Substance addiction is a challenging and often serious medical problem impacting every aspect of the dependent subject’s life. Those fortunate enough to overcome this illness should be commended for achieving a difficult goal. That said, many of these same individuals wonder if past drug reliances possess the capacity to recur.
Can Addiction Return?
Most reputable addiction specialists maintain that chemical dependency is a chronic condition former addicts must always be cognizant of and work to keep at bay.
Relapse
Addiction often returns in the form of relapse. Treatment industry professionals categorize this event as one returning to the old habits that led to the initial addiction and using addictive or illicit substances in amounts equal to or exceeding the levels that they did before their recovery.
Symptoms Of Relapse
Relapse occurs in stages and is considered a process more than a singular event. The three recognized phases are classified as emotional, mental, and physical.
Emotional Relapse
During this phase, recovering addicts experience a wide range of negative emotions and feelings such as:
- Resentment
- Anger
- Frustration
- Envy
- Jealousy
These feelings might lead to the development of mood swings or disorders like anxiety. Persons in the throes of this phase might also withdraw from allies like family members or support groups, engage in potentially detrimental lifestyle habits, and neglect their physical well-being.
Mental Relapse
Subjects experiencing mental relapse deal with major internal struggles. In many instances, said individuals yearn to remain sober but inner demons wreak havoc with their minds. Eventually, these negative thoughts often grow more frequent and intense and increase their probability of using again.
Physical Relapse
In the final stage of relapse, former addicts ingest the substance they were once dependent upon. In most cases, the mental cravings that stricken subjects experience grow so powerful that they consume drugs or alcohol to an even greater degree than at previous times.
The Reasons Relapse Occurs
Persons might prevent relapse if they truly understand the reasons it occurs. Treatment specialists maintain the problem often results from:
Environmental Factors
In many cases, the people, places, and circumstances former dependents surround themselves with present measurable problems. Unscrupulous or self-centered people are not always conscious of a healing soul’s struggles and needs and participate in detrimental behaviors capable of precipitating addiction once again.
Moreover, recovering subjects might return to professional or social settings where actions like drinking are prevalent. Furthermore, they might beat their dependencies only to face other serious life stressors such as financial difficulties, personal illness or sicknesses impacting family members or other close associations, relationship problems, or job loss.
Poor Self-Care
Engaging in poor self-care often heightens one’s chances of relapse. Questionable dietary consumption carries the ability to increase drug or alcohol cravings. A lack of sleep limits one’s cognitive functions and often leads to poor decision-making. A lack of exercise could result in weight gain leading to low self-esteem, body shame, and lagging confidence. Any of these deleterious emotions can precipitate substance abuse.
Idle Time
Few triggers pose a greater danger than idle time. Boredom and isolation often bring forth negative thoughts and actions.
Overconfidence
Many recovering addicts make the potentially fateful error of believing that conquering a physical dependency means their struggle is over. One cannot reiterate enough that addiction is a lifelong process filled with numerous hurdles, peaks, and valleys.
Underlying Mental Disorders
An appreciable percentage of recovering souls would also have underlying mental illnesses. These conditions often precipitate negative feelings, emotions, and actions capable of leading said individuals back to chemical dependency.
Preventing Relapse
It is difficult to predict if a recovering addict will or will not relapse. Too many factors play into such an outcome. However, one might reduce their risk by embracing preventative measures such as:
Attending A Rehab Program
Treatment programs overseen by reputable and established rehab facilities teach improving subjects how to identify the reasons they became substance-dependent, find coping methods, address existing mental disorders, make better decisions, and enjoy a sober life.
Developing A Support System
Numerous addiction specialists also stress the fact that the recovering addict cannot complete the healing process without help. Said subjects will face challenges requiring the assistance of experienced support professionals and an understanding and loving family or social unit interested in preserving their loved one’s best interests.
Reaching Out To Us
Individuals hoping to end the cycle of addiction are urged to contact us. Our New Jersey shore-situated facility has aided dependents of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds in beating their dependencies. Call us at 833-610-1174.