Addiction is a lifelong journey that can be filled with many ups and downs. Unfortunately, relapse is a major threat to recovering addicts’ sobriety. Whether recovering addicts are going through a hard time or things are going well in their lives, relapsing is a potential threat that runs the risk of jeopardizing one’s recovery journey. In this article, you’ll learn more about why do addicts relapse when things are good below.
Elevate Point offers personalized addiction and mental health treatment to help patients lead healthier lives. We understand that each patient’s recovery needs are uniquely different. This is why we provide a wide variety of treatment options to help you lead a healthier, happier life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your unique recovery needs.
4 Reasons Why Addicts Relapse, Even If Things Are Good
Relapse is the greatest threat to achieving long-lasting sobriety. Even when things appear to be going well, there can still be a number of reasons why addicts relapse when things are good in their lives. Below are several reasons why a recovering addict may relapse, even if things are going well:
Triggers, Cravings, & Urges Remain
Even if things are going good in a recovering addict’s life, it is still inevitable that a recovering addict will face triggers, cravings, and urges to abuse drugs or alcohol. This is why it is so critical to learn healthy coping strategies and maintain them in treatment and beyond. Having coping strategies you can turn to when you are facing cravings in everyday life can significantly help reduce your risk of relapsing.
Being Too Confident/Letting Your Guard Down in Recovery
Another reason why addicts relapse when things are good is they may become too confident and let their guard down in recovery. For example, a recovering addict who used to have boundaries around not going to a bar where drinking is prevalent may let their guard down and think they can handle being in a potentially triggering situation. Similarly, a recovering addict may believe they can abuse drugs or alcohol just once and then be okay with maintaining their sobriety.
Feeling Unworthy/Self-Sabotaging
Another potential reason is feelings of unworthiness that can lead to self-sabotage. Some recovering addicts may feel unworthy of how their life is improving. And, when things are going well in their life, this unfamiliarity may lead them to resort back to old unhealthy habits, such as abusing drugs or alcohol.
Difficulty Handling “Good” Stress in Life
Finally, if a recovering addict is experiencing good stress in their life, they have difficulty handling that stress and may resort to drugs and alcohol to cope. “Good” stressors, such as getting married or getting a job promotion, are positive things in life, yet they can still at times bring on stress in your life. Some recovering addicts that do have “good” stress and things happening in their lives may be unable to know how to cope and handle that stress, thus raising their risk of relapse.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about the question “why do addicts relapse when things are good”. Relapse is a threat every recovering addict must face. You will be faced with inevitable triggers and cravings that run the risk of jeopardizing your sobriety. In other words, things don’t need to be “bad” in your life to relapse. This is why it is essential to understand the risks of relapsing and seek professional help so you can learn healthy coping strategies to maintain your sobriety.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance use disorder or mental illness, it is critical to consider seeking help. At Elevate Point, we offer a wide variety of addiction and mental health treatment so you can receive the tailored care you need to lead a healthier, happier life. You should never feel afraid or ashamed to ask for help! Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your unique recovery needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I relapse?
If you relapse, this does not mean you are doomed to never maintain sobriety. It is important to talk to a therapist or seek professional help so you can work toward being on track with your recovery journey. The last thing you want to do is hide or ignore your relapse, as this can cause you to further abuse drugs and alcohol and further hurt your sobriety journey.
Therefore, if you do relapse, it is first important to understand that your recovery journey is not over. You can still seek professional help and consider talking with a trusted loved one whom you can lean on for additional support.
Can I still receive professional treatment if I relapse?
Yes, if you have relapsed, you can still seek professional treatment to help support your recovery journey. We help patients wherever they are in the recovery journey, including patients who have recently relapsed. Our compassionate team can help provide you with the personalized support you need to learn healthy coping strategies to maintain your sobriety. This will ensure you can effectively maintain your sobriety over the long term in everyday life, even when faced with triggers, cravings, or urges to abuse drugs.
How long will it take me to achieve life-long sobriety?
As mentioned above, addiction recovery is a lifelong journey that can be filled with many ups and downs. Therefore, there is no set time to guarantee when you will achieve life-long sobriety because it is a daily act of saying no to drugs and alcohol. Some days you will experience minimal triggers or urges to abuse drugs, while other days you may be consumed with cravings. This is why it is so critical to establish healthy coping strategies you can turn to so you can maintain your sobriety long-term. Otherwise, failure to establish healthy coping strategies increases your risk of turning to unhealthy coping strategies (like abusing drugs or alcohol) to help you cope.