spending time with friends or family who use drugs or drink

Many of these may seem like normal substance use triggers to you. Sometimes triggers are not all that common.

You may experience a trigger when you:

• Smell a familiar smell
• Drive by a place where you used to use
• Hear a song that you listened to often while high or drunk
• Get into a fight with your spouse, or another family member
• Wear certain pieces of clothing

Triggers come in all shapes and sizes. You need to identify what your own, personal triggers are. Don't worry if they seem strange. There is no rule as to what your triggers should look like.

When you encounter a trigger, you're also experiencing a type of lie. That lie is trying to convince you that you need to use. You may even think that you won't be happy unless you use. This is how triggers work in the mind.

The next step for you is to record what you know to be true. You don't have to believe the lies that your triggers try to tell you.

Write down the truth about what a relapse will mean for your life. Write down the changes that might occur if you give in and drink or use drugs.

The truth is a powerful tool, and it's one that you should utilize at all stages of your recovery. It is especially important as a part of your relapse prevention plan.

One way you will help yourself avoid a relapse is by participating in different activities.

It's possible that you have a long list of things you once loved to do. These might be things you haven't thought about in a long time. This is because your addiction has taken that place of importance in your life.

During your alcohol or drug addiction recovery, this is the perfect time to rekindle your love for these activities. You need to write them down as a part of your plan.

Feel free to make your list as long as you need to. It's even OK if you write down some things that you haven't done in years. Write them down, and vow to start doing them again. You'll find that these activities can be a great way to distract yourself.

Everyone faces stress. Sometimes drug addicts and alcoholics are afraid of experiencing stress. They think that if they do, they'll only go right back to using as a way to cope.

This is not an effective strategy for you during your recovery.

As a part of your relapse prevention plan, you need to identify what your stressors are. As you do, write them down and make them a part of your plan. Doing this is so important.

When you refuse to name what your stressors are, you give them more power in your life. It's almost as if not naming them will make them go away. You know in your heart this isn't true at all.

Writing them down is a way for you to give yourself back the power over them. They will still be there, whether you write them down or not. This way, you have a way to overcome them without turning to drugs or alcohol.

After you have written down your stressors, coming up with an action plan is the key.

This is something you might need some help doing. If you're completing your plan with your counselor, he or she might have some ideas for you. There may be some forms of stress that you need to talk with your spouse or partner about.

Remember, you don't have to deal with all of your stress completely on your own. You're not alone in your recovery. There are so many people surrounding you who want to help you as much as they can.

The best way to create an action plan is to take each stressor and look at it separately. Then, write down detailed things that you will do to cope.

For example, if losing your job is a stressor, write down ways you can make additional money. If you have a stressor that you can't think of a solution for, that's OK too. Make a promise to yourself and your loved ones that you will work on a solution with them.

If you do have a relapse, the tendency is to keep it a secret. That is what your addictive mind will tell you to do.

After all, if no one knows about it, you can just go on as if nothing happened, right?

You know this isn't true at all.

Relapses do happen, and they happen frequently. An addiction is a relapsing disease, and so, relapses should be expected. That doesn't mean you can't make a plan to try and avoid them.

Write down a list of people you will contact if you do relapse. Honesty is always the best policy. If your ultimate goal is to steer clear of drugs and alcohol, you need to commit to being honest.

On this list, you should include your counselor, your sponsor, and your spouse or partner. You may also want to include a friend you trust, your medical doctor, and anyone else who comes to mind.