By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Stages and Warning Signs of Addiction Relapse
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Stages and Warning Signs of Addiction Relapse
Health careSpecialtiesWellness

Stages and Warning Signs of Addiction Relapse

James Wilson
James Wilson
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

  Relapse can happen at any time during recovery, but the incidence is much higher in the newly sober. It can also be high in people who have already been through group or faith-based drug rehab treatment, but who will benefit more from non 12-step rehab programs. This is the reason that there is a lot of importance placed on learning about relapse prevention during the course of drug rehab treatment. It’s a vital part of continuing sobriety and can save people who are in recovery from potentially years of additional suffering. Some people who relapse never make it back into recovery, a preventable tragedy.

Contents
  • Causes of Relapse
  • The Stages of Relapse
    • Warning Signs of Emotional Relapse
    • Warning Signs of Mental Relapse
    • When Physical Relapse Happens
  • Final Thoughts about the Stages of Relapse

Causes of Relapse

Exactly why someone relapses can be difficult to pinpoint, even for the individual. It seems that those who have trouble adjusting to a life of sobriety are the ones who are most likely to relapse. Recovery has to be about more than simply not using or drinking. It is about changing the individual’s way of thinking and dealing with underlying causes and issues; many times, there are psychological or psychiatric issues that need to be addressed. There are also people who don’t find the traditional 12-step approach to recovery adequate for preventing cravings, so they relapse. For those individuals, a non 12-step rehab program may be the answer. When someone gets stuck in the progress of their recovery, it is easy to become disillusioned and return to a familiar means of coping with. Sometimes though, the relapse can be prevented if the person uses prevention techniques.

The Stages of Relapse

Most people who relapse go through three different stages that begin sometime before they actually drink or use. Relapse is a process, not just something that happens, and when a person in recovery understands the progression, it makes it easier to identify when trouble is imminent and he or she can use relapse prevention techniques to avoid using. The stages of relapse are:

  • Emotional
  • Mental
  • Physical

Warning Signs of Emotional Relapse

With emotional relapse, the individual is not typically actively thinking about using or drinking, but he or she is feeling and exhibiting signs that may be setting up a relapse to happen. Some of the signs of emotional relapse are:

More Read

5 Top Digital Healthcare Marketing Strategies For 2019
The Effects of Sleep Problems on Overall Health
What Are the Benefits of Taking a Cold Shower after Workout
The Benefits of Providing Homecare in Your Health System
Try These 6 Great Marketing Tips For Your Dental Practice
  • Isolation
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability or anger
  • Mood swings
  • Failing to ask for or accept help
  • Not attending recovery meetings
  • Not taking care of oneself ? eating, grooming, sleeping
  • Defensiveness

It is easiest to employ relapse prevention techniques successfully at this stage. The later stages have a much stronger pull toward relapse, and they tend to progress faster.

Warning Signs of Mental Relapse

Mental relapse is like a fight going on in the mind of a person in recovery. One part of them wants to use, but another part doesn?t. Mental relapse definitely includes thinking about drinking or using. Some of the signs of mental relapse are:

  • Reminiscing about people and places that one used with
  • Romanticizing or glamorizing past use
  • Fantasizing about using
  • Lying to others
  • Actively thinking about using
  • Planning how to use without anyone knowing

At this stage, it is harder to make the right decisions and the pull of one?s addiction is stronger.

When Physical Relapse Happens

Once the mental relapse stage is in full swing, if the individual doesn’t use prevention strategies, physical relapse isn’t far off. Driving to one’s dealer or liquor store happens at this stage, and it is very difficult to stop the relapse process. However, relapse is not the end of the world – if they are able to return to recovery and get help right away.

Final Thoughts about the Stages of Relapse

It is important to know and recognize the stages of relapse and to be prepared with how to handle it. For the chronic relapser, it may be helpful to attend a non 12-step rehab to learn different coping skills and relapse prevention techniques. Non 12-step treatment centers are becoming increasingly popular for those who find 12-step programs unhelpful. Having the right techniques at hand, and perhaps help from a non 12-step rehab program, can prevent them from reaching physical relapse and keep them on the recovery path.

TAGGED:addiction relapserelapse
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By James Wilson
James is a freelance writer and blogger. He loves to write on wellness, tech and E-Health.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

alzheimer's and sleep
GeriatricsSpecialties

Alzheimer’s Disease Linked to Poor Sleep: Quantity and Quality of Sleep Make a Difference

October 26, 2013

ShopWell Helps You Make Great Choices in the Supermarket Aisle

November 17, 2012

Encouraging the Parent-Child Dialogue About Cancer

October 19, 2015
Image
Home HealthMedical DevicesMedical InnovationsNews

Person-Centered HealthCare: Connecting Homes and People to Improve Lives

November 16, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?