Relapse – it’s the number one feature of nearly any addiction that tends to remain the same across the board. It’s also one of the most painful aspects of any addiction treatment program and it plagues most every recovering addict at least once and typically many times throughout their lives. Relapse happens to the vast majority of addicts who find themselves picking up the pieces of recovery and starting over time and time again.
The reality is that most people who struggle with addiction will relapse many times and will return to using drugs or alcohol despite their attempts to get sober. Addiction is a disease and it is plagued by chronic relapse which can be both frustrating and painful for patients and their loved ones.
What causes relapse?
Various factors can result in relapse but the most common reasons for relapse to occur include:
Drug cravings or some type of drug reminder such as seeing the drugs, smelling the drugs, thinking about the drugs or the things that one used to do while using drugs or dreaming of the drugs
Being in a bad mood, getting stressed out or feeling down can lead to relapse in an effort to “feel” better
Being happy, elated or celebrating can lead to relapse to “have fun”
Using a very small amount of a drug or alcohol after one has already completed detox can lead to relapse because “one is never enough”
Everybody is motivated differently but the motivations for an addict or a recovering addict to use drugs are often similar. Once the motivation to use drugs or alcohol after treatment has been triggered, the craving to fulfill the desire can become so overwhelming that the user will give in—thus relapse occurs.
How Can Relapse be avoided?
Although relapse is one of the most difficult and painful parts of overcoming addiction in many cases, it can be avoided. Rehab centers provide various types of counseling, therapy and aftercare programs to aid the recovering addict in preventing relapse and learning how to avoid situations in which relapse would be likely to occur. While you can’t avoid all stressful situations and you of course wouldn’t want to avoid being happy, there are some actions you can take to avoid relapse which include:
Learning how to cope with stress in a manageable and effective manner such as by exercising, or talking with a friend, family member or counselor
Refraining from situations that would cause you to be around the drugs or alcohol—an alcoholic should not hang out at a bar, a drug addict should not hang around the people whom they previously used drugs with
Maintaining the aftercare program and following the recommendations of doctors and counselors
If you or someone you love has undergone treatment for drug or alcohol addiction and has relapsed, consider contacting a treatment center immediately for help. The faster a recovering addict gets back on the bandwagon to recovery following relapse the easier it will be for them to continue moving forward with their treatment. For more information or for help coping with addiction, relapse and recovery call 800-481-6320Who Answers? to speak with a RehabCenters.com specialist today.
Heroin rehab treatment provides addicts with the tools and guidance needed to take back their lives from addiction. During rehab, recovering addicts go through an intensive process that’s designed to lay the foundation for living a drug-free life. Once a person completes rehab treatment, he or she enters a new stage of the recovery process…..
As you begin your search for a treatment facility, either for yourself or a loved one, you will find many options. Some people opt to stay close to home for treatment, as this makes them feel more comfortable with their surroundings. Others make the decision to venture to a far off state, feeling that getting….
Suicide & Mental Illness More oftentimes than not, someone who’s considering suicide is dealing with overwhelming emotional and/or psychological problems. According to the American Family Physician, over 90 percent of people who commit suicide struggle with one or more psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse. In effect, it’s not the psychological dysfunction that increases suicide risk,….
Maybe you are unfamiliar with drug rehab or maybe you only know a little bit about it, the fact is though that you probably have many questions concerning drug rehab and this is likely the reason that you aren’t there yet. People fear the unknown and therefore many refrain from seeking help for drug addiction….
As you progress through treatment, it’s common to feel as if you need some social element as a part of your recovery. Safe socialization and making friends in recovery is a huge part of healing. It’s common to feel a little uneasy, scared or otherwise out of place at first but as time goes on….
In the past 10 years, teen drug abuse has seen significant increased and some minor decreases along the way. Unfortunately, the number of teens who are now using dangerous drugs is seeing an all-time high that has not been reached in the prior 20 years. Teens today aren’t just experimenting with pot or alcohol, today’s teen drug….
Christian drug rehab helps individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol to both recovery physically from their addiction and also to restore their faith and recover spiritually. Anyone who has been addicted to drugs or alcohol realizes how difficult it can be to overcome the addiction and heal from the pain that is caused….
The decisions you make in life will always have an impact on what happens next and when you decide to change your life for the better, you want to make the most out of those changes. Whether you have chosen the drug rehab for where you plan to go or not, there are some things….
When you’re looking to attend a rehab center for drug and alcohol treatment, finding the right one can make all the difference. But how do you know what rehab center will work best for you? Is specialized drug and alcohol treatment what you need? When it comes to rehab, anything that will make you more….
“Your past will come back to haunt you,” it’s a phrase that so many addicts remember and equally regret having ever heard and yet as sobriety looms near so too do memories of the past. Drug addiction creates a chaotic atmosphere that is plagued by arrests, fighting with friends, family and loved ones, and hundreds….
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline (non-facility specific 1-8XX numbers) could be forwarded to SAMHSA or a verified treatment provider. Calls are routed based on availability and geographic location.
The RehabCenters.com helpline is free, private, and confidential. There is no obligation to enter treatment. In some cases, RehabCenters.com could charge a small cost per call, to a licensed treatment center, a paid advertiser, this allows RehabCenters.com to offer free resources and information to those in need. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses.
