If you’ve been in treatment before, it may also help to reach out to alumni programs (if any) for resources. Many alumni programs, such as those offered by American Addiction Centers (AAC), host peer gatherings and can connect you with addiction aftercare services. Most people assume that an alcohol relapse starts the minute someone starts drinking again. However, studies suggest that relapse happens gradually and typically progresses through 3 stages.
How to Determine the Severity of Substance Use
Obviously, you should avoid going to bars or clubs if at all possible. Sober nights are a great way to enjoy a night at a club dancing with friends without the temptation to drink. Many local 12-step groups learn which local bars offer “booze free” nights and share the information at meetings. It’s a great way to enjoy dancing or socializing with friends without substances. If you lived independently but have lost your apartment or house, explore options for temporary living arrangements until you get back on your feet financially. You may be able to room with a sober friend from your rehab days, or simply with a friend who knows you’re serious about rehab.
Take Time To Relax
A slip might be a night out drinking or one-time use of a drug you were addicted to. The next day, you would go to a meeting or immediately stop use again. Some addicts slip and immediately get right back into a meeting and begin the process of recovery anew. The pattern would continue until you’re full-blown into the life you were in before.
Rolling Hills Recovery Center offers free 24/7 addiction support.
- Luckily, there are plenty of other options for treatment when a relapse occurs.
- If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use, an intervention could be necessary.
- Relapse must be taken seriously, as a return to drug or alcohol abuse can have dangerous — and even deadly — consequences.
- Withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable and can make quitting hard or cause a relapse.
Also keep in mind that depending on the severity of your addiction as well as other factors, inpatient treatment may not be required; outpatient programs may be an option. If you don’t need 24/7 care, you may be able to attend a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), or traditional outpatient care. The first four years of sobriety are the most dangerous years for relapse. Relapse rates for addicts range from 50% to 90% in those volatile first four years of recovery.
- Submit your number to receive a call today from a treatment provider.
- You don’t need to reinvent the wheel when you’re coming home after rehab.
- More importantly, getting help could mean the difference between life and death, and your life is far more important than what others think of you.
- In order to determine if you should return to rehab, it is first important to fully understand relapse and the dangers it presents.
- Unfortunately, not going into rehab can negatively affect your life.
- If your substance use has started to negatively impact your life or you feel like you no longer have control, it is time to seek treatment.
This kind of evaluation and modification can be a recurring and long-term process. It is not unusual for it to take multiple attempts at rehabilitation to overcome an addiction. These brief outpatient treatments may be beneficial in many ways, including avoiding the need to enter a more extensive rehabilitation facility. This follow-up service may be provided to you by the rehabilitation program that you first attended, or a nearby treatment facility may be able to offer these sessions to you. Outpatient treatment may be needed to end the recurrence pattern if the patient comes from a supportive family and has a stable living situation at home.
- Those who receive treatment are likely to decrease their chances of participating in criminal activity and improve the occupational, social, and psychological aspects of their life.
- This fear is common, but by looking at the sober community, you can see that those thoughts are not true.
- Many alumni programs, such as those offered by American Addiction Centers (AAC), host peer gatherings and can connect you with addiction aftercare services.
- Your mind gives you the green light to stop going to group sessions or therapy, withdraw from friends and family, and stop taking care of yourself.
- Another crucial aspect of rehabilitation is the opportunity to build a supportive network of peers who understand your struggles.
- Health professionals use this to identify and categorize the severity of a substance use disorder.
Even ingesting going back to rehab small amounts of the substance can be dangerous. Despite being a common aspect of recovery, relapses are dangerous. This is because of the changes that occur in the body once you stop using substances. We receive advertising fees from purchases through the BetterHelp links below.
- Many former “unemployable” people went on to become successful entrepreneurs or independent contractors.
- They can also be a source of strength and support if you’re ready for recovery.
- I am very proud and comfortable with the people I align myself with these days, and if that is an ever-shrinking circle, I take heart and surround myself with their love, strength, and wisdom.
- To determine if going back to rehab is necessary, it’s important to understand the definition of relapse, the qualities of lasting treatment, and the individual’s current situation.
It’s impossible to know for sure whether an intervention is a good idea without knowing the specific details of a situation. Addiction can make it impossible to manage your obligations and responsibilities. If you have additional questions, The Department of Labor offers a fairly extensive FAQ page that covers many topics.
When people think of a drug and alcohol relapse, this is what they picture. If you ignore the signs of emotional relapse, the mental relapse stage will begin soon after. Once you begin this stage of relapse, the physical act of relapsing is not far away. During this stage, your mental resistance to using drugs as an escape will begin to diminish, as you start to fantasize about using drugs or alcohol to soothe your emotions. Drug addiction and alcoholism are complex and progressive diseases that require constant dedication and practice to recover.
Ways an Online Mindfulness Coach Can Improve Your Mental Health
If there are any bills that need to be paid while away at treatment, make sure to sign up for automatic payments or speak to someone trusted about making sure bills get paid on time. It is also a good idea to contact the insurance carrier that will be covering your treatment stay (if you’re using insurance). This includes knowing any financial responsibilities such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance that may arise during treatment. No one wants to come back ready to tackle life and be saddled with financial stresses.