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The general meaning of relapse is a deterioration in health status after an improvement. In the realm of addiction, relapse has a more specific meaning—a return to substance use after...
- Relapse is not a sign of failed recovery. It’s an acknowledgement that recovery takes lots of learning, especially about oneself. Recovery from add...
- There is an important distinction to be made between a lapse, or slipup, and a relapse. The distinction is critical to make because it influences h...
- Just as becoming addicted is a process that involves learning mechanisms in the brain, so is addiction recovery a learning process, and like most l...
- The majority of people who decide to end addiction have at least one lapse or relapse during the recovery process. Studies show that those who deto...
- Relapse is most likely in the first 90 days after embarking on recovery, but in general it typically happens within the first year. Recovery is a d...
- Recovery is a process of growth and (re)establishing a sustainable life. Experts in addiction recovery believe that relapse is a process that occur...
- Most people relapse in response to some internal or external trigger. Triggers can be negative—experiencing stress or uncomfortable feelings from w...
- Setbacks are an opportunity to learn—to learn more about triggers one is sensitive to, to understand what makes a situation high-risk for an indivi...
- People can relapse when things are going well if they become overconfident in their ability to manage every kind of situation that can trigger even...
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Aug 18, 2023 · Why Do People Relapse, and What Are Some Common Triggers? According to insights from the National Institute on Drug Abuse , some of the most common triggers for relapse are contact with substances and stress cues linked to drug use.
- Overview
- Stress
- People or Places Connected to the Addictive Behavior
- Negative or Challenging Emotions
- Seeing or Sensing the Object of Your Addiction
- Times of Celebration
- Summary
People who participated in your addictive behavior are potential triggers for a relapse, regardless of whether or not they are still drinking, smoking, or using drugs. Likewise, certain places that remind you of your addiction may be triggering for you. Even some family members could be a trigger, especially if they make you feel more childlike and vulnerable.
When you're reminded of your addiction, it's important to have effective ways of handling your feelings. For instance, if you're an alcoholic and a group of drinking buddies ask you to go out, or you see people from work going to happy hour, it might help to have a specific response ready.
It also may help to have a healthy activity that you can do instead like going for a run, seeing a movie, having dinner with a sponsor, or reading a good book.
If you don't prepare for these situations ahead of time, you are vulnerable to relapse. Try brainstorming ideas on your own and work with your counselor or therapist to come up with a plan.
Positive situations, such as birthdays and holidays, can be triggers too. You may feel happy, in control, and confident you can handle one drink, one smoke, or one mild flirtation with an attractive stranger. But can you really keep it under control?
People who struggle with addiction frequently lose their capacity to know when to stop. Therefore, one drink or cigarette can more easily turn into a binge for someone who has struggled with addiction.
Having someone to support in situations where you are at risk of relapse can help. Find someone you trust and respect to kindly, but firmly, persuade you to stop what you're doing if you do start to relapse.
Avoid going into situations alone where you are at high risk of relapse. You might be surprised how quickly your resolve and good intentions disappear once the party's started.
Learning to recognize triggers, getting help from a counselor, and building a support network are all useful tools in preventing a relapse. Do everything you can to protect yourself, but don't beat yourself up if you do slip.
Remember, relapse is not a sign that your recovery failed. You're navigating a new and unfamiliar path. So, with continued therapy and support you should be able to build stronger defenses against common triggers.
7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
1.Sinha R. New findings on biological factors predicting addiction relapse vulnerability. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2011;13(5):398-405. doi:10.1007/s11920-011-0224-0
2.Menon J, Kandasamy A. Relapse prevention. Indian J Psychiatry. 2018;60(Suppl 4):S473-S478.
Mar 1, 2024 · Substance abuse relapse occurs when a person who has attempted to stop using a substance begins to use it again. Relapse can occur very soon after attempting sobriety, or after several years of sustained sobriety. Relapse requires a conscious decision to abandon the recovery process.
Jan 5, 2024 · A relapse is when a person returns to using drugs or alcohol after a period of sobriety. While a lapse is a brief “slip” where a person may drink or use, but then immediately stop again, a relapse is when a person makes a full blown return to drinking and/or using drugs.
- 1. Seeking support from family, friends, and other sober people can help you cope with a relapse. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can...
- 2. Twelve-step groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART Recovery, an alternative science-based mutual-help group, ca...
- 3. Being around triggers shortly after a relapse can increase your cravings for drugs or alcohol. To prevent a relapse from continuing, it is helpf...
- 4. Boundaries are limits that we set for ourselves to protect us from harm. Having weak or poor boundaries can lead to negative emotions, such as a...
- 5. Taking care of yourself emotionally and physically is important after a relapse. Self-care can help you recover from a relapse by reducing tensi...
- 6. Rather than viewing a relapse as a failure, consider it a learning experience. Take some time to think about how the relapse happened. What took...
- 7. This will serve as a guide for helping you stay sober. Consider writing a detailed plan that outlines your triggers for drug use, at least 3 cop...
Sep 3, 2015 · Relapse prevention is why most people seek treatment. By the time most individuals seek help, they have already tried to quit on their own and they are looking for a better solution. This article offers a practical approach to relapse prevention that works well in both individual and group therapy.
Aug 23, 2024 · Mental. Physical. Emotional relapse is often the first stage of relapse, and it occurs before someone in recovery even begins to consider using again. The individual usually starts to experience negative emotional responses, such as anger, moodiness and anxious feelings.
