Dealing with Relapse Prevention - Part I

What is a Relapse?

Relapse occurs when a drug addict or alcoholic abstains from using or drinking for a period. Then, as if by surprise, this person finds themselves drinking or drugging again. This is how most people understand what relapsing is. However, it is important to understand that relapse begins before a person “picks up” (uses drugs or alcohol again).  People can become dysfunctional within recovery, lose control of behavior, and can develop emotional problems before they pick up. It is this relapse process that we seek to prevent, and this is done through understanding what triggers a person to use, what the signs are, and how to best deal with these issues before using becomes the only option left on the table (Gorski & Miller, 1986). This guide will help you understand the setbacks you experience on your journey to lasting recovery.

A Guide for Stopping Relapse

What are triggers and how do they cause a relapse?

The term “triggers” refers to the experience of having an emotional reaction to something that reminds you of drinking, a drug experience, trauma, or a fun situation where drugs fixed everything. Understanding that these triggers are real and can cause a person to reexperience the trauma or event over again is important! (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2015)

These triggers are anything that prompts a person to return to active use. These triggers vary from person to person but fall into common categories. Anger, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, loneliness, tension, pain, and sadness are all internal triggers that comes from within a person.  External triggers might be a movie, person, specific time of day, sounds, smells, significant dates, locations, seeing people use or being in the place or area where using was done (Sinha, 2011). Triggers occur before picking up and cause an addict to return to drug use if they are not addressed.

Triggers for Relapse

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If you see yourself in these signs, it's okay to ask for help.

It's brave.

If this resonates with you or someone you love, reach out. I’m here to help.

—Dr. Yaacov Rosedale, LPC, PhD, CASAP

yaacovmr@gmail.com   | +972-52-8084406  | 513-599-6700