What To Do After a Relapse?

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Relapse may feel like the end of the world. But the truth is, it’s just a natural part of the recovery process.

Addiction, by its very definition, is a chronic and relapsing condition. Meaning, even if you are committed to your recovery, there is still a real risk of relapse.

Returning to using is nothing to be ashamed of. During a relapse with addiction, there’s no reason to think we’ve failed at recovery.

Relapse doesn’t mean disaster. You can always get back on the road to recovery.

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What is a Relapse?

Relapse is simply the worsening of a medical condition after a period of remission. In the case of a substance use disorder, relapse means a return to using.

It doesn’t mean failure.

And it doesn’t mean that treatment hasn’t worked. It simply means you are going through the process of recovery.

And that you may need to modify or change your treatment plan.

How Common is Relapse?

Addiction is a chronic and relapsing condition. Rates of relapse are similar to any other chronic illness, like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the rates of relapse for people with substance use disorder are 40 to 60 percent.

Compare this to the relapse rate of hypertension or asthma, at 50 to 70 percent.

Research also shows that people in early recovery are at a higher risk of relapse than someone with a sustained period of sobriety. Studies show that a person who has completed treatment remains at a higher risk of relapse (approximately 50 percent) for the first 12 weeks after leaving treatment. For those in recovery from alcohol use disorder, rates of relapse are as high as 90 percent.

It is worth noting that while relapse is part of recovery for some people, it can still represent a risk for people who use more potent drugs like opioids. When a person stops using substances, their tolerance decreases. Using again may be deadly as the risk of overdose is higher.

That’s why it’s important to never use alone and to carry an opioid reversal drug such as Narcan.

Are There Stages of Relapse?

Relapse is a process rather than an event. Relapse has three defined stages:

Emotional Relapse

This may occur when a person thinks about a previous experience of using substances. You may also stop attending meetings or showing up for recovery commitments. You can become concerned with other people’s problems or start to socially isolate yourself.

You may also develop poor sleeping and eating habits.

Mental Relapse

During a mental relapse, you might start experiencing cravings or think of previous use positively. You may even begin planning on how to use.

At this stage, people in recovery are at an increased risk of relapse. You or a loved one would benefit from recommitting to recovery. Try speaking to an addiction counselor or sponsor who can help you to work through cravings and a  desire to use.

Physical Relapse

This is the final stage of the relapse process. You’ve now decided to take a drug or drink.

Once you’re aware of these stages, you may be able to prevent the physical relapse by identifying the early warning signs.

What Are Some of the Main Causes?

Several factors contribute to the stages of relapse, including:

• Chronic stress: This can cause dysregulation in the body and a desire to escape your surroundings. Sources of stress include demanding work, experiencing relationship difficulties, or health concerns.
• Putting sobriety second: If you stop going to meetings, or showing up for your commitments, this can lead you away from the very things that sustain your recovery.
• A poor support system: Without a strong source of support, your recovery could suffer because you’re less likely to be able to reach out to people in recovery to share your challenges.
• A lack of aftercare planning post-rehab: The last stage of rehab is to develop a solid aftercare plan that acts as a sort of recovery action plan. Without a plan, you may struggle to implement the structure and support network needed to sustain your recovery.

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How to Get Your Recovery Back on Track

Relapse happens. When it does, it’s important to know this isn’t the end of your recovery journey. It simply means you need to modify your recovery.

Rather than enter a spiral of shame or guilt, take action. Here are some top tips for what to do after a relapse:

• Stop using substances or alcohol as soon as possible. The longer you continue, the harder it is going to be to stop.
• Forgive. Shame and guilt will not help the recovery process and can lead you deeper into your addiction. Overall, you made a mistake, and now is the time to get back on track.
• Reflect on what happened. Once you’ve forgiven yourself, try to take a moment to reflect on what caused the relapse. Were you struggling in a particular area? Or were you pressured to go to a bar by friends? Or maybe a loved one died. This is all useful information to identify triggers and inform possible relapse prevention strategies.
• Seek support. This is what your support network is for. Reach out to recovery friends, go to a meeting, or speak to your therapist.
• Go back to treatment. If you’ve been using for some time, it might be best to speak to an addiction specialist to plan on reentering treatment or possibly detox.
• Take your medication. When you relapse, it’s easy to forget to take your medication. It’s important that returning to recovery also involves sticking to your medication routine.
• Relapse prevention strategies. Speak to your counselor or therapist about putting together an effective relapse prevention plan to avoid returning to use.
• Improving coping skills. Find workshops and classes on stress management and research grounding techniques. Or you could attend yoga or meditation classes.

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