Nova Recovery Center
Avoiding High-Risk Situations
Admissions answered 24 hours a day · Free and confidential
Excellent 4.6 out of 5 434 Google reviews across our locations
What clients say
Trusted by clients across Texas
4.6 from 434 Google reviews across 9 locations
Across Nova Recovery Center, Briarwood Detox Center and Eudaimonia Recovery Homes
★★★★★
“Nova is far from perfect, and some of the information can be misleading. But if you want to cover the 12 Steps while enjoying good food and a beautiful scenic view, this is the place for you. The…”
10 months ago · Wimberley
★★★★★
“I did 90 days at Nova Recovery 6 years ago. I am still sober today. And living a life I could have never imagined. The people and the program they are running impacted me for a lifetime. Better than…”
2 years ago · Wimberley
★★★★★
“I went to Nova almost 9 months ago and I wouldn’t change it for the world. The staff when I first entered were very nice and welcoming. As a 19 year old that didn’t know what I was getting myself…”
2 years ago · Austin
★★★★★
“Nova Recovery Center has been an invaluable part of my journey to sobriety. The intensive inpatient program, coupled with the unwavering support and guidance from my recovery specialist, Mark Rector…”
2 years ago · Austin
★★★★★
“I had such a positive experience at Nova Recovery in Wimberley! The staff genuinely cares and went above and beyond to support me every step of the way. The peaceful setting made it easier to focus…”
a year ago · Wimberley
★★★★★
“I love Nova so freaking much. Nova has saved my life in more ways than one. I was hopeless and had no solution suffering from this disease. The staff there never gave up on me. I was the worst client…”
2 years ago · Austin
★★★★★
“I know Mark rector is non-binary however it saved my life and it did a good job with CPR and I don't know how aside from staying sober I could ever repay it thank you Mr or Mrs or whatever you're…”
8 months ago · Austin
★★★★★
“It's been a few years since I was a patient at Nova Recovery Center. Recently I have been reflecting on my time there and how incredibly grateful I am for the experience I had. I have been to 7 rehab…”
2 years ago · Austin
Anticipating and Preparing for Situations that May Pose a Risk for Relapse
What counts as a high-risk situation
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines high-risk situations as those that threaten your recovery or trigger a strong craving to use. They come in two kinds, internal and external.
Internal ones are feelings and thoughts: sadness, boredom, anxiety, guilt, fear or loneliness, but also joy and excitement, and the belief that you could handle getting high occasionally.
External ones are people, places and events. Both lists are below, with what to do about them.
- Definition
- Anything that threatens recovery or triggers craving
- Two kinds
- Internal and external
- Internal examples
- Negative feelings, positive feelings, isolation
- Source
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
If a high-risk situation has already turned into a relapse, that is what the admissions line is for.
Internal High-Risk Situations
- Negative feelings such as sadness, boredom, anxiety, guilt, fear, or loneliness
- Positive feelings such as joy, excitement, or happiness
- The belief that you can handle getting high or drunk every so often
- Isolating yourself physically or emotionally from family, friends, and other loved ones
- Dwelling on thoughts about getting high or drunk
External High-Risk Situations
- Feeling physical pain
- Being in the presence of other people who are using drugs or alcohol
- Getting a paycheck
- Being in a place where you used to drink or get high
- Attending a celebratory event
A high-risk situation is anything that is likely to lead to drug use, whether it involves a person’s internal emotional state or their external surroundings. Identifying high-risk situations can help individuals in recovery prepare for unplanned occurrences and may also provide insight into why they resort to drug and alcohol use in the first place.
Seemingly Irrelevant Decisions and Relapse
A person in recovery may make a decision or a series of decisions that increase their vulnerability to substance abuse. These unwise decisions are often the result of distorted thinking, denial, or rationalizations. In order to avoid and resist high-risk situations, individuals in recovery should be able to recognize decisions that may seem irrelevant to their sobriety but that carry a high risk of relapse.
Examples of seemingly irrelevant decisions include:
- Keeping alcohol or drugs in the house
- Maintaining relationships with people who are active drug or alcohol abusers
- Attending social events or gatherings where alcohol or drugs are likely to be present
- Using alcohol or drugs on “special occasions”
- Keeping drug or alcohol abuse a secret from family members
Decisions such as these increase a person’s risk for relapse because they may make a substance more accessible, make relapsing much easier, or reduce the accountability they receive from others.
Anticipating Triggers and Developing a Plan to Manage High-Risk Situations
One of the best things individuals in recovery can do for themselves is to anticipate high-risk situations before they actually occur. This provides an opportunity to develop a plan of action for how they will respond.
Although not all high-risk situations can be anticipated, clients can still make predictions about what may occur in the near future and work with their therapist or recovery specialist to develop a plan of action.
Coping plans should include a detailed plan of action for how the client will respond to the given situation. At the very least, the plan should encompass the following things:
- Contact information for reliable sober peers, family members, or mentors
- A list of reliable distracting activities
- A written set of positive thoughts that can be reviewed at any time and used to combat negative thoughts associated with cravings
- A list of safe places where the client can go to ride out the cravings or escape the high-risk situation, such as a sober peer’s home or a trusted family member’s home
Individual and group sessions during drug and alcohol rehab may focus on developing coping strategies and plans for dealing with high-risk situations. These sessions will also provide valuable opportunities for clients to practice these coping skills in a controlled environment before they are faced with high-risk situations in the real world.
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What Makes Us Different
- Gender-specific treatment
- Evidenced-based treatment
- 12-Step immersion
- 90-day residential treatment
- Family program
- Full continuum of care
- Insurance and private pay
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Confidential Consultation
Nova Recovery Center is dedicated to helping you or your loved one get help. Please call or fill out this form for a confidential consultation.
One of our understanding, dedicated advisors will contact you about your options. Begin healing today.
Nova Recovery Center is dedicated to helping you or your loved one get help. Please call or fill out this form for a confidential consultation. One of our understanding, dedicated advisors will contact you about your options. Begin healing today.
Related Recovery Resources
Building a strong recovery foundation means connecting with the right support and information at every stage. Explore these related resources to strengthen your journey:
- Managing Triggers and Cravings in RecoveryLearn practical techniques to identify and respond to the situations that challenge your sobriety.
- Setting Realistic Recovery GoalsDiscover how to create meaningful, attainable milestones that keep you motivated.
- How to Socialize SoberFind confidence in social situations without substances and build authentic connections.
- Dealing with Difficult Emotions in TreatmentGet support for the emotional challenges that arise during early recovery.
- Building Sober FriendshipsUnderstand why surrounding yourself with supportive, substance-free relationships is critical to long-term success.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your recovery journey or need professional guidance on avoiding high-risk situations, our team at Nova Recovery Center is here to help. Call us today at (512) 605-2955 to speak with a recovery specialist.
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