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
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    Health Benefits of Taking a Vacation to Reduce Your Stress
    September 27, 2023
    First Aid Training Enhancing Workplace Health and Safety
    September 25, 2023
    Beyond the Clinic: Medical Surveys Are a Roadmap to Passive Income for Doctors
    September 23, 2023
    5 Self-Care Habits to Help You Live an A+ Life
    September 21, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    On “Empowering Patients in the Age of Genomic Medicine”
    June 4, 2012
    Transformational and Disruptive Changes Are Coming to the Delivery System
    October 13, 2012
    Collaborating for Community Health Innovation
    February 10, 2013
    Latest News
    Job Seekers with Disabilities Should at Health Insurance Benefits
    September 12, 2023
    Reasons That Drug Prices Are Rising to Unsustainable Levels
    September 12, 2023
    How Revenue Lifecycle Management Helps Healthcare Providers to Optimize Business Operations
    September 6, 2023
    The Hidden Benefits of Practice Exams for Medical Professionals
    September 6, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Stages and Warning Signs of Addiction Relapse
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
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
Last updated: 2020/09/28 at 8:07 PM
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 RelapseThe Stages of RelapseWarning Signs of Emotional RelapseWarning Signs of Mental RelapseWhen Physical Relapse HappensFinal 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

health insurance disability

Job Seekers with Disabilities Should at Health Insurance Benefits

The Intersection Of Dermatology And Wellness: A Holistic Approach To Skin Health
The Ultimate Pre-Workout for Weight Loss
Fall Food Safety Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illnesses
How Revenue Lifecycle Management Helps Healthcare Providers to Optimize Business Operations
  • 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 relapse, relapse

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
James Wilson February 16, 2019
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
By James Wilson
James is a freelance writer and blogger. He loves to write on wellness, tech and E-Health.
Previous Article Baby Boomer’s Guide to Dealing with Knee Problems
Next Article digital-medicine-hand.jpg 3 Top Medical Advances To Expect In The Near Future

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

Andropause hormonal decline
The Benefits of TRT for Andropause and Hormonal Decline
Wellness September 28, 2023
Cancer Prevention
The Importance of Lipoma Examination in Cancer Prevention
Cancer September 28, 2023
dental implant
Cost Analysis of Dental Implants in Australia
Dental health September 28, 2023
View,Of,Niagara,Falls,In,Autumn
Health Benefits of Taking a Vacation to Reduce Your Stress
Health September 27, 2023

You Might also Like

Andropause hormonal decline
Wellness

The Benefits of TRT for Andropause and Hormonal Decline

September 28, 2023
Cancer Prevention
Cancer

The Importance of Lipoma Examination in Cancer Prevention

September 28, 2023
dental implant
Dental health

Cost Analysis of Dental Implants in Australia

September 28, 2023
View,Of,Niagara,Falls,In,Autumn
Health

Health Benefits of Taking a Vacation to Reduce Your Stress

September 27, 2023
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US
© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?