Should you go back to rehab after a relapse? It can be tempting to admit defeat, but treatment is still necessary. Relapse is quite common, and many experience it while building their recovery. Relapsing does not mean failure or that sobriety is unattainable, nor does it mean you’re back to square one. Although someone has returned to drug use, they now have more experience, perspective, and coping skills from previous treatment, which can be used as a foundation for their recovery journey. However, this may indicate the need for a different or more intensive mode of treatment. Call 662.222.2989 today to learn more about how our inpatient addiction rehab could help you get back on track.
Why Does Relapse Occur?
Relapse can happen for many reasons, including:
- Boredom or loneliness
- Undue amounts of stress
- Becoming overly comfortable and lax in your recovery
- The continued presence of cravings
- The continued presence or reintroduction of triggers, including people or events
- A failure to focus on important aspects of self-care
- Lack of a support network
- Failure to attend meetings
- Co-occurring disorders
- Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)
These are only a limited portrayal of circumstances which may encourage a person to again use alcohol or drugs, however, these factors are important elements to consider as you look to treatment options and consider the best approach.
Understanding How an Addiction Impacts a Person
To better understand relapse and the need for treatment, we need to examine addiction’s role in a person’s life. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. This means the addictive substance changes the brain’s neurochemistry, altering its function and affecting thoughts and behaviors.
Brain-imaging studies of drug-addicted individuals show physical changes in areas critical for judgment, decision making, learning, memory, and behavior control. Sadly, some elements needed to reduce drug use are compromised by the addiction itself, leading to relapse.
Chronic drug use may leave lasting effects on the brain, and can worsen co-occurring disorders like anxiety and depression, increasing relapse risk. Some treatment programs don’t address these disorders, so if your loved one has a co-occurring issue like borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder, ensure the program you choose can meet these needs.
Putting Relapse Into Proper Perspective
Addiction is a disease and should be treated as such. Unfortunately, some people fail to see it this way, viewing addiction with stigma. This perception can be reinforced if a person relapses, which is both unfounded and harmful. Accepting addiction as a chronic disease can actually help reduce stigma.
By treating addiction like other diseases, we can provide better, more compassionate care for our loved ones. Consider this: if a loved one relapsed from anorexia, would you allow them to continue without treatment? Or if a family member’s cancer returned, would you dismiss further treatment? The answer should be “no” in both cases. The question of seeking treatment again shouldn’t arise.
Remember that relapse rates for addiction are similar to those of other chronic diseases like diabetes. Relapse means treatment may need to be adjusted or renewed. Sometimes the initial treatment may not have been enough. People might choose outpatient treatment for logistical reasons, but more severe cases may need inpatient care.
Break the Cycle and Protect Your Loved One
Relapse carries risks, and enrolling your loved one in treatment quickly helps avert these dangers. When someone relapses, they may jeopardize their life. Unfortunately, relapsing can increase the chance of a potentially fatal overdose because a person’s tolerance drops when they stop using drugs. Often, people relapse by using the same amount as before, exceeding their new tolerance. Those recovering from alcohol addiction face specific concerns. If unchecked, relapse can start a cycle with devastating results.
Repeated heavy drinking with attempts at abstinence may sensitize withdrawal symptoms, especially those contributing to a negative emotional state. This can increase vulnerability to relapse and excessive drinking. Without treatment, continuing to drink heavily can heighten withdrawal symptoms, lead to a return to heavy drinking, and increase the risk of relapse, creating a harmful pattern.
What Are the Benefits of Attending Rehab Again?
Increased odds of sobriety are a key benefit of attending treatment again, along with many other positives. A good rehab program should offer intensive, multi-level care tailored to your unique needs. Though starting over may seem daunting, a new program can offer alternative treatment methods not available before. These may include:
- Renewed interest in sobriety
- Improved coping strategies
- Mindfulness practices
- Acceptance
- Interpersonal skills
- Peer and family support
For concerns about co-occurring disorders, enrolling your loved one in a center like Woodland Recovery Center provides access to staff who understand these issues. These programs teach ways to prevent relapse linked to co-occurring disorders. Lastly, a comprehensive treatment program will focus on relapse prevention and provide ongoing aftercare support.
Get the Help You Need From Woodland Recovery Center Today
We understand that there are so many things on your mind at this time. It can be difficult to look at everything you and your loved one are contending with while striving toward making a sound decision. To address this issue, Woodland Recovery Center offers caring support and guidance. Whether you have a loved one who has already relapsed, or if you’re concerned that they are headed that way—we can help. Call us today at 662.222.2989 or use our online contact form for more information.
