IT DOESN’T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE. YOU MIGHT BE ON A TRAJECTORY FOR ALCOHOL OR DRUG RELAPSE FOR WEEKS BEFORE YOU REALIZE IT. HOWEVER, WHAT IS A RELAPSE? MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ONCE IT HAPPENS?
FROM SOBRIETY TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE
In the past, you underwent treatment for chemical dependency. Maybe you even participated in addiction treatment services. After you graduated from the program, you went back to your life. For a while, all went well. However, at some point, there was a hiccup.
For some reason, you started to abuse a drug again. Maybe it’s the one that you quit before. Perhaps it’s a different one. What’s the same is the return to an addictive behavior pattern.
WHAT IS A RELAPSE?
Almost everyone believes that relapse has to do with returning to substance abuse. That’s only partially correct. Just as a chemical dependency is more than the physical act of using, relapse also occurs on multiple levels. There’s the emotional condition.
Something happens that you don’t have coping skills for. You lose a relationship or a job. Suddenly, you’re on an emotional rollercoaster. You can’t focus or sleep.
From there, it’s a small step to the rational upheaval. You try everything you can think of. You meditate, breathe deeply, and exercise. However, you find yourself staring at the wall more often than not.
Gradually, you isolate yourself from others. They keep asking questions that you don’t want to answer. You just want to get away from it all. And that’s when you rationalize that using only this one time couldn’t hurt.
What is a relapse if not the hope that a drug could temporarily fill the need you experience? Whether you numb yourself or artificially boost productivity to busy yourself, the outcome’s the same. The addictive behavior patterns kick in again. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
WHEN A RELAPSE HAPPENS, GET HELP QUICKLY!
Your relapse is the result of emotions and a lapse in judgment. It happens. It doesn’t mean that your last treatment failed. Rather, it identifies areas where you need additional assistance.
Addiction therapy services could be ideally suited for your needs right now. Get away to a spa-like setting where relaxation lets you breathe in deeply. Next, team up with therapists to undergo care.
Possible addiction treatments include:
- Mindfulness training that encourages a grounding in the present
- Dialectical behavior therapy as a way to handle emotions when they threaten to overwhelm you
- Motivational interviewing, which is a technique that gets you back on board with the program
- Gender-specific programming that hones in on the unique challenges you’re experiencing
- Medication management that can assist you with underlying mental health conditions
What is a relapse? It’s a sign that there’s a disconnect between emotions, thoughts, and actions. At Pearl of the Sea Retreat, you can heal the connection and become whole again. Call 866-962-1907 today to schedule an intake appointment.