Addiction recovery is not an easy process. The truth of the matter is that a lot of people do relapse. But that doesn’t have to be the end of their journey or story. They can use it as a turning point to pick themselves back up and make necessary changes to get back to recovery. The media is filled with stories of celebrities and others who have been in rehab multiple times, and frames this as though it is a negative. However, it shows that they’re not giving up and they are making the effort to change.
Relapse is a part of many people’s recovery journey, but it doesn’t have to be. There are people who go through executive drug rehab and never relapse. They are able to implement what they have learned and continue making changes in their life to stay on top of their recovery and triggers. When something negative occurs, they are able to deal with it in a constructive way and keep moving forward. This is ideally how everyone in recovery would live, but it’s not. Life is full of the unexpected. You never know what each new day will bring and some days are harder than others.
Relapse as a Learning Opportunity
Just because you experience a relapse does not mean that you have failed, and it does not mean that treatment has failed. Depending on the severity of a person’s drug addiction, it can take a long time for them to overcome the obstacles they face and make positive changes that stick. The brain is rewired by addiction and it interferes with the reward system. Undoing this damage, so to speak, is not something that happens overnight. Many people transition from residential treatment to an outpatient treatment program to continue receiving support for recovery. They attend regular support group meetings for the same reason. It takes many repetitions before something becomes a habit.
If you do have a slip or relapse, consider the following:
- Think about what went wrong. Did you put yourself in a tempting or stressful situation? Were you spending time with people who are a poor influence? Are there other changes you made that kept you from focusing on your recovery as much as you had been? Relapse is not typically something that happens out of the blue. There are usually warning signs leading up to it. So stop to consider where things started to slip downhill and what you could have done differently.
- Think about how far you have come. If you’re tempted to give in to a relapse, step back and think how far you’ve come. Think about all of the ways that your life has changed for the better. Reflect on the obstacles you have managed to overcome. Remind yourself that you are strong, and you have so much more you want to achieve in life.
- Think about your goals. Don’t lose sight of the goals you have set for yourself. Settling for relapse does not put you any closer to accomplishing them. You’ve come so far already; do you really want to throw that away? You can get yourself back on track and do not have to spiral to your own rock bottom again before seeking help.
- Take action. Tell someone that you have relapsed. Ask for help in getting back to treatment or making necessary changes. Stop things before they become more serious. You still have so many more chapters to add to your story, so close the chapter on relapse and start anew.
Addiction is considered a chronic disease. People with diabetes or heart disease do not get shamed when their condition relapses and they need more treatment. The same should be true for those struggling with addiction. Relapse is a sign that you need to adjust your approach to recovery because something isn’t working as well anymore. A seven- or 14-day detox program can help you to rid your body of any addictive substances and focus on your recovery once more. You can get back to figuring out which strategies work best for you and making healthy changes in your life. Relapse happens. It’s how you respond that matters.
Try Again
No two experiences with addiction rehab are exactly the same. You are in a different place in your life now, and you already have some recovery strategies under your belt. Don’t be afraid to try again, or think that because you’ve been through treatment already that it won’t work. Keep an open mind and realize that you still have more to learn. You only fail when you stop trying. As long as you keep pushing forward, learning from your mistakes, and trying recovery again, you haven’t failed – you’ve just found a lot of other ways that don’t work for you.
Whether you’re entering addiction rehab for the first time or are returning following a relapse, Chapters Capistrano can help. Our highly skilled staff is here to support you along each step of the way and help you get back on the road to recovery. You’ll engage in a variety of therapies and activities aligned with your individual needs. Recovery – even following relapse – is possible. Contact Chapters Capistrano at 888-973-0230 to get started.
