After completing treatment, one of the greatest fears many newly recovering alcoholics and addicts face is relapse. Relapse is very common, even expected for people who are attempting to overcome an addiction. Many people undergo multiple relapses prior to successfully maintaining long-term recovery. Relapsing from alcohol or drugs occurs when an individual is in recovery, or abstinent from their substance of choice, and they return to their previous substance use. Relapse is a process rather than an event. It starts in subtle ways and increasingly gets worse. In order to understand relapse prevention, one must first understand the stages of relapse
–Emotional relapse
–Mental relapse
–Physical relapse
Stage 1: Emotional Relapse
Emotional relapse is the first phase of the three phases of relapse. During this stage, the person is not actively thinking about using drugs or alcohol. However, their emotions and behaviors may be setting them up for a relapse down the road.
Some of the warning signs of emotional relapse include:
- Bottling up your emotions
- Isolating yourself from peers and family
- Poor eating and sleeping habits
- Focusing on other people and their problems to avoid your own
- Defensiveness
- Mood swings
- Not asking for help
- Poor self-care
- Failing to engage in sober fun
To prevent relapse, it is crucial to recognize that you are in emotional relapse and to immediately change your behavior.
Stage 2: Mental Relapse
When we choose to not work on any signs or symptoms of the emotional stage, there is an increased risk of transitioning to the second stage of relapse, which is mental relapse. Part of them wants to use, while the other part doesn’t. It is important to note that occasional thoughts of using are normal in early recovery; however, the thoughts that occur during mental relapse are different, as they are thoughts of literal consideration rather than a fleeting thought of using.
Signs of mental relapse include:
- Cravings (physical and psychological urges to partake in substance abuse)
- Thinking about people, places, and things associated with past us
- Hanging out with old friends who use alcohol or other drugs
- Minimizing the consequences of past use or glorifying past use
- Lying
- Thinking of schemes to better control using
- Looking for opportunities to relapse
- Imagining using
- Planning your relapse
Stage 3: Physical Relapse
When a person doesn’t take the time to acknowledge and address the symptoms from emotional and mental relapse, it doesn’t take long to lead down the path to physical relapse. This includes the act of drinking alcohol or using other drugs. The key is to reach out for help if you find yourself in physical relapse immediately, in order to stop the vicious cycle of addiction before it is too late.
At Asana Recovery, we understand how difficult recovering from these addictions through our daily work to help those struggling most from this disease. While some may believe they can make it alone, rehabilitation programs are essential in the fight to break the dependency.
The supervised detoxification and residential treatment programs at Asana Recovery are offered in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment. There is no better time than now, and we’re always available to speak with you. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.
