The road to recovery isn’t always easy. Even if you’re wholly focused on your sobriety, addiction triggers are still out there trying to pull you back into old behaviors. Consequently, many in recovery can relapse. But relapse is usually not an out-of-the-blue experience. There are often relapse warning signs that give clues indicating a relapse is about to happen.
By recognizing these warning signs, however, you can take proactive steps to course-correct (or help your loved one do so) and keep your hard-earned sobriety intact. And if you need help along the way, our addiction treatment programs here for you at Sana at Stowe.
Understanding Addiction Relapse
Relapse is a common experience in addiction recovery. In fact, more than 60% of people in recovery from a substance use disorder will relapse within one year, according to Mathematical Biosciences. But even if you’ve been sober for decades, relapse can still happen.
So what does relapse look like, exactly? When you experience a relapse, you’re using a substance you’re trying to avoid or have previously quit, shares the Cleveland Clinic. In the context of a lapse vs. relapse, a relapse involves more than just a momentary, one-time slip-up (called a lapse). Instead, you resume your addictive behavior, often returning to the same substance or taking on a new transfer addiction.
A relapse can occur for a variety of reasons (some of which are relapse warning signs, too). Often called relapse triggers, the sources of a relapse may include:
- Proximity to people or places associated with past substance use
- Big life changes, such as moving to a new city or starting a new job
- Ongoing stress or other difficult emotions
- Navigating a challenging health condition
Common Relapse Warning Signs to Recognize
As mentioned previously, a relapse doesn’t usually occur in one fell swoop. Instead, it takes place in stages: emotional relapse, mental relapse, and finally, physical relapse. Each stage comes with its own warning signs of relapse, including:
Emotional Relapse Warning Signs List
During emotional relapse, you’re likely unaware that you’ve begun to show the warning signs of relapse. The idea of relapse or using substances again may not be on your radar. Yet the emotions you’re consistently experiencing are priming you for a possible relapse. With that said, common emotional relapse warning signs include:
- Feeling stressed, depressed, or angry
- Mood swings
- Declining self-care and poor hygiene
- Social isolation
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in appetite
- Skipping therapy sessions or support group meetings
Mental Relapse Warning Signs List
Processing addiction or relapse triggers can be a challenging experience. As the negative emotions take their toll, you shift from emotional relapse to mental relapse. At this relapse stage, you begin to think about using substances again. Consequently, warning signs associated with mental relapse include:
- Substance cravings
- Spending time with old friends who use
- Lying
- Romanticizing past substance use (called euphoric recall)
- Thinking about people, places, or other associations with substance use
- Denial
- Bargaining with yourself on how to use in certain situations, such as holidays
- Thinking about how to use a substance in a more “controlled” way
- Actively making plans to use again
SOURCES: Cleveland Clinic and University of West Alabama
Physical Relapse Warning Signs List
At this point, you’ve shifted to actually using substances again. This may start with a one-time lapse, which can be a wakeup call that you need to make changes or get help. But if you ignore this warning sign, you may spiral into using drugs, alcohol, or other substances on a regular basis. Soon you may find yourself thinking, “I relapsed” and wondering what to do next.
What To Do if You’re Seeing the Signs
Do any of the above relapse warning signs sound familiar in your life right now? Maybe you’ve noticed some emotional or behavioral patterns in your loved one. If you’re seeing the signs, you can make the necessary changes to get yourself back on track. But you’ll need to be proactive before things get worse.
Healthy changes start by revisiting your relapse prevention plan, ensuring it’s working for you, and having the discipline to follow it. Part of your plan likely includes maintaining healthy self-care practices, and that needs to be prioritized again if it’s fallen by the wayside.
You also need to talk to someone about your struggles. This may mean picking back up those weekly support group meetings or seeking a recovery mentor for guidance and accountability. And if you’re seeing these signs in a recovering loved one, you may need to have a difficult conversation in tactfully sharing your relapse concerns. It may not feel easy in the moment, but it’s certainly worthwhile in helping your loved one avoid relapse.
Resuming Addiction Therapy
If you’re recognizing relapse warning signs in your life or a loved one’s, it’s also important to seek additional professional help. At Sana at Stowe in Stowe, Vermont, we provide outpatient rehab as part of our addiction treatment programming. Resuming outpatient therapy for a season can help you keep relapse at bay, get back on track, and fill in the gaps needed to strengthen your recovery approach. Call our team today to talk about next steps.
