Categories: Relapse Prevention

Signs of Relapse

Sobriety takes lifelong commitment, especially since every phase of the recovery journey comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the risk of relapse which can happen at any point of SUD recovery. Studies have shown that 40-60% of people receiving treatment for SUDs will relapse with 85% of them relapsing within one year of treatment. These numbers highlight the importance of recognizing the warning signs so you can take appropriate actions to prevent a full-blown relapse.

What is Relapse in SUD Recovery?

Relapse is deemed a normal part of recovery. After all, it would take time for the brain to repair itself after being rewired due to chronic substance misuse. Relapse is commonly thought to be the moment a person in recovery once again drinks alcohol or uses other substances. Picking up a substance and reverting to the previous levels of use is actually just the final act. 

Relapse does not happen overnight- it is a process so to speak. Since it’s essentially a series of events, you can minimize the risk of relapse by understanding the warning signs. Learning to identify the signs and take necessary steps to address them early on.

What are the Signs of Relapse?

There are three stages of relapse: emotional, mental, and physical. Different warning signs can manifest during each stage. Early detection of these signs could save you from straying from your recovery goals and going back to your old habits of substance misuse.

Signs of Emotional Relapse

During the first stage, you won’t be actively thinking about using substances. At this point, there could be certain triggers that bring out negative emotional responses. People tend to brush off these emotions even when these very emotions have driven them to substance use in the past. Early warning signs at this stage include:

  • Isolating Yourself

You may disconnect from those around you, both physically and emotionally. This may start by not answering phone calls, declining invitations, and just overall disengaging. Isolation would most likely breed loneliness, both of which are known risk factors for relapse.

  • Not Attending Meetings or Treatment

A more dangerous level of isolating yourself is cutting off professional help or peer support that helps you stay true to your recovery goals. You may continue attending meetings or therapy sessions but won’t really engage. You may also stop going altogether.

  • Neglecting Self-Care

Decline in self-care is a common early warning sign of relapse, but it’s also often ignored. This can include poor hygiene, unhealthy eating habits, irregular sleep patterns, physical inactivity, and more. Remember that self-care boosts positive emotions and fosters resolve to resist the use of substances.

  • Bottling Up Emotions

As you shut others out, you also tend to hold in your thoughts and emotions. This could mean ignoring what you feel, avoiding problems, and the like. You may not see it, but this shows how you’re slipping up on using the coping mechanisms you’ve established as part of your recovery.

  • Struggling with Mental Health Conditions

Another tell-tale sign during the initial relapse phase is when mental health issues surface. This includes mood swings or general feelings of irritability, anxiety, and depression. These could be due to triggers like stress or may be caused by neglecting therapies or medications. Struggling with mental health conditions makes you at higher risk for relapse. 

Signs of Mental Relapse

When you fail to address the emotions that arise during the first stage, they can trigger thoughts that may lead to mental relapse. Warning signs for this relapse stage include:

  • Romanticizing Past Substance Use

You will likely start reminiscing about the old days when you were tangled deep in substance misuse. The thing is, you’ll be focusing on how fun it was, how great it felt, and all that. You’ll conveniently forget about the bad experiences and consequences that you had to battle though.

  • Convincing Yourself that You Can Control it This Time

You may also start bargaining as you try to convince yourself that you can stop after one drink or one hit. This false confidence is very dangerous since you’ll tend to minimize the consequences of that one slip. This can lead to relapse or even worse like overdosage.

  • Experiencing Increased Cravings

As you think more and more about your past habits, there’s a risk of activating their associations with your brain’s reward center. As you intentionally think about and even seek out your known triggers, you can awaken the urges and cravings that you’ve worked so hard to suppress.

  • Planning for Physical Relapse

All the aforementioned signs in this stage can ultimately lead to an actual plan to relapse. In your mind, you will continue to justify your actions. This is even as you start to have concrete details of how and when you’ll have that one drink or one hit.

Signs of Physical Relapse

Most people consider this final stage as the end of the battle mainly because it is often associated with actual drinking or using again. But you should not give up hope, there are still warning signs you can watch out for. More importantly, there are still steps you can take even after you’ve had that initial drink or hit.

  • Reconnecting with People from Your Substance Use Days

This is an early warning sign, often considered the beginning of the end. This is a concrete sign that you will actually push through with the relapse you’ve been planning during the second stage.

  • Frequenting Places Where You can Access the Substance of Your Choice

Along with reconnecting with old substance use buddies, going to past hangouts or other places where you can access substances starts as a sign of mental relapse. Both also serve as early warning signs of physical relapse.

  • Resuming Substance Use

This is the ultimate sign of relapse. In some instances, this could simply be a slip triggered by stress or other events. This slip can unfortunately lead you back to your previous levels of use. Whether it’s a one-time slip or a planned act, partaking in the substance could lead to a full-blown relapse.

What to Do When Warning Signs Appear?

Minimizing the risk of relapse starts by understanding and learning to identify the warning signs. Of course, it doesn’t stop there. While you can deal with each warning sign as they arise, you can also proactively do things to reduce the risk of relapse. Here’s what you can do:

  • Self-care. Make sure to take care of your physical and mental health. A healthy body and clear mind make it easier to fight off the urges of relapse.
  • Connect with Others. Nurture healthy relationships to build a strong support system. Surrounding yourself with the right people is a great way to help you stay on track.
  • Avoid Triggers. Identify your triggers and make it a point to avoid them. Stand your ground even if it means cutting ties with people or turning your back on places and things that hold a lot of memory.
  • Strengthen Resolve. Continue honing your coping strategies. If you feel like the ones you have are lacking, you can explore new ones or seek help to build new coping strategies.
  • Seek Professional Help. Never be afraid to seek help, especially when the warning signs start to overwhelm you. You can consider going back to a more rigid treatment or connecting with support groups.

FAQ

What is a relapse prevention plan?

A relapse prevention plan involves identifying triggers that can lead a person back into substance use. It also includes establishing coping strategies for managing the said triggers. This helps a person in recovery to more successfully navigate the whole process – from treatment to transitioning back to their daily lives.

When does relapse occur?

Relapse can happen at any point during recovery, even years after your last substance intake. The risk of relapse is higher during the first few weeks after stopping substance use, especially when withdrawal symptoms are at their peak. Relapse is also more likely to occur after finishing a treatment program. 

Will everyone experience a relapse during recovery?

No. While relapse is considered a normal part of the recovery process, that doesn’t mean that everyone will experience it. Everyone will, of course, be at risk. Knowing how to identify warning signs and taking immediate action can considerably reduce that risk.

Fortify Your Relapse Prevention Plan with Positive Sobriety

Sobriety calls for a lifetime commitment to maintain your recovery goals. The risk of relapse will always be there but that doesn’t mean that you have to succumb to it. Establish a solid recovery plan as early as possible with the help of trusted substance recovery specialists.

Positive Sobriety can provide the help and support you need throughout your entire recovery process. Our team of licensed professionals will come up with a personalized treatment plan including a relapse prevention plan. Get high-quality care at our facilities in Chicago, book your FREE consultation today!

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