Anatomy

 Of A Relapse

• Addiction recovery is a difficult process, and relapse is common. However, there are ways to prevent relapse, such as therapy, medication, and monitoring. It is important to identify the early signs of resapse so that you can intervene and prevent the final step of relapse which is consumption.

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Relapse is a gradual provess, not a sudden event. Some relapse prevention programs identify stages of relapse (Guenzel & McChargue, 2019):  

1. emotional relapse
2. mental relapse
3. physical relapse

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Emotional relapse is a stage of addiction recovery where a person is not consciously planning to relapse, but their emotions and behaviors are making it more likely. Guenzel and McChargue (2019) give some signs of emotional relapse:

• Isolation
• Not attending or participating in support groups
• Focusing on other people's problems
• Poor sleeping or eating habits.

Your goals during this stage according to Guenzel and McChargue (2019):

1. Self care
1. excercise
2. eat healthy
3. get sleep
4. spend time with loved ones
5. engage in activities that you enjoy
   
2. Recognize your denial

 

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 Mental

 This is a stage of addiction recovery where a person is consciously struggling with the desire to resume using their substance of abuse

Signs of mental relapse according to  Guenzel and McChargue (2019):

1. Craving the substance
   
2. Thinking about people, places, or things associated with past use
3. Exaggerating the positive aspects of past use or minimizing the consequences
4. Lying, bargaining, or trying to plan ways to use while still maintaining control.
5. Seeking opportunities to relapse
6. Planning a relapse

 

It is important to note that mental relapse does not mean that a person has relapsed. It is a stage of recovery where a person is struggling with the desire to use, but they have not yet acted on that desire. If you or someone you know is in mental relapse, it is important to seek professional help. A therapist can help you develop coping mechanisms and prevent a physical relapse.

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The final stage of relapse is when a person starts using drugs or alcohol again. Some people call this a "relapse" and others call it a "lapse." But it's important to remember that even a single use can lead to more use, so it's important to be aware of the risks and take steps to avoid them.

Many relapses happen when people think they can get away with it. That's why it's important for people in early recovery to learn how to recognize and avoid high-risk situations.

 

Here are some tips for preventing physical relapse (Guenzel & McChargue, 2019): 

• Identify your high-risk situations and develop strategies for avoiding them.
• Build a strong support network of people who can help you stay sober.
• Seek professional help if you need it.

There are many different relapse prevention strategies available, such as therapy, medication, and support groups. Find what works best for you and stick with it.

References

 Guenzel, N., & McChargue, D. (2019, December 8). Addiction Relapse Prevention. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551500/

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