Question

How do coping strategies help clients prevent relapse? Present at least two examples of coping strategies and explain how they may benefit the client, their family, and the community in which they live and work. 5pt. DQ need by Monday 6 August

Answer 1

Relapse is a frustrating part of the recovery process of drug abuse patients . There could be occasions when they return to substance abuse despite the best efforts to remain abstinent . The reason for relapse can be internal (intrapersonal) or external (substance related, interpersonal) factor . There is a complex interaction between a perceived highrisk situation, the availability of coping strategies to deal with such a situation, the effectiveness of coping behavior and the individual’s self-perception and self-esteem (Litman, 1986). Cognitive behavioural framework posits that if a person has adequate coping response and increased self-efficacy, there is decreased probability of relapse while facing a high-risk situation. Longer periods of abstinence usually lead to an increase in the perceived sense of ability to cope with a high- risk situation.  Coping includes both cognitive and behavioral strategies designed to reduce danger or achieve gratification in a given situation (Folkman & Lazarus, 1984). Either stress or temptation coping can take the form of ‘‘cognitive coping’’. For example a person using mental processes and ‘‘willpower’’ to control behavior. On the otherhand ‘‘behavioral coping’’ involves some form of action. The relationship between stress or temptation coping and the individual’s response has been described as transactional, whereby individuals make a cognitive appraisal of their ability to cope with the stressor or temptation, and that appraisal determines the response (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984).An example of cognitive temptation coping is thinking about the negative consequences of using. In behavioral temptation coping there is active avoidance of drug cues to prevent use. Techniques of cognitive stress coping include mindfulness meditation, distraction, aleternate thoughts etc, and behavioral stress coping include going for a walk to get out of a stressful situation, such as a family quarrel, engaging in physical activities like sports , games, fitness regimes etc.

Specific techniques 1. Talking thorugh: In this type of coping strategies, the addicted person is asked to talk through the craving experience to his friends and family members as it happens. This helps the person understand the craving he undergoes and provides an opportunity to discharge and relieve from the associated feelings. This helps the family members in understanding the addicted person in depth and creates an empathetic attitudes towards him which inturn helps the patient overcome his difficulties. Also it brings honesty in the relationship. His/her friends and community members also understands about the underlying problem and as a result prejudice against addicted persons gets addressed positively.

2. Engagement in social service activities as a preventive strategies to avoid relapse: This acts as a distractive activity, an avoidance of high risk situation and also provides a space for sublimation. The individuals mental healths improves through the process. Also family and community benefits through direct action from the person. More integration happens with the patient and the community through such activities which also acts as a deterrent against further relapse.