Addiction Relapse

Every recovering addict is in danger of relapse, and this is something that they have to worry about for the rest of their lives. A relapse can occur with any illness, and addiction is no different. Those who have previously suffered from a drug or alcohol addiction, for example, may be worried that they will start drinking or taking drugs again.The recovering addict may try to control these feelings for a while, or it could be the case that his or her behavior quickly develops after the initial thoughts about drinking or taking drugs.

How Can I Prevent Relapse?

After successful treatment for substance abuse, you may be faced with new challenges when reintroduced to the world as a sober individual. Many in recovery struggle with daily triggers, temptations, and cravings. Getting sober is a huge step but it is only the beginning. Staying in recovery can be difficult; however, attaining long-term sobriety is made easier by taking certain measures. You can prevent relapse by taking care of yourself and seeking ongoing support in the form of individual therapy, group counseling, 12-step and other support group meetings, sober living homes, and more.

Relapse prevention is something that many treatment providers are keen to teach recovering addicts. Many of the organizations we work with run relapse prevention education programmes or workshops to show patients how to identify triggers and temptations and to give them the skills required to deal with these triggers.

One of the biggest parts of relapse prevention is learning how to avoid triggers. While many temptations are obvious, others are not so clear, so it is important that those in recovery are always alert to danger. It would make sense to avoid pubs and clubs for a while if you are recovering from alcohol; if you are in recovery from a drug addiction, staying away from places where you know there to be drugs would be wise.

Nevertheless, other things can trigger addictive behavior, so be on your guard. For example, if you spill sugar on the kitchen worktop, you may be instantly reminded of a line of cocaine, which could be enough to trigger a strong craving. Similarly, you may be reminded of the times when you used to grab a beer as you sat down to watch your favorite football team in action.

It is vital that you can recognize your triggers and that you know how to handle them. If possible, you should take steps to ensure that you are not faced with anything that could put your sobriety at risk.

Relapse Myths

With relapse a constant cloud hanging over the heads of most addicts, it is natural for people to have a number of misconceptions about it. It is important that you are aware of these myths so that you do not let them affect your recovery in any way.

• Relapse is unavoidable – you may have heard many people saying that every addict will experience at least one relapse. This is not true, as many recovering addicts get sober and stay sober for the rest of their lives. You should not be under the impression that you have to have at least one relapse as you could be in danger of allowing it to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you do suffer a relapse, you can simply start again, but do not assume it is bound to happen because you will always be waiting for the day it does instead of getting on with your life and enjoying the fact that you are sober.
• You are a failure if you relapse – While some will never experience a relapse, many do, and for some, it is enough to give them the motivation to stay sober going forward. Many people find that relapse becomes an important part of their recovery. This slip-up reminds them of why they wanted to get sober in the first place and they become more committed to their recovery. They do not look at relapse as a sign of failure but merely the motivation they needed to go on and live a full and healthy sober life.
• If you take a different substance, it is not a relapse – many people believe that recovering drug addicts who drink alcohol have not relapsed and vice versa. Nonetheless, the choice of drug is irrelevant. Addiction is in the person and not the substance, so returning to any chemical, the mood-altering substance is a relapse. Using another chemical substance will still leave a recovering addict open to the behaviors and ideas of addiction and is dangerous.
• You cannot prevent a relapse – if you could not prevent relapse, experts would not hold relapse prevention classes for patients. As long as individuals know what triggers their addictive behavior and how to handle any temptations they may face, they can prevent a relapse from occurring.

How to Handle a Relapse

While preventing a relapse is the best option, you may find that you return to drinking or drug-taking at some stage during your recovery. If this happens, it is important that you take action immediately, to avoid a full-blown return to addiction.

As soon as you are able, contact your sponsor, counselor, therapist or doctor and explain your situation. The last thing you need is to wait until your life has spiraled out of control again before you reach out for help. If you cannot get hold of anyone on the phone, get to a fellowship meeting as soon as possible.

It will be necessary for you to detox again if you want to get back on track. If you experienced withdrawal symptoms the first time you detoxed, then chances are you will again, except this time they may be more severe. A medical detox might be necessary.

If you have found yourself drinking or taking drugs again after a programme of rehabilitation, contact Addiction Helper today. We have a team of counselors and therapists ready to listen and provide you with advice as well as information on where you can get help to get yourself back on the road to recovery. Do not delay – call us now.

A Healthy Mind, Clear Goals, and Positive Changes

A great option for drug relapse prevention is regularly scheduled therapy or counseling sessions with a mental health professional. Substance abuse counseling is a key part of your addiction relapse prevention or aftercare regimen. Ongoing sessions with a professional strengthen help to reinforce and build on the skills learned in treatment. They also serve to assess changes in your thinking, emotional state, and behavior that may suggest an impending relapse.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a mainstay of addiction treatment and relapse prevention.2 In this type of therapy, you will learn to cope with and avoid situations that may be triggering and tempt them to return to drug use. CBT also helps you to identify and adjust maladaptive thinking that may have led you to abuse drugs. Therapists may help you explore and weigh the short-term positives and potentially broader-reaching negative outcomes of returning to drug use.

Some people benefit from the use of medications in their recovery. Different medications may be used to suppress cravings, block the euphoric effects of drugs that reinforce abuse or help restore balance to certain brain processes or functions that have been impaired by substance abuse. Examples of treatment drugs that help to minimize cravings and withdrawal include methadone and buprenorphine for opioid addiction—both of which have been labeled "essential medications" by the World Health Organization.

A counterproductive myth about addiction recovery is that any use of medication somehow negates a person's sobriety; however, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) dispels this myth, stating that measured doses of treatment medications do not get the person high but help to stabilize certain imbalanced brain circuits and help people remain sober.

A positively engaged mind is less likely to be focused on drug use.

Another integral part of drug relapse prevention is keeping the mind healthy and focused. A positively engaged mind is less likely to be focused on drug use. Staying occupied with positive pursuits such as educational and career goals, or even hobbies that promote learning (such as playing an instrument) are great ways to maintain sobriety. As you work toward these goals, you will gain a sense of pride and improve your self-esteem, both of which can boost your ability to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Intensely stressful environments or experiences can trigger relapse, so try to avoid situations that you know will put a lot of unnecessary stress on you, especially immediately after treatment. Of course, some stress is unavoidable, but there are practical steps you can take to relax. When entering a scenario you suspect may be difficult, enlist help: talk to your therapist beforehand and/or ask for the support of a trusted friend. The people that love you and are invested in your recovery are likely to be more than happy to give you the support you need. It will also help to set some manageable goals and no when to say "no" when too much is being asked of you.

In recovery, you'll also need to make some changes, and that includes trying to avoid the people, places, and things that you associate with using. Changing your life in this way enables you to avoid putting yourself in high-risk situations that may endanger your sobriety. You may think you should be able to be strong enough to do the things you used to do and see all the people you used to see, but there is no weakness in admitting that doing so isn't good for you and may harm you in the end.

Healthy Relationships

Maintaining your sobriety goes hand in hand with nurturing a positive, supportive network of interpersonal relationships with the people in your life. A healthy family environment bolsters your recovery by:

• Acting as a healthy support system.
• Helping to reduce your stress levels.
• Fostering happiness and overall well-being.
• Offering a healthy outlet to talk about your feelings openly.

You can strengthen your relationships with your family by attending family therapy. You and your loved ones will work on developing positive communication skills (and practicing them at home) and strengthening the bond that you share. You will learn to work through potential conflicts in constructive ways and change destructive patterns of interaction.

Reaching Out to Others

Another important aspect of drug relapse prevention is giving back. This may include educating others about the perils of drug abuse. Educating others about addiction may help you feel empowered and reinforce what you know about drugs and the harms of living in active addiction. This may lessen your risk of relapse, as doing good can make you feel good (and the better you feel, the less likely you may be to turn back to your old life).

Seeing that you're not alone may help to relieve the guilt and shame you carry about your addiction.

Attending group meetings for individuals in recovery (such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or SMART Recovery) may also be extremely beneficial. Regularly meeting with your recovering peers not only serves as a reminder of the negative outcomes of substance abuse but also gives you the chance to connect meaningfully with others who understand what you're going through.1 It also provides another way of giving back, as eventually, you may act as a sponsor or otherwise provide sobriety wisdom to someone new to recovery. Other benefits of regularly attending recovery groups include the following:

• Seeing that you're not alone may help to relieve the guilt and shame you carry about your addiction.
• You can benefit from what other people have learned, e.g., you might learn new techniques in handling cravings.
• You'll have a place where you feel safe, not judged, and where you can speak be completely honest and vulnerable.

Mistakes Do Happen

Addiction is a chronic condition that regularly includes relapse, so it is possible that you may slip up. If you do suffer a relapse, do not fear that your path to recovery has to come to an end. Recovery is a lifelong journey and relapse is a normal point on that journey for many people. According to NIDA, 40-60% of recovering addicts relapse at some point. It can help to view a relapse not as a failure but as a signal that you need to adjust your treatment plan.

Starting the addiction treatment process over again may be difficult but you can use what you learned during your relapse to guide how you approach your recovery this time around. For example, if you participated only in outpatient therapy last time, you might consider trying an inpatient rehab. Don't consider a relapse a sign that you're not cut out for sobriety. Addiction is like many other health conditions that involve periods of relapse, especially when treatment is discontinued or adherence to treatment dwindles. You can recover and maintain your sobriety with the right care and continued focus on your recovery.

• Sources

  Melemis, S. M. (2015). Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 88(3), 325–332.

  National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Nicotine).