In the case of a substance use disorder, relapse means a return to using. Addiction, by its very definition, is a chronic and relapsing condition. Meaning, even if you are committed to your recovery, there is still a real risk of relapse. But the truth is, it’s just a natural part of the recovery process. These statements and questions will not be perfect for all people in all situations, but they represent the types of language needed to limit the relapse and restart recovery. And then one night, a coworker asks you to grab a drink after work.
Some people contend that addiction is actually a misguided attempt to address emotional pain. However, it’s important to recognize that no one gets through life without emotional pain. Sleep deprivation undermines recovery in indirect ways as well. And it robs people of the energy needed to rebuild their life.
Change How You View Your Relapse
Getting and staying sober is very challenging, but with the right support network and
tools, it’s completely attainable. However, there are those in addiction recovery that never get over the impact of their first (and only) relapse, and the plethora of intense emotions that come with it. While relapses seem like they take you back to square one, they do not erase your recovery progress. It is not ideal to view it as a failure, instead, it is better to view it as an opportunity to grow and learn. A relapse is when a person turns back to a coping mechanism after recovering from an addiction.
When you do not set realistic expectations, you will not anticipate the challenges you face after treatment either. Any recovering addict will face many challenges after treatment, things that will test you and shake what to do after a relapse your resolve. Facing challenges post-recovery and doing so well is determined by how you view your path to full, lifelong recovery. If you set unrealistic expectations, then you will end up being more likely to fail.
Exposure To Triggers
In the case of addiction, brains have been changed by behavior, and changing them back is not quick. Research shows that those who forgive themselves for backsliding into old behavior perform better in the future. Getting back on track quickly after a lapse is the real measure of success. There is an important distinction to be made between a lapse, or slipup, and a relapse.
- It’s imperative that you take immediate action to prevent your substance use from escalating back to where it was before you found recovery.
- Reaching out right away to your support network will greatly influence whether or not you take the steps to get back on track after a relapse.
- Help can come in an array of forms—asking for more support from family members and friends, from peers or from others who are further along in the recovery process.
- The first thing to do immediately after relapse is to stay calm.
- It might mean entering, or returning to, a treatment program; starting, or upping the intensity of, individual or group therapy; and/or joining a peer support group.
Or, you might end up skipping recovery meet-ups or not sharing as much as you used to. At this point, getting a family member or close friend to help could get you back on track. Fully recovering from your addiction can be a long-term process that often needs several attempts at treatment due to the high rate of relapse. If you could summarize all the advice of this article into one word, it would be this – ACT.
Addiction Treatment Programs
The rate of relapse and whether you lapse into a full-blown relapse will depend on the person and the circumstance, but it is not a sign of failure. However, a https://ecosoberhouse.com/ relapse, whilst not a personal failure, is still serious. Do not ignore a relapse as it may lead to falling back into addiction and serious health problems.
This renewed motivation can help you come back from a relapse even stronger than you were before. Prepare yourself for a difficult conversation; admitting you slipped up will be difficult and humbling. If you can’t bring yourself to meet in person, make a phone call or send an email or text. The important part is to reestablish contact and let them know you’re struggling.
