The Gorski model of relapse prevention is a helpful tool when addressing relapse and relapse prevention plans with clients. The Gorski model proposes that people often have many early warning signs that precede a relapse. Many people in addiction are not able to recognize these early warning signs as they are automatic and unconscious. This model allows individuals to identify and address early warning signs of relapse through the following nine steps: stabilization, assessment, relapse education, identifying warning signs, managing warning signs, recovery planning, inventory training, family involvement, and follow up. Each step allows the client to develop more skills and self-awareness during addiction rehab recovery in order to help prevent relapse from occurring in the future.
Identifying your warning signs
- Isolating oneself
- Not going to treatment or meetings
- Going to meetings but not sharing
- Bottling up emotions
- Poor eating and sleeping habits
- Not taking care of self mentally or physically
- Denial
- Relaxing of self-imposed rules
- Drug cravings
- Thinking about people and places associated with past drug use
- Romanticizing past drug use
- Minimizing consequences
- Bargaining with self
- Lying to others
- Thinking about how to better control drug use next time
- Planning a relapse or looking for opportunities
- Using drugs “just once”
- Returning to uncontrolled use
