Relapse occurs when a person who has been sober for a while begins abusing again. Unfortunately, many people in recovery will have several setbacks throughout their journey. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that between 40% and 60% of recovering individuals relapse at some point.  Maintaining sobriety requires effort and time, and relapsing does not indicate a failed treatment plan. Addiction is a brain illness.

Here are the top reasons why people relapse while undergoing addiction recovery.

1. Being in surroundings connected to the addiction.

Relapse might be triggered by others connected to your addictive behaviors. A person’s influence may persist even if they no longer abuse drugs. It’s also possible that they had a role in your decision to start using in the first place, such as an abusive father. Furthermore, being in a setting that brings up negative memories of drug use might be a trigger. Hence, returning to a familiar drinking hole or smoking den may trigger a mental switch that prompts you to resume your previous habits. The substance is also a potent trigger. The mere awareness of its proximity may be enough to trigger a relapse. It’s crucial to have appropriate strategies for dealing with thoughts and emotions in a triggering scenario. Let’s say a few of your pals want to go out for the night and extend an invitation to you. It’s a good idea to be prepared with an articulated retort or a positive alternative, such as going for a run.

2. Withdrawal

Addicts often relapse due to experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Many people who try to quit using drugs or alcohol end up falling back into old habits within the first week. People with substance abuse problems will feel varying degrees of withdrawal symptoms after abstaining from their drug of choice. The kind and severity of the effects are often related to the following factors:

• The substance used.
• How long it was used.
• How much of it was used.
• How often it was used.

It’s reasonable that individuals would want to stay away from them because of the physiological repercussions, which might include sweating (both hot and cold), feeling sick, being restless, throwing up, losing sleep, having diarrhea, and experiencing pain in the muscles. Withdrawal symptoms could also include convulsions and even death in the most severe scenarios. In order to ensure a person’s safety during medical detox, professionals strongly advise they do it in a dedicated facility.

3. Boredom

This occurs when a person who has been addicted to a substance finds it difficult to readjust to a more orderly way of living. The reality is that you may start to romanticize your previous existence as an addict.

4. Stress

Stress is typical in everyone’s life. And, of course, different people have different strategies for dealing with stress. Drugs and alcohol are often involved. You need to figure out how to cope with mounting stress in ways that don’t include substance abuse. Patients that are enrolled in a rehabilitation center will find this process far less challenging. However, it may be more challenging for recent rehab graduates and outpatients to resist the temptation to use drugs and alcohol while under stress.

Taylor Recovery Center is Here for You!

Taylor Recovery Center is a premier recovery center in Houston, Texas. Our addiction professionals believe that recovery does not cease after completing the addiction treatment programs. As a result, they create an aftercare plan for each patient based on their specific requirements. Call Taylor Recovery immediately if you have any questions regarding our treatment programs.

Paul Petersen