Many people face relapse in recovery, often bringing feelings of frustration or setback. While there is no way to guarantee you or your loved one will never relapse, understanding the warning signs and causes of relapse can help. Prevention is often about recognizing and addressing these behaviors before they escalate. Let’s break down why people relapse and what behaviors to avoid in recovery.
What Is a Relapse?
A relapse is when someone in addiction recovery uses drugs or alcohol again. Even one-time use is considered a relapse. While this doesn’t mean someone must start from the beginning of their recovery, any relapse should be taken seriously. When an individual in recovery relapses, it can be a significant setback for their health and well-being. Knowing and recognizing the signs of a relapse can help those in recovery or their loved ones identify if there is a problem.
Why Do People Relapse in Addiction?
People relapse for various reasons, but it’s often tied to familiar people, places, and/or emotions tied to substance use. These things are called triggers and without strategies to handle them, a person might feel unable to resist the urge to use again. Here are some common triggers to be aware of.
Mental Health Struggles
Mental health conditions like depression often overlaps with addiction. When these underlying issues aren’t managed, they can intensify the desire to use substances as a way to cope. This is why many people relapse when their mental health symptoms become overwhelming.
Isolation and Lack of Support
Recovery is often more successful with strong support from friends, family, or a recovery group. Isolation or strained relationships can make a person feel alone and unsupported, which can increase the temptation to turn back to substances for comfort. Feeling disconnected can be a powerful factor in relapse.
Stress and Life Challenges
Stressful events like job loss, financial problems, family conflicts, or trauma can make a person feel like they’re under extreme pressure. For those in recovery, stress is a major relapse risk. They may feel overwhelmed and return to familiar coping mechanisms, like using substances, to escape from these difficult feelings.
Overconfidence in Recovery
Sometimes, people who have been in recovery for a while start feeling overconfident, believing they’re no longer at risk for relapse. This can lead them to let go of healthy routines, stop attending support groups, or assume they can use “just once” without consequence. Overconfidence can make a person more vulnerable to slipping back into old habits.
Physical Cravings and Brain Changes
Addiction alters brain chemistry, creating intense cravings that can last long after someone stops using. Certain situations or even sensory reminders of past substance use can activate these cravings, which may feel nearly impossible to resist. Physical cravings are a powerful factor in relapse, as they create a strong pull back toward using.
Lack of Coping Skills
Recovery often requires learning new ways to cope with emotions and daily challenges without relying on substances. If a person hasn’t built or practiced these skills, they may struggle to handle stress, boredom, or emotional pain in healthy ways. Without the coping skills, the urge to return to substance use can feel like the only option. That’s why an aftercare plan after treatment is critical, as it helps reinforce coping skills learned in treatment to support long-term success.
Unrealistic Expectations
Sometimes, people expect recovery to be a quick or easy process. When they face setbacks or don’t feel “better” as quickly as they hoped, it can lead to frustration and disappointment. Feeling discouraged about the recovery process can increase the risk of relapse, as a person may feel tempted to give up.
Environmental Influences
Returning to environments where they used substances — like certain neighborhoods, bars, or social circles — can bring back the urge to use. These environments can create a sense of familiarity and temptation, making it harder for someone in recovery to resist the pull of old habits.
Common Behaviors That Lead to Relapse
Certain behaviors and patterns can increase the risk of relapse, as they make it harder to stay committed to recovery. Knowing how to spot the warning signs can make a big difference in preventing relapse.
Neglecting Self-Care and Basic Needs
When a person stops taking care of themselves—like skipping meals, not getting enough sleep, or neglecting personal hygiene—it can impact both physical and mental health. Feeling tired, irritable, or unwell can lower resilience and make it harder to resist the urge to use substances as a quick fix.
Isolating from Support Systems
Cutting off contact with supportive friends, family, or recovery groups can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Without a support system, it’s easier to fall back into old habits and harder to get encouragement or accountability from others.
Returning to Old Habits and Environments
Spending time in places or with people associated with substance use can be a major trigger. Returning to these environments or hanging out with friends who still use substances often brings back memories. This can cause temptation and make relapse more likely.
Ignoring or Dismissing Cravings
When cravings arise, some people try to push them down or ignore them rather than addressing them. Not developing a plan to handle cravings can lead to a buildup of temptation, making it more likely for a person to give in when the urge becomes too strong.
Engaging in Risky Situations
Some people test their boundaries by engaging in high-risk situations, like going to parties where substances will be available. Over time, repeatedly putting oneself in tempting environments makes it easier to justify “just one time,” leading to a gradual slide back into old habits.
Skipping Therapy or Support Meetings
Stopping therapy sessions, skipping support meetings, or gradually reducing attendance can weaken recovery efforts. Regular support is a key part of maintaining sobriety, and distancing from these sources often means losing valuable tools and insights that keep recovery on track.
Bottling Up Emotions
Avoiding or suppressing difficult feelings—like anger, sadness, or stress—without healthy ways to cope can lead to emotional build-up. When emotions go unaddressed, they can become overwhelming, increasing the urge to escape through substance use.
Engaging in Substitute Addictions
Some people may replace their original addiction with another activity or substance, like gambling, excessive shopping, or new substances that seem “harmless” or less addictive. Substitute addictions can lead back to unhealthy behaviors, eventually weakening recovery and leading to a full relapse.
Becoming Overconfident in Recovery
Feeling overly confident in one’s ability to stay sober can lead some to think they no longer need support, therapy, or daily routines. Overconfidence can make someone feel that they can handle just one drink or use without consequences, leading them back into the cycle of addiction.
Not Having a Structured Routine
When daily life lacks structure, it’s easy for boredom and negative thoughts to creep in. A disorganized or unstructured routine can lead to downtime, making it harder to resist cravings. Creating a stable routine provides a sense of purpose and keeps the mind occupied.
Romanticizing Past Substance Use
Remembering substance use in a positive way, like focusing on the “good times” and minimizing the harm it caused, can be a slippery slope. This thinking can make a person forget why they pursued recovery in the first place, leading them to justify returning to substance use.
Find Support for Relapse Prevention
If you or a loved one is navigating the challenges of recovery, knowing how to manage relapse risks is essential. Our relapse prevention program offers tools and support to help build healthy habits, recognize early warning signs, and stay focused on long-term recovery goals.Â
Contact us today to learn how our program can provide the guidance and support you need to maintain a strong path forward.
