“An estimated 40-60% of addicts in recovery will relapse” – National Institute on Drug Abuse
Unfortunately, it is common for those who struggled with alcohol and drug abuse to go back to those habits. At Any Length Retreat, we take addiction relapse prevention seriously. We understand the statistics and are committed to giving our residents the best possible chance to beat the odds.
As a family member of someone that is recovering from addiction, you can play an important role in preventing relapse, but you need to know what to look out for.
Does your loved one show any signs of addiction relapse triggers?
Traumatic Life Events: During the time in the recovery community at Any Length Retreat, your loved one will learn to use healthy coping skills to deal with the ups and downs in life. Adhering to the tools learned from the 12 Steps, especially when times are rough, might take a level of discipline that your loved one has yet to accomplish. Just like any new skill, practice is essential for improvement.
Social Isolation: If you begin to notice your loved one spending more time alone or shutting down communications with friends or family members, this might drive to feelings of loneliness. The longer a recovering addict lives in this state of social isolation, generally the greater the chances are of potential relapse.
Overconfidence: Recovering addicts that show extreme confidence in their ability to abstain from substance abuse may eventually become complacent about their recovery.
Social Pressure: For many addicts in recovery (especially in early recovery), exposure to social situations where drug or alcohol use is likely to happen could trigger a relapse. So if your loved one is frequenting places or people associated with substance abuse, this could be a warning sign that relapse is in the foreseeable future.
Boredom: Preventing boredom is important because we know that some individuals use chemicals to add entertainment and excitement to their lives. Participating in fun activities or hobbies is a healthy way for recovering addicts to fill their time in the absence of drugs or alcohol.
Positive Life Events: Even causes for happiness could potentially trigger a relapse if the recovering addict feels justified in using substances to celebrate. If the positive event comes with new responsibilities such as the birth of a child or a job promotion, your loved one might feel increased stress or pressure; both of which are known addiction relapse triggers.
Lack of Sleep: Without sufficient amounts of sleep, it’s impossible for any of us to be performing at our best. For addicts in recovery, lack of sleep can be especially dangerous. If you see your loved one suffer from little to no sleep, this could be a trigger for a relapse in the near future.
Petty Dishonesty: Dishonesty during addiction recovery could be an indication that the recovering addict is returning to old, ineffective coping strategies. Dishonesty about location, stealing, lack of response on where one has been can be obvious signs that a relapse could potentially occur.
