Types and Stages of Relapse

Relapse is distressing for those in recovery as well as their families. The first and most important thing to remember is that all hope is not lost. Failure, shame, and a slew of other negative emotions are triggered by relapse. It’s fine to acknowledge them, but don’t dwell on them because they may prevent you from taking the most important immediate action—seeking help. Relapse can be a part of recovery, not a detour from it if you act quickly.

Seek assistance. Many people who are trying to recover from addiction are eager to show that they have taken control of their lives and are ready to go through it alone. Social support has been shown in studies to increase the likelihood of success. Asking for more support from family and friends, peers, or others who are further along in the recovery process are all examples of how to get help. It could entail enrolling in or returning to a treatment program, beginning or intensifying individual or group therapy, and/or joining a peer support group.

Some people put together a close group of friends who they can call on in an emergency, such as when they’re having cravings. Because cravings don’t last forever, talking about them with someone who understands them can help a person get through them. Others take advantage of the numerous types of peer support groups that offer, in addition to useful information, the wisdom and coping strategies of others who have faced similar challenges; it is the ethos of such groups that members support their peers without passing judgment during crises.

In most mutual support groups, each member has at least one experienced person to call on in an emergency, someone who has also experienced a relapse and knows how to help. Furthermore, immediately following a lapse or relapse, attending or resuming group meetings and discussing the circumstances can provide helpful advice on how to continue recovery without succumbing to the counterproductive feelings of shame and self-pity. It has the potential to be a life-or-death source of hope.

Think about the triggers. Consider what caused the relapse—the emotional, physical, situational, or relational events that occurred just before the lapse. Examine the environment you were in when you decided to use again, not just the feelings you had just before it happened. Nothing seemed to be happening at times—boredom can be a significant relapse trigger. This type of reflection allows you to better understand your vulnerabilities, which are unique to each individual. You can develop a contingency plan based on this information to help you avoid or cope with similar situations in the future.

Increase your overall Selfcare. Self-care may appear to be a luxury, but it is essential for recovery. For one thing, it boosts self-esteem, which is often shattered after a relapse, but it also helps motivate and sustain recovery, as well as the belief that one is deserving of good things. Maintaining healthy habits, particularly getting enough sleep, also strengthens the ability to resist cravings and summon coping skills in times of crisis, when they are most needed.

Continue to make positive changes in your life. Addiction recovery entails more than just abstaining from substances. It is critical to build a rewarding life that is centered on personally meaningful goals and activities rather than substance abuse. Recovery provides an opportunity to build a life that is more fulfilling than the one that preceded it. The focus should be on renewing or developing old interests, changing negative thinking patterns, and developing new routines and friendship groups that are not linked to substance abuse.

Create a relapse prevention strategy. A detailed relapse prevention plan should be kept in a convenient location, such as next to your phone charger, taped to the refrigerator door, or the inside of a medicine cabinet, for quick access when cravings strike. A strategy like this helps to reduce the chances of future lapses. A good relapse prevention plan identifies a person’s drug-use triggers, suggests coping skills and distractions, and names people to contact for immediate help, along with their contact information.

Be forgiving of yourself. It takes time to break any bad habits, and viewing success and failure as all-or-nothing is counterproductive. In any aspect of life, setbacks are an unavoidable part of progress. In the case of addiction, behavior has changed people’s brains, and changing them back is difficult. According to research, those who forgive themselves for reverting to old habits perform better in the future. The true test of success is getting back on track quickly after a setback.