Getting and staying sober requires a great deal of change, and that change extends beyond the person getting sober. You can’t get very far in a peer supper recovery group or treatment without hearing that all you need to change is everything. Alternatively, you might hear that you need to change people, places, and things. In the beginning, it can feel like you’re not just giving up drugs and alcohol. It can feel like you’re giving up your whole life, and that can be frustrating. However, if you understand why you need to make these changes, you might find it easier to make them. At Thrive Treatment, we know that you have to make many changes to create a path to long-term recovery. We also know how overwhelming that can feel, and we are here to support you as you identify the changes you need to make.
What Is Addiction Relapse?
Relapse can sneak up on you when you least expect it. Long-term sobriety requires paying attention to your state of mind and being vigilant when you feel yourself going off track. While relapse is using the drugs and alcohol you broke free from, it often starts with a change in behaviors. Many think of relapse in three stages: emotional, mental, and physical. During the emotional stage of relapse, you won’t even be thinking about using. Instead, you’ll see your self-care suffering and find yourself bottling up your emotions. If you progress to the mental stage, you will find yourself having a battle in your mind about using or romanticizing your past use. Finally, if you don’t see a way to get around these addiction relapse triggers, you will likely find yourself in the physical relapse stage, which means you’re using again.
What Are Addiction Relapse Triggers?
Addiction relapse triggers vary from person to person but are usually people, places, or things that provoke an emotional response. The most apparent addiction relapse triggers are generally the people you used with or the places you used. Sometimes the trigger is your place of employment, and you’ll have to ask yourself if you need to change jobs to stay sober. Other addiction relapse triggers are the feelings and emotions you experience when interacting in relationships or with your family. The good news is that no one can make you feel the way that you don’t want to feel. The bad news is that it takes practice to remember that and learn not to get pulled into the drama. As you practice living sober, you will learn more about what triggers you. You’ll also know that sometimes the triggers are less obvious. The more time you can spend maintaining your recovery, the more you will learn about your triggers and how to handle them.
What to Do if You or a Loved One Relapses
The sad truth about addiction is that relapse is often a part of recovery. You are not required to relapse as part of your recovery, and relapse can be dangerous. However, it happens, it happens. It’s what you do after that relapse that matters. Relapse can be a learning experience that can result in your having a stronger foundation in sobriety. If addiction relapse triggers caught you off guard, you will have learned more about what triggers you. Just because you slipped doesn’t mean that you have to slide back down into full-time using. It can be one and done. Relapse may teach you that you do not want to feel how drugs and alcohol make you feel anymore. It will also teach you that you have to pay attention to your sobriety. However it happens, and whatever the circumstances, the most important thing to know is that shame need not be a part of the equation. Beating yourself up won’t help; getting back on track will.
Why You or Your Loved One Should Go to Thrive Treatment
At Thrive Treatment, we blend different modalities of treatment to help you succeed in sobriety. We integrate relational and behavioral therapies, along with holistic, medical, and psychiatric interventions to put you on the path to sobriety, emotional health, and overall well-being. If you find yourself or a loved one facing addiction, we’re here to help. Whether you are just finding sobriety or are returning from a relapse, we are here to support you or your loved one. Located in beautiful Santa Monica, we will provide you with an individualized plan that meets you where you are and enables you to create a new life in recovery. So contact us today and let us help you with your addiction!
