Relapse does not mean treatment was a failure. It indicates that a person needs supportive services and a modified treatment plan.
Relapse may seem like a failure, but it is actually a part of the recovery process. If you are in treatment for addiction, it is important to know that relapse and recovery can occur together as part of an ongoing journey. Here are five reasons why a relapse doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
Addiction is a Disease
One reason that relapse is not indicative of failure is thatdrug or alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing illness.Asexpertshave reported, the research supports that addiction is a brain disease because it weakens the brain’s ability to experience pleasure and motivation, increases a person’s response to stress, creates cravings and unpleasant emotions when cravings go unsatisfied, and impairs functioning of brain regions associated with controlling inhibitions, making decisions, and regulating behavior.
Becauseaddiction is a diseasethat affects the way your brain works, relapse is also part of the disease.
Relapse is Common
Relapse is a common part of the recovery process. According to theNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),relapse statisticsshow that 40-60% of people relapse after completing treatment. Thisrelapse rateis comparable to that seen with physical illnesses, such as asthma and high blood pressure, for which the rate of relapse is between 50-70%.
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Thechances of relapse after rehabare moderately high, indicating that relapse is a normal part of recovery and not an individual failure.
The Recovery Village recentlysurveyed 2,136 American adultswho either wanted to stop drinking alcohol or had already tried to (successfully or not). Of those, only 29.4% reported not relapsing at all. The largest group (32.3%) relapsed back to alcohol use within the first year after stopping. With perseverance, your chances of relapsing decrease the longer you stay sober: 21.4% relapsed in their second year in recovery, but only 9.6% relapsed in years three through five, and only 7.2% did so after their fifth year in recovery.
Recovery is a Lifelong Journey
It’s important to remember that recovery is a lifelong journey. Oneexpertexplains that recovery is more like a form of remission, where relapse is still possible. Recovery can mean that someone is making progress but is not cured.
Yourrecovery journeyis an ongoing process, not a single event where you’re suddenly cured and will never experience a relapse.
Relapse is a Sign You Need to Alter Treatment
Instead of seeing relapse as a failure, relapse can be a sign that it’s time to make some changes to your treatment plan. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a relapse indicates that a person in recovery needs to have a discussion with a professional about altering their treatment or perhaps evenreturning to treatment. Developing a plan that includesrelapse prevention strategiescan be helpful and reduce the risk of future relapses.
Researchershave found that a successful relapse prevention plan should help people to identify the early signs of relapse as well as developcoping skillsfor dealing with stressors, cravings, and thoughts of using drugs. Cognitive therapy and relaxation techniques can be helpful interventions for preventing relapse.
Recovery Involves Building a New Life
Recovery involves creating asober lifestyleand completely changing past habits, and it is understandable that there may be relapses during the course of building a new life.Addiction expertsexplain that changing your life is the first step in the recovery process, and this involves avoiding people you used drugs with as well as the places you went to use drugs. Building a new life also requires changing unhealthy thought processes associated with substance abuse.
Change can be difficult, and there may be relapses along the way, but it is possible to lead asober lifewithrecovery support. People in recovery may benefit from working with apeer support specialistto assist them in building their newsober life.
If you are struggling from an addiction to drugs or alcohol and are ready to create asober lifestyle, The Recovery Village offers comprehensive treatment services, includingaftercareand relapse prevention planning, to meet your needs. Contact ouradmissions department today to begin your journey toward recovery.
