Relapse is a common occurrence in the addiction recovery process. Staying sober after addiction treatment can be quite challenging. Experts have estimated that most individuals recovering from addiction often experience at least one relapse before achieving lasting sobriety. There are relapse warning signs to watch out for, especially if you are currently going through an addiction treatment program or know someone who is. Paying careful attention to these signs can help you get through the period after substance abuse treatment without any hassles.
Relapse doesn’t begin when you pick up drugs. Instead, it is a slow and gradual process that begins long before you take action. If you are working toward long-term sobriety, it is essential to recognize relapse warning signs and take prompt action to prevent a full-blown relapse. Reach out to Summit Estate Recovery Center today or call us at 800.701.6997 for information about a relapse prevention program.
What Is Relapse?
Relapse means you’re returning to a lifestyle of actively abusing drugs or alcohol after recovery. Relapses are common because addiction is quite challenging to overcome, but they don’t mean you have failed as a person. Instead, you can view an addiction relapse as an opportunity to re-evaluate your state of mind and how to improve your relapse prevention plan.
5 Major Relapse Warning Signs
Drug addiction relapse involves three stages: emotional, mental, and physical. All three relapse stages come with several signs, but below are the five major relapse warning signs you need to watch out for.
1. Emotional Breakdown
Emotional relapse begins with strong negative emotions such as:
- Loneliness
- Anger
- Moodiness
- Anxiety and depression
- Boredom
Therefore, staying busy, active, and interacting with like-minded peers in a drug addiction treatment center is essential as you learn to live a new life of sobriety. The transition may be difficult and require patience, but it’s possible.
2. Social Isolation
You may not initially desire to use drugs again, but isolating yourself from peers in recovery is a strong predictor of relapse. You may feel uncomfortable around others and make excuses not to socialize. This then leads you to start skipping support group meetings. Being fully committed to your drug addiction treatment center and getting engaged in your recovery group is one of the best ways to safeguard your sobriety.
3. Romanticizing Drug Use
This is a prevalent mental relapse sign. In the recovery process, the individual may begin to relive the days of drug abuse and recall those times in a positive light. You may start to believe that you can use drugs again without becoming addicted. During this period, you tend to forget the pain you experienced while using drugs in the past. Once this idea is planted in your mind, it begins to grow. It then matures into a stage of actual drug abuse. This is a pathway to complete mental, physical, and emotional relapse.
4. Recurrence of Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms occur when a substance-dependent person abruptly stops taking that substance. This period may last for a few days or a couple of weeks. However, when these symptoms like anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and memory loss return during times of stress, that may be a relapse sign. This moment is extremely dangerous for the individual because you may feel like you have to use the drug again to make them stop.
5. Behavioral Changes
Once you begin to lose faith in your recovery program, you may change the recommended daily routine that you developed in early sobriety. This routine helped you replace your compulsive behaviors with healthy options in many cases. You might become defensive, practice avoidance, begin to sleep late, ignore personal hygiene, or skip meals.
Seek Support at Summit Estate Recovery Center
Are you looking for an effective drug addiction treatment center in California? Summit Estate Recovery Center offers special and affordable care you can trust. Our comprehensive treatment center in California focuses on long-term recovery by providing the staff, resources, and programs that promote lifelong relapse prevention.
No matter what addiction you’re battling, Summit Estate Recovery Center is a forward-thinking treatment center that can help you recover. We’ll provide the resources and addiction treatment programs you need for sustainable recovery. Our programs and services include:
- Detox programs
- Men’s rehab
- Women’s rehab
- Residential treatment program
- Partial hospitalization program
- Intensive outpatient program
- Outpatient treatment program.
You can learn more about our treatment center by contacting us using our secure online form or calling us at 800.701.6997 today.
