Well, we made it. It’s the final week of the Fall 2014 academic semester here at the University of Nevada, Reno. From what I’ve heard over this semester, I think it’s fair to say, this was a challenging one for a lot of us. Many people in our community went through quite a lot of adversity and faced many challenges through these past few months and the growth we have all experienced as a result is definitely recognizable and something to feel accomplished for.
As we transition into the winter break many of you will go home and be with your families. As can often be the case, home environments are a place where emotions get supercharged and old habits resurface. Maintaining your recovery can be very difficult in this sort of situation and having a plan can be the saving grace you need at such a time.
Crisis planning can be difficult for some people because it forces you to consider a situation you might not want to consider. Coming up with the ideal steps you might take when dealing with relapse can be done on your own or with someone that you can depend on and trust to help you with such a thing.
Here are some suggestive steps to take in your crisis plan should you choose to create one.
- Name the scenario. Examples of this could be drinking a beer- or many… engaging in cutting, consuming a drug, smoking cigarettes etc.
- What are the behaviors that lead to this event?
- What are the possible outcomes if it continues?
- What are the things that you can possibly do to change the situation in a favorable direction?
- What are some of the barriers that you may face in these efforts to change?
- What might be the outcome if you shift to a more positive or constructive path?
- What can you do in the future to avoid such an event?
Of course, you may have your own steps that are tailored to your own situation and that fit your lifestyle better than these. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your support system, they are there for you and you for them.
For those of you staying here, the center will remain open through the winter break and we would love to have you come in for any reason, even if it’s just to hang out.
Good luck everyone, on your final leg of the semester and congratulations to those of you graduating this December! We look forward to what the future holds!