What comes to mind when you hear the word relapse? An inevitability? A single occurrence that happens in the blink of an eye? A slip? Can we predict if a relapse is going to happen? Before you get out your crystal ball, let’s talk about relapse as a process and not an event.
Release is defined as a return to a pattern of living that leads to inability to sustain recovery. Relapse is a possibility at any stage of the recovery process, despite length of sobriety time. But here’s the rub, there are stages of relapse that begin with an emotional relapse long before you ever pick up your substance of choice again. It is true that there are warning signs along the way to a relapse, but that doesn’t always mean it can easily be spotted either by the person on their way to the relapse or their loved ones who are often keeping a close on behavior change in early recovery. So what should we watch for?
The golden ticket to understanding relapse, is to understand that it happens gradually in stages, a process. Weeks or even months leading up to the physical relapse, warning signs will start to surface. Individuals in recovery who can recognize these early warning signs for themselves and have coping mechanisms in place have the greatest chance for success.
The first stage is emotional relapse. At this stage, individuals are not thinking about using. However, their emotions and their behaviors are setting them up for relapse. Denial plays a large role in the stage with limited ability to be honest with oneself. Emotional relapse warning signs- bottling up emotions, isolating, not connecting with the recovery community, focusing on others and their problems (the drama), abruptly stopping therapy, and poor life skills (eating, sleeping). Overall, you will start to see self-care become less of a priority at this stage.
The second stage is mental relapse. This is a very difficult stage for individuals in recovery as they start to fantasize knowing very well the consequences associated with the use. An internal war rages on. The desire to escape the pain starts to become stronger than their resistance. Mental relapse warning signs- increased cravings, reconnecting or thinking about past people, places, or things, glamorizing war stories and minimizing past consequences, lying, looking for opportunities or excuses to relapse, or rationalizing their ability to use again with ‘control”.
The third stage is physical relapse. Here an individual starts using their DOC again. Some may differentiate between a slip (using one time) or a relapse (a return to use). A focus on the amount used to relapse can deter an individual from focusing on the why and miss the opportunity to use the relapse as a way to increase self awareness into their own missed warning signs leading up to the relapse. There are many warning signs at this stage that can vary by person and their DOC.
A person does not achieve recovery by just not using. Wishing for your old life back is like wishing for a relapse. Recovery is creating a new life that makes it easier not to use. The goal of relapse prevention counseling is to increase awareness into these stages and early warning signs. Individuals in recovery can work to develop a relapse prevention plan, identify, map, and manage high risk situations, and develop a recovery plan. Reach out for help today.
