Addiction Relapse After Treatment

 

Rates of relapse after addiction treatment can be extremely high: almost three quarters. When factors which contribute to addiction are still there or new ones crop up, it is tough to stay away from an addictive substance. It is crucial that a recovering alcoholic or drug addict remember that recovery is an ongoing learning process and not succumb to self-loathing but identify factors which influenced relapse.

Addiction Relapse Factors

One major cause of relapse is stress, often a catalyst which led to substance abuse in the first place. Stress might emanate from troubles with a spouse and children, job issues, health problems, or friendships.

Peer pressure to continue drinking or doing drugs is another contributing factor in cases of relapse. When others drink around a recovering addict and encourage him to have a beer or a glass of wine with them, saying no is extremely difficult.

Restricting access to a substance is a good idea: easy access makes relapse too easy. Add either of the other two factors and an addict will be tempted to take advantage of accessible substances. Recurring relapse is also common, especially when underlying issues are not dealt with.

One must consider whether or not treatment was complete. Returning to a therapist on an intense basis for a short time or enrolling once more in a full program of outpatient treatment could be a good option and is not a sign of failure.

Recovering from Relapse

While feeling discouraged is natural, try not to dwell on a sense of failure if you relapse. Take time to think about the reasons you drink and what you can do to change your circumstances. Talk to people who provide positive encouragement: a counselor, your sponsor, or a trusted friend. Choose to be around people who do not drink and respect the effort you have been making. This is potentially a time to stop being around friends who influence you negatively. Have someone remove all the alcohol from your home. Address causes of stress by talking to the boss or whoever you are experiencing friction with. Sign up for marital counseling. Most importantly, there is no limit to how many times you can start again.