Boredom and isolation could easily be categorized as the number one reason for relapse by many people in early recovery. Usually, all the downtime before recovery was used to obtain your substance, use your substance, and recover from your substance. Reminders of your addiction can cause a relapse during recovery. A smell of cigarette smoke, watching people drink cocktails in a bar or restaurant or a couple locked in an erotic embrace are reminders that seem to be everywhere in the early stages of quitting smoking.
Are you worried that your friend or family member is in danger from one or more of these leading causes of relapse? If you are concerned that your loved one may be on the path to relapse, Safe Harbor Recovery Center has trained professionals who can help you determine what needs to happen next. Relapse rates are high for alcohol and many substances, and while any relapse is something to be taken seriously, relapse is considered part of the overall recovery process. In fact, many people need to undergo rehabilitation and treatment several times after a relapse before achieving sufficient self-efficacy and a stable enough recovery base to remain abstinent. Guidance from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that substance relapse rates range from 40 to 60 percent, while the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says an estimated 90 percent of alcoholics experience a relapse (at least) for four years.
Postacute abstinence, which begins shortly after the acute phase of abstinence, is the most common cause of relapse after abstinence and in early recovery. Unlike acute withdrawal symptoms, mainly physical, the most prevalent symptoms in post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) are emotional and psychological. They are generally similar for most types of addiction, while the physical symptoms of acute withdrawal are usually different and specific to certain substances. Another common reason for relapse is stress.
While everyone experiences stress, when a person is recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, the enormous burden that stress places on his ability to cope with its negative effects is often too much to handle. When a person is desperate to find a way to get rid of stress, looking for a drink or using drugs may seem like the only way to find relief. This may not end with a single drink or drug use only once, but may result in continued and excessive use of alcohol and drugs, resulting in a total relapse. While sleep medications may be prescribed to help treat insomnia experienced in early recovery, many experts in addiction treatment advise against this practice, as it could contribute to misuse, abuse, and addiction to those medications.
There is some evidence that behavioral treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may be a better treatment for insomnia. The researchers noted that treating insomnia in early recovery is very important to continue sobriety and help prevent relapses, and should be an integral part of a recovery plan. We offer 100% confidential and individualized treatment. One of the most common relapse triggers that lead to addiction, stress is something that most people who have committed to recovery have to deal with.
And, before treatment, you may have dealt with yours by using drugs or alcohol. Once in recovery, you obviously won't have this option. Therefore, you need to find alternative ways to manage high stress levels so that the addiction relapse process does not occur. While you may not be able to avoid a stressful situation, you can handle how you respond to a stressful situation.
Since everyone is different, the ways to manage stress are different for each person. Stress management may include communicating with a loved one, friend, or counselor. You can also try mindfulness strategies, exercise, and other holistic therapies designed to reduce stress in daily life. In addition, prevention of high stress may not always be an option, but people often find themselves in unnecessary stressful situations.
Avoid making important, life-changing decisions on early recovery days, which can lead to high levels of stress. We don't recommend going through this just because you're more likely to be unsuccessful. A doctor-supervised detoxification program has access to medications and therapies to control symptoms. In addition, it is important to note that post-acute withdrawal symptoms can last up to 18 months.
Continuing therapy will help you manage these symptoms. . .
